Archive News Jun 20, 2001

METALLICA are releasing a limited edition nine-vinyl set of all their records to date on 180-gram vinyl, featuring the original artwork and liner notes. According to various Internet reports, the LPs will be sold separately and may be sold as a limited-edition set as well, but this has not yet been confirmed. However, METALLICA fans looking to snatch a copy of this special release as a Christmas gift item may have to get their wallets out a bit early—all nine titles will be withdrawn and deleted on September 1st.

THE WILDHEARTS bassist Danny McCormack has left the band's reunion tour as a result of his ongoing battle against heroin addiction. In a short interview published by the online edition of the UK's Metal Hammer magazine, mainman Ginger stated the following: 'Danny's got a huge problem with heroin and if he doesn't go and get himself sorted out immediately then he's gonna die and it's as simple as that.

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'At Newcastle on Saturday Danny was falling asleep on stage, he couldn't play his bass, he was falling on the amps — just a mess basically. My knee jerk was 'this band's sh.t' and I did an Axl Rose and stormed off, but it wasn't until we got back to the dressing room that I really realized the extent of the damage. Danny was screaming and shouting at everyone and then he attacked CJ! Then I realized that there's a real problem here.

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'We gave him another chance, and he came to Dudley and the same thing happened — only quicker. I told him 'You gotta go get yourself sorted out mate'. He wanted to play, he wanted to play the rest of the shows but he can't even stand up properly! We left him with his girlfriend with the sole purpose of taking him back home, but I don't know where he is.'

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'It's beyond music, it's beyond THE WILDHEARTS. Unless he gets himself sorted, unless he gets himself off the filth someone I know and love is gonna die. He needs treatment. THE WILDHEARTS don't matter when it's verses someone's life. The last thing we need is another rock 'n' roll casualty — especially in the form of Danny McCormack!'

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THE WILDHEARTS have apparently enlisted ANTIPRODUCT bassist Toshi (who was previously in a THE WILDHEARTS tribute band in Japan) to replace Danny at the remaining dates on the group's current UK tour.

SICK SPEED, featuring former STUCK MOJO members Rich Ward on vocals/guitar, Dan Dryden on bass/vocals, and Bud Fontsere on drums, plus Mike 'Happy' Schneider on guitar/vocals, have pulled out of their scheduled opening slot for STYX and REO SPEDWAGON that was to take place on Thursday, June 21st at Best Buy's Amphitheater in Atlanta, GA after failing to come to an agreement with the promoters on the use of the PA system for the gig. Ward explains: 'Our manager Mark Willis received a phone call on Monday informing him that we would need to provide our own PA system for Thursday's side stage gig opening for STYX. So let me get this straight. We play for free, no guest list, we have to provide the PA which will run around $2000 and pay a crew to set it up. I may not have a degree in economics, but this does not seem like a gig that Bill Gates would play. Please accept my apology if you were planning on attending, we are disappointed as well. The next Atlanta show is June 30 at the Cotton Club. Respectfully, Rich'

New York's AMONG THIEVES, featuring former LIFE OF AGONY bassist Alan Robert and ex-AGNOSTIC FRONT drummer Will Shepler, have cancelled their scheduled label showcase appearance at NYC's CBGB's club that was originally due to be held on Thursday, June 21st but that was later moved to the 20th, reportedly as a result of a few labels' inability to make the rescheduled date. Another showcase gig will be arranged shortly. Meanwhile, AMONG THIEVES have been confirmed as one of the opening acts for V.O.D. (VISION OF DISORDER) on Saturday, July 21st at the Valentines club in Albany, New York.

According to a report published in today's New York Daily News, the male nanny who brought four-year-old Daniel Veres to METHODS OF MAYHEM mainman Tommy Lee's Malibu pool party on Saturday was on his way to a WANGO TANGO concert at Dodger Stadium concert when the youngster died. Meanwhile, the child's parents (television producer James Veres and actress Ursula Karven) issued a statement yesterday characterizing his death as 'inexcusable' and said they have turned the matter over to their lawyers. (Translation: Tommy—no stranger to the California court system—can expect to be slapped with yet another lawsuit)

Canadian death metallers CRYPTOPSY have produced a list of the specific requirements needed for all applicants interested in filling the group's vacant vocalist slot to be considered. According to the band, the following are a few requirements in order to get an invitation to audition for the group in person:

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- Demo on CD, MP3 or tape

- Touring experience and ability to sing on a day-to-day basis for six weeks in a row

- Available to start touring at the end of August

- Talented frontman and lyricist

- Minimum 21 years old with valid passport and clean personal record

- Willing to live in Montreal (Quebec),Canada.

