AFTER FOREVER Guitarist Pulls Out Of 'Christmas Metal Symphony' Concert

October 14, 2008

Guitarist Sander Gommans of the Dutch female-fronted metallers AFTER FOREVER — who last year announced that they were taking a break from band activities for most of 2008 while Gommans underwent medical tests after suffering a seizure — has cancelled his participation in the Christmas Metal Symphony concert, set to take place December 28, 2008 at 013 in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Commented Sander: "Despite the great initiative, the great set of songs and the chance to play with some wonderful musicians, I decided not to take part in this. I have to be realistic in what I can and cannot do at this point, and although I do feel a lot better, I think preparing the songs on such short notice and rehearsing several times might take more time than I have right now with all the guitar lessons, HDK and AFTER FOREVER preparations and other stuff. The last thing I want is another burn-out, so I guess these are decisions that have to be made even if they suck. The organisers knew about the chance I had to cancel, but still I'd like to offer my appologies for having to do that. However, a GREAT replacer has been found in Frank Schiphorst; check out his playing skills on his myspace, he rules!!! I'm sure that Marcel Coenen and Frank Schiphorst will be able to play the set extremely well, for all guitar freaks: get your ticket, you'll be satisfied!!!!!

"So, I'm still doing OK, just taking some precautions to make sure that it'll stay that way! I'll probably at the Christmas Metal Symphony as a visitor, hope to see you there!"

Christmas Metal Symphony will include appearances by such renowned hard rock and heavy metal musicians as Doro Pesch, Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X),Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN),Johan Edlund (TIAMAT),Ian Parry (CONSORTIUM PROJECT),Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION),Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER) and George Oosthoek (ORPHANAGE). They will be backed up by a six-piece band and a 30-piece classical orchestra as they perform the finest metal songs of all time. This unique show will contain songs from all metal genres — from prog-metal to rock, from death to speed and from industrial to NWOBHM... you name it... it's all in the show!

The backing band will consist of the following musicians:

Koen Herfst (EPICA) - Drums
Marcel Coenen (SUN CAGED) - Guitar
Johan Van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) - Bass
Frank Schiphorst (CONTROL HUMAN DELETE) - Guitar
Jeffrey Revet (STREAM OF PASSION) - Keyboards
Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER) - Keyboards

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/christmasmetalsymphony.

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