Archive News Sep 11, 2001

Desperately seeking to make peace to everyone who has previously supported the group in an attempt to rebuild a career that has inarguably seen its best days, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine is continuing to reach out to former foes through personal postings via the group's official web site at www.megadeth.com. In the wake of his ongoing attempts at burying the hatchet with his former bandmates in METALLICA, Mustaine has now taken it upon himself to make amends with SLAYER. In his latest posting, the frontman voices his feelings on the two bands' seemingly strained present relationship:

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“[SLAYER guitarist] Kerry King was cool enough when we first started, to help us out because we didn't have a second guitarist and I have many great memories of him and his family. His parents were first class and treated David Ellefson and myself like we were in Kerry's band, SLAYER, not just temporary guitar slingers using their son. Kerry not only learned all of our songs from the first record, but also very quickly I might add (ask Marty, Al, Jeff, and Chris how easy that is) to do. Kerry was a big part in some of our fiercest shows ever in the very beginning.

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“I had met Kerry and SLAYER from my METALLICA days and we were friends, as I felt I was with the rest of SLAYER although it was really weird feeling 'borrowing' a band member.

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“The press has said a lot of bad sh.t lately, and I don't know how much is true or not.

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“I recently heard that Kerry was asked if he would ever play with us again and that he responded, 'If DaveMustaine sucked my dick' or something like that. This did not piss me off as much as it made me wonder, 'What would make him say that?'

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“So, I reflected over the last 12 years since Rust in Peace and the famous/infamous 'Clash of the Titans' tour and what would possibly still be lingering because of some things that I had done and said, and yeah, there were some issues that occurred, but I thought we had resolved them.

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“The 'Clash' tour was very competitive, with hostile audiences everywhere we played. This spilled over into the backstage area a lot. Hell, even [SUICIDAL TENDENICES frontman] Mike Muir and I were going at it and were headed for a fight until we resolved things like gents and we are good friends today.

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“I guess that while in Europe, everyone knew that SLAYER would close the show and we would play before them, with TESTAMENT and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES before us. I was just getting off of heroin at the time and was training really hard for my Black Belt in Ukidokan, and I had one of Sensei Benny's 'Senseis' out on tour with me. I was a timebomb because 1) I was not ready to stop drinking or doing drugs and 2) I would see SLAYER having fun, drinking and sh.t and I was jealous.

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“So, I acted and was unprofessional toward them. Bottom line is, it ain't their fault I was a drunk.

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“I talked to [SLAYER bassist/vocalist] Tom [Araya] about this and I thought we were cool. I am pretty sure [SLAYER guitarist] Jeff [Hanneman] and I are cool, and was almost certain Kerry and I were cool. I guess not.

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“I have said hundreds of f'ing times that SLAYER is one of the best live bands a person will ever see for raw energy. If you want to know what it feels like to be John Force (Nitro-funnycar Champion) when he hits the pedal, just go to a SLAYER show. They are untouchable live.

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“Now, this brings us to only other possible thing that I could have been involved with Ozzfest 98. This is the only thing I can think of that they would be pissed about. There were rumors that we kicked SLAYER off of the bill, or that we would didn't want them on the bill.

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“This is utter horsesh.t.

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“Not only have we never shied away from playing with SLAYER, it is in-f.cking-concievable that we would have the authority to tell Sharon Osbourne who she should have or not have on Ozzfest.

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“I DO NOT THINK THAT SHARON HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. UNDERSTOOD?

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“Having said that, I do believe that someone who used to work for Sharon Osbourne, that was told by our management we wanted to play Ozzfest 98, but we NEVER said anything about SLAYER not playing on this bill.

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“Somehow, word got back to SLAYER that we did not want them on the bill and it was a f'ing lie. Why would we play New Years Eve with them in our home town, AND play in South America with them if we have a problem with them?

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“Our previous manager Mike Renault is a really decent person and consequently plays poker with SLAYER's manager Rick Sales once a week, I think. I doubt he would not have lied to me about explaining this to Sharon Osbourne's office.

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“By the way, the person who I believe lied to SLAYER has been fired by Sharon Osborne. Gee? I wonder why?

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“To all the SLAYER fans at our site and over in Slaytanic land: I have no animosity toward SLAYER, nor do I have any reason to fear playing with them. We asked them to tour with us on a pure metal four band bill and they said 'NO!'

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“I can only attribute this to their believing that we had something to do with them not being on Ozzfest 98. I would like the truce that we have started with METALLICA to reach over to another one of the Best Metal bands ever, SLAYER.

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“To Tom, Kerry, Jeff and Paul:

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“This is the truth with what happened. Accept it if you will, but just know that I personally feel someone directly misrepresented our position with Ozzfest 98. I would personally love to tour with SLAYER again and hope you will reconsider our proposal. If there is something else, then let's settle it and tour!