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The auditions will be held in Montreal at the beginning of July. If you receive an invitation, be prepared to sing. Your material must be received by June 30th.

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By Mail:

P.O. Box 383 Station

Youville Montreal (Quebec)

Canada H2P 2V5

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Or E-Mail: [email protected]

SEETHINGS, the new Swedish band of former DARKANE vocalist Lawrence, have launched their official web site at www.seethingsonline.com. The group, who were previously known as FORCEFEED, 'decided to change our name due to having to share it with other bands, and also because the name didn't fit the music anymore,' according to the singer. 'We also replaced guitarist Ronnie Nyman with Peter Waites which contributed to the new sound a little bit.' SEETHINGS have just entered producer Daniel Bergstrand's Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden to begin work on their debut album for an as-yet-undetermined label, with a tentative release date of late 2001 for the as-yet-untitled effort.

Sweden's BACKYARD BABIES will be playing their first-ever show in Italy at the Independent Days Festival in Bologna on September 1st.

MACABRE will be issuing a remastered version of their Gloom CD, featuring an updated layout with 6 Live tracks from the very first MACABRE recording, via the group's official web site in early July. In other MACABRE news, the band will be playing the Milwaukee Metalfest on Friday, August 10th.

Denmark's DAEMON, featuring KONKHRA mainman Anders Lundemark and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan, are seeking a new record deal for their nearly-completed third effort, the follow-up to 1999's The Second Coming (which was issued through Diehard Records). According to Lundemark, the album is 'almost ready. Gene's all over the place, and I can't say that its like the other DAEMON records. More thrashy this one. Gene is the ultimate thrash master [laughs].'

Former EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt's new band MOURNING WIDOWS will reportedly play two shows on June 29th, with a scheduled appearance at the WGIR Riverfest at 6 PM and at The Station in Rhode Island later that night.

Former DEEP PURPLE/RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's new BLACKMORE'S NIGHT CD, Fires At Midnight (also featuring Blackmore's 'companion' Candice Night),is being released in Europe and Japan this week. The band's third Celtic / medieval release features the following tracks:

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01. Written In The Stars

02. The Times They Are A Changin' (BOB DYLAN cover)

03. I Still Remember

04. Home Again

05. Crowning Of The King

06. Fayre Thee Well (instrumental)

07. Fires At Midnight

08. Hanging Tree

09. The Storm

10. Mid-Winter's Night

11. All Because Of You

12. Waiting Just For You

13. Praetorious (instrumental)

14. Benzai-ten

15. Sake Of Song

16. Village On The Sand

17. Again Someday

The soon-to-be-issued CD from former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan will be titled Dark Days and it will come out under the LOADED moniker after the bassist dropped the original idea of using his solo name for the project. Rumors of COAL CHAMBER vocalist Dez Fafara attempting to track down McKagan at his Seattle residence to give him a Hollywood-style beatdown—or just to steal his make-up—for lifting his band's title idea have not yet been confirmed.

THE ALMIGHTY have re-titled their upcoming studio album Psycho-Narco and will be issuing the effort on July 17th. Psycho-Narco marks the debut of THE ALMIGHTY's new bass player Gavin Gray.

FANTOMAS, featuring former FAITH NO MORE vocalist Mike Patton, MR. BUNGLE bassist Trevor Dunn, MELVINS guitarist Buzz Osbourne and GRIP INC. / ex-SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo, have announced the dates for their upcoming Australian/New Zealand tour. They are as follows:

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Aug. 17 - Brisbane, AU @ Arena

Aug. 18 - Sydney, AU @ City Live

Aug. 19 - Melbourne, AU @ Palace

Aug. 21 - Perth, AU @ Globe Theatre

Aug. 23 - Adalaide, AU @ Governor Hindmarsh

Aug. 24 - Sydney or Melbourne (2nd show),AU @ TBA

Aug. 26 - Auckland, NZ @ Power Station

ANVIL fans wondering what former bassist Ian Dickson has been up to since leaving the group can view his profile at the G-Force Models (a company specializing in creating model kits, sculpting, molding, and casting) web site for more information. Check it out here.

Former DREAM