SLAVES ON DOPE: 'Copying Other Bands Is Second Nature For MUSHROOMHEAD'

SLAVES ON DOPE have issued a follow-up statement in the continuing "war of words" with MUSHROOMHEAD over the latter group's decision to cover SEAL's 1991 adult-contemporary hit single "Crazy" for their upcoming CD.

In a September 3 letter sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, SLAVES ON DOPE guitarist Kevin Jardine said that he believed MUSHROOMHEAD "stole our idea to cover 'Crazy' from SEAL. We were at the same management firm when we did the demos for [the new SLAVES ON DOPE album] 'Metafour' with [producer] Troy [Van Leeuwen, A PERFECT CIRCLE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE] and if you check the [news archives] you'll see that the song was listed for our record. I guess [MUSHROOMHEAD] liked what we did... We were gonna re-press the record with a DVD for X-mas with remixes and a few bonus tracks, but I guess now we'll hold off until we hear their version."

Speaking to Cleveland Scene's D.X. Ferris for the publication's "Around Hear" column, MUSHROOMHEAD drummer Skinny denied having had any prior knowledge of SLAVES ON DOPE's plans to cover the same song.

'The only reason we did that song was that we were working with [producer-engineer] Matt Wallace. He suggested the song," Skinny said. "The band definitely didn't know about SLAVES ON DOPE. If they had the same management, we didn't know it. October 23 will be 10 years that MUSHROOMHEAD have been playing together. Who are SLAVES ON DOPE again?"

"Who is SLAVES ON DOPE, you ask?" SLAVES ON DOPE write in their latest statement. "Well it seems that SLAVES ON DOPE are worthy enough to get a mention from the almighty MUSHROOMHEAD. A band who chooses to hide behind masks and makeup... Hmmmm, that mode of stage apparel was made popular in recent years by our friends in MUDVAYNE and SLIPKNOT. They must have a knack for copying current bands...it's like second nature for them, even with the, and I quote, 'We recorded a bleak version of PRINCE's 'When Doves Cry' that's like MARILYN MANSON's take on THE EURYTHMICS' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)'. 'It's quite ironic that they keep 'borrowing' great ideas and are now taking credit for them, over and over again. It's fairly obvious that originality isn't MUSHROOMHEAD's forte. The 'masked band' must also be telepathic because SLAVES ON DOPE met with producer Matt Wallace and MUSHROOMHEAD's current management team regarding the usage of SEAL's song long before the 'men with masks' decided to cover it. Make no mistake, many bands have covered SEAL's 'Crazy', but not under these similar, and quite frankly, exact circumstances — it's just too coincidental. [For your information], Feb.5 will mark the 11th year of SLAVES ON DOPE's existence . Keep it real, boys! And by the way...Love the masks and makeup!"

SLAVES ON DOPE tour dates:

w/ TWISTED METHOD, DOG DAY SUNRISE

Sep. 19 - Akron, OH - The Voodoo
Sep. 20 - Rochester, NY - The Penny Arcade
Sep. 21 - Red Bank, NJ - Chubbys
Sep. 25 - Limestone, NY - Rock N' Rick's Concert Club
Sep. 26 - Watertown, NY - Club 342
Sep. 27 - Murrysville (Pittsburgh),PA - American Music Cafe
Sep. 28 - Bellefontaine, OH - The Blue Cat
Sep. 30 - Passaic, NJ - Connections
Oct. 01 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock (no DOG DAY SUNRISE)
Oct. 02 - Erie, PA - Sherlock's
Oct. 03 - Cleveland, OH - The Odeon
Oct. 04 - Millvale, PA - Club Mr. Smalls

Oct. 05 - Columbus, OH. - Al Rosa Villa (w/ CANDIRIA, E.TOWN CONCRETE, GOD FORBID)
Oct. 11 - Clermont Ferrand, France - Rock Sound Festival (w/ NO USE FOR A NAME, ARTSONIC)
Oct. 12 - Paris, France - Nouveau Casino (w/ ARTSONIC, INME)
Oct. 15 - Ottawa, ONT - Zaphod Beeblebrox
Oct. 16 - Toronto, ONT - 360 Club
Oct. 17 - Cambridge, ONT - Fiddlers Green Irish Pub
Oct. 18 - Hamilton, ONT - AFI
Oct. 21 - Peterborough, ONT - Sin City
Oct. 22 - Barrie, ONT - Foundation Nite Club
Oct. 23 - Oshawa, ONT - The Atria Bar and Lounge
Oct. 24 - Kingston, ONT - Alfies Pub