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Mustaine”

Further to the reports of rapper JA RULE collaborating with METALLICA on an unspecified new album, MTV News has posted a story that quotes JA RULE as saying that he was invited by METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett to record a rap for a new track. 'I spin two 12-bar verses with METALLICA on their new big, huge record they got that's crazy,' JA RULE reportedly stated. MTV goes on to quote JA RULE's publicist as saying that the “mostly instrumental number” may end up on a Dreamworks Records compilation. DreamWorks, meanwhile, wouldn't provide any details about the record, but said it should be out in early 2002.

Swedish death metal legends GRAVE have reformed with a slightly altered new line-up and have begun work on the material for a forthcoming studio album, which is tentatively scheduled to be recorded in two or more increments at Sunlight Studio with veteran producer Tomas Skogsberg (i.e. ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, BACKYARD BABIES, etc.) for a mid-2002 release through Century Media Records. Due to make their live debut this Friday, September 14th at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm, Sweden, the brand new GRAVE line-up consists of the following:

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Ola Lindgren – guitar/vocals

Jonas Torndal – guitar

Jensa Paulsson – drums

Fredrik 'Fredda' Isaksson – bass (ex-THERION)

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According to Torndal (who had previously played bass for the band in the group's earliest incarnation, i.e. on their classic Into The Grave debut),five new songs have thus far been completed towards the upcoming studio album, and if all goes well, a CD's worth of material will be ready by the end of the year. Based on an instrumental demo version of one of the new tracks that this writer was privileged to hear, the GRAVE sound has remained firmly intact, with big, fat riffs and solid grooves making their presence felt as prominently as they did during the group's heyday back in the early '90s.

As previously reported, SEVENDUST's forthcoming third full-length CD, entitled Animosity, features a guest appearance by STAIND frontman Aaron Lewis on a track called “Follow”. The collaboration with Lewis was recorded in July at TransContinental Studios in Orlando, Florida, where the bulk of Animosity was also tracked. 'Aaron and Jon [Wysocki] from STAIND flew in and were playing golf with [SEVENDUST drummer] Morgan [Rose], so we just said, 'Hey, would you like to come down to the studio and do a song?' ' SEVENDUST vocalist Lajon Witherspoon explained in a statement. 'So Aaron came down, we let him listen to a couple of tracks, he heard 'Follow', and I said, 'I think this would be a great song for you to sing on.' So he did the second verse and some harmonies on it, and it turned out great.' While 'Follow' is almost certain to be issued as a single at a later point, the set's initial “key” track will be a song called 'Praise', which is due to go for radio adds later this month. In other news, SEVENDUST's much-anticipated DVD release, entitled Retrospect, has just been issued. Featuring six concert performances recorded at Chicago's Metro in September 1998 and included in 1999's Live and Loud VHS home video, three videos from the group's last album, 1999's Home, and the clip for 'Angel's Son', a track that was included on the 2000 compilation album Strait Up, a tribute to late SNOT singer Lynn Strait, the DVD also contains interview clips and several concert and TV performances.

As widely expected, SLIPKNOT debuted at #1 on the Canadian SoundScan chart, having shifted in excess of 32,000 copies of their latest opus, Iowa, during its first week of release.

STAIND vocalist Aaron Lewis and LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst are two of the many stars appearing on U2 singer Bono and Jermaine Dupri's all-star remake of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On', a benefit single that will be released on World AIDS Day December 1st. Dupri is producing the 'We Are the World'-like song, which will raise money for AIDS research.

Remember GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna's recent less-than-flattering comments about SLIPKNOT, taken from an interview that aired on FM 100.3 WHEB, which broadcasts out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire (as reported here on September 3rd)? Well, singer Dizzy Reject from SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison's side project THE REJECTS has been paying attention and he's not very happy. Here is Dizzy's response as it appears in the “DizzyLand” portion of THE REJECTS' official site:

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“HOW SULLY EARNA F.CKED UP, AND HOW HE WILL PAY FOR IT. F.CK SULLY FROM GODSMACK IN THE ASS WITH A BRICK. TWICE. This motherf.cker has commited the ultimate sin, by publicly going after friends of mine. By now you all have heard he has talked some sh.t about a band very very close to this organization. This is bad. You DO NOT talk sh.t and expect to walk. Not only did this motherf.cker irritate about a million some odd people with his drivel, but now this f.cker has me pissed off. If it was constructive, or valid, or even mature, I can hang with it, but it wasn't, and now, like a mission from god, I must bust this cocksucker in the face. Sully, you are f.cked, dude. Don't go saying a band is 'gay' when your own drummer used to be in LILLIAN AXE. For those of you that don't know, LILLIAN AXE was a poodle-haired hard rock band in the late 80's-early 90's. After their original drummer bailed, a certain Tommy Stewart took the throne. And now he's in your band, Sully. That, by association, makes you gay, motherf.cker. See my point it looks stupid in print, doesn't it. F.ckin' asshole. You're getting f.cked, douchebag. Expect a punch in the f.ckin head somewhere backstage when you don't expect it, or a f.cking brick thrown at ya from the balcony you f.cking c.nt. Eat a dick. Pardon me for being an immature twit, kids, but this motherf.cker has me riled. The f.cking c.nt.”

