AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE's HANKS Explains Abbreviated European Tour

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE's Chad Hanks (a.k.a. Mr. H.C. Banks III) has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Hello free-thinkers and the sheep:

"AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE is back in the States, as most of you probably know... Unfortunately, it's under not the best circumstances...First off, I hate to stomp on the brakes and bring the drug gossip train to a screeching halt, but NO ONE OVERDOSED and NO ONE WENT TO REHAB (or needs to for that matter)... A couple of days into the European Occupation tour, our keyboardist Justin Fowler started to feel ill. This is not unusual since everyone's bodies take a bit to acclimate to the rigors of touring. Ventilation systems in buses (especially those f***ed up buses overseas) are just like airplanes: recycled air. You end up breathing everyone else's CO2, and usually someone has brought some sort of sickness with them. This means within the first week or two, at least two of us are sick. We try, but we aren't, honestly, the healthiest bunch of guys (I mean, c'mon, we're a metal band, for chrissakes!). So, Justin became sicker and sicker, eventually getting a fever he couldn't get rid of. Finally, after the Wolverhampton show, J's fever had peaked at around 102 degrees and had been like that for almost two days. After what happened with Bryan Ottoson (R.I.P.),we all knew, including Justin, that a trip to the hospital was a necessity. They couldn't get his fever down, so we had to leave him there in Wolverhampton, and play the next show in Nottingham (Rock City thank you!). When we got to London (the last day of the U.K. leg),he was still in the hospital coughing non-stop and still feverous. At this point it was obvious that he needed to get back to the States to see his doctor and that the tour was over. Cameron had taken over on keys for those two shows, but it's just not the same without J doing his thing(s) onstage (including lots of background vocals). Most importantly, his health was priority one. We decided to cancel the tour and flew back (some of us) to the States (me and Benji went to Spain for a week, and then Rome for three days...oh, the stories I've got!!!!). Justin is currently back in the hospital in Minneapolis with tuberculosis, pneumonia, and a sinus infection. He's getting better, but the boy was real sick, and we just couldn't risk it.

"I hope all of our European fans understand, and we will try and get back as soon as humanly possible.

"So our plans have changed: we continue this Monday writing/demoing (we're aiming for 25 songs, which at this point shouldn't be a problem whatsoever) for the new record (still due out spring 2007). We have TONS of shit to work on, so we have a lot ahead of us...

"Word for the next six months: discipline. So Cam, myself, Benji, Justin, and Dane will be working on Album 3. More updates to come.

"Just thought I'd let everyone know what's going on. Again, to all of our European fans, WE APOLOGIZE. See ya in the ditch..."