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More comedic relief from Dizzy in the form of his observations on the MTV Video Awards, which aired this past week:

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“Point one: STAIND. Who the f.ck let this band loose on the world? They should be f.cking shot. Oh wait, it was Fred Durst's fault, that explains that. F.cks. All of them. Same boring songs and subject matter, same fat, hairless singer with his eyes closed, trying his hardest to look somber and depressing. Hey motherf.cker, you sold in excess of 3 million records, smile you c.nt! Another point, homie has the same exact vocal innotations in every song. And that sucks. Another point about these bastards, the guitar player moves like he is sticking his cock in the sink with a hair dryer in it. What the f.ck kind of moves are that? Hey STAIND, you suck. I said it. F.ck you. Find me, f.ckers.

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“Point two: LINKIN PARK. Hey guys, MILLI VANILLI called and they want their DAT tapes back. Note to band: make sure taped backing tracks are not on a delay. It gives the secret away. Lame. Sucks. Die.

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“OK some of the good stuff: Wes F.ckin' Borland. Someone please free him from the jail called LIMP BIZKIT. This guy is a f.cking maniac. Anyone who accepts an MTV award by singing the chorus to IRON MAIDEN's 'Wasted Years' is a motherf.cking genius.”

DANZIG's forthcoming CD, provisionally titled Danzig 7: Kiss The Skull, is tentatively due to be released in early 2002 through an as-yet-undetermined label. As previously reported, DANZIG recently signed a new management agreement with Survival Management and is presently in negotiations with several record companies about a new contract, which is expected to be inked shortly. The band also made another trip to the recording studio, where they laid down an additional three cuts for the album, among them a track with the working title of “Bound By Blood”. In other news, recent rumors of possible SAMHAIN reunion shows for Halloween have proven incorrect, after the band members' conflicting schedules made it impossible to turn the dates into a reality.

According to informed sources, the upcoming BLIND GUARDIAN single, featuring the 14-minute track 'And Then There Was Silence' and a second song called 'Harvest Of Sorrow' (a previously unreleased, very straightforward and somewhat 'commercial' track that was done during the Nightfall In Middle-Earth sessions but was unused because it didn't fit that album) will likely be an enhanced release and it will mark the first-ever real 'single' to be released by Century Media Records in the US. Tentatively due to be issued in America on November 27th, the single will be followed by the simultaneous worldwide release of an as-yet-untitled new full-length album in February 2002. Although presently unconfirmed, plans exist for BLIND GUARDIAN to visit the North American shores for the first time during 2002, either via a festival appearance or two, or as part of a full-length tour, which is unlikely to take place before next summer.

Swedish thrash meisters SOILWORK will enter Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 17th to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album with producers Devin Townsend (of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD fame) and Fredrik Nordstrom. Due to be mixed during the second half of December, SOILWORK's upcoming album will include the following working song titles, among others:

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01. The Bringer

02. Blackstar Deceiver

03. As We Speak

04. No More Angels

05. Follow The Hollow

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An early 2002 release through Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

Portugal's MOONSPELL will perform at the Halloween release party show for their Darkness And Hope CD at the Lisbon Coliseum in Lisbon, Portugal on October 31st. According to the group's official web site, “this show will introduce the new light and scenario show that MOONSPELL will take for most of their world tour. Impressive structures are being built to serve as background to all the stories told [on Darkness And Hope], their latest opus. According to the band, this will be the biggest show, in their own name they ever played and will mark definitely their ascension as a live band.”

Sweden's NECROPHOBIC have just entered Sunlight Studio in Stockholm, Sweden to begin recording their fourth full-length album, entitled Bloodhymns. 10 songs will be tracked with producer Tomas Skogsberg (i.e. ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, BACKYARD BABIES, etc.) for a February 2002 release through Hammerheart Records.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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MUSHROOMHEAD will be dropping off the W.A.S.P. tour due to matters of a personal nature. The last show MUSHROOMHEAD will be playing with W.A.S.P. is on 9-13-01 in Cleveland, OH. All other tour dates planned will not have MUSHROOMHEAD on the bill. The band is very sorry that they have to do this, especially to the fans that have already purchased tickets. In an effort to make amends to fans that have already purchased these tickets, Eclipse Records and MUSHROOMHEAD are requesting that you send your ticket stub for these shows to the following address and we'll send you a little something special that you can't get anywhere else. Please send ticket stubs for the cancelled shows to:

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Eclipse Records Inc.

c/o Shroom Tickets

Po Box 215

Butler, NJ 07405 U.S.A.

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Once again, MUSHROOMHEAD will not be performing at the following W.A.S.P. shows:

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Sept. 14 - Sauget, IL @ Pop's

Sept. 16 - Lubbock, TX @ Pavillion

Sept. 18 - Houston, TX @ Engine Room

Sept. 19 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station

Sept. 20 - Dallas, TX @ Canyon Club

Sept. 21 - Tulsa, OK @ Otherside

Sept. 24 - Fargo, ND @ Playmakers Pavilion

Sept. 25 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest

Sweden's TRANSPORT LEAGUE have recruited a brand new bassist by the name of Adam Magnusson and will be entering Studio Fredman in Gothenburg in late September with producer Fredrik Nordström to record their upcoming album, tentatively titled Multiple Organ Harvest, for an early 2002 release through an as-yet-unspecified label.

Polish death metal legends VADER have booked studio time in February 2002 to work on the as-yet-untitled follow-up to Reign Forever World. If all goes well, the recording and mixing will be finished in April 2002. An early summer release is expected.

Brazilian death metallers KRISIUN will appear as co-headliners, along with Century Media labelmates NEVERMORE, at two shows in São Paulo, Brazil on October 19th and 20th.

Germany's METALIUM will begin auditioning drummers this Wednesday, September 12th, with a view towards finding a replacement for Mark Cross, who officially left the group last week to join HELLOWEEN. METALIUM expect to begin the recording process for their next CD, entitled Chapter III, next week for a February/March 2002 release through Massacre Records. In other news, METALIUM will be releasing a “DVD/Video Pack” entitled Metalian Attack in October (through Spain's Locomotive Music),including a 70-minute video (spanning the last three years on the road),a six-track live CD (featuring as a bonus track the piano version of “Dust In The Wind”, recorded in the studio),and a full METALIUM concept comic by Markus Mayer.

TREE vocalist River has been hospitalized for injuries sustained in a car accident.

LED ZEPPELIN's Early Days: The Best Of Led Zeppelin Volume 1 has been certified platinum for sales in excess of one million copies in the US. Also recently platinum-certified were ALIEN ANT FARM's Anthology and RUSH's 1991 release Roll The Bones. Meanwhile, DEF LEPPARD's Vault – Greatest Hits was certified triple-platinum (for sales of over 3 million copies in the US),as was ROBERT PLANT's Now And Zen.

Message from ex-HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe on the recent events in his camp, including the sudden passing of his wife Jude Wilder and the reunion with former HANOI ROCKS axeman Andy McCoy:

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“MY DEAR GOOD PEOPLE,

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“I want to thank each and everyone of you who have expressed your sincere sympathies and condolences to me at my time of agonizing grief.

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“It is very touching to see how much Jude is truly loved by so many.

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“Losing her is the worst thing that ever could have happened to me. I'm having a very hard time trying to recover from this one. I know I never totally will.

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“ 'Time heals' – I've heard it said many times, but so far time has only made me get deeper into my sorrow as we are getting into the cold and dark fall season and memories keep coming back to me. As I'm sure with every coming season I'll be reliving through countless memories, now no more in the making with my dearest loved one.

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“I've tried to keep busy and working to get my mind off the devastating reality.

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'And yes, I've been working with Andy McCoy. We did the 2 'HANOI Revisited' festival concerts this summer which were full of obstacles that made it hard, especially for him to give his best performance (rain, technical problems etc.) but as far as the overall vibe and feeling goes it was great and very emotional – the concerts were dedicated to, and in honour of Jude Wilder. The audiences were fantastic and it was fun to play a bunch of those old, but ageless HANOI ROCKS tunes. Also because we rehearsed them probably tighter than we ever did in the HANOI days. It wasn't until we played as 'Michael Monroe &amp Andy McCoy' in Helsinki at the Tavastia Club on August 24th, that we were able to do a completely trouble-free show that we could ourselves be quite happy with afterwards. This was not anymore just HANOI songs but also some new, freshly written material by me and Andy. However, the band was the 'HANOI Revisited' one, which is basically my solo band with Andy replacing one of the guitar players Lacu (drums),Timpa (bass),Mickey Crane (the other guitar).

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“It has been hard for me to write for a while now and I thank you for your patience and understanding…

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“Best Wishes to you all – and if you wish, please send Jude Love and Light and Happiness with pure thoughts.

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“Love &amp Respect, MICHAEL MONROE”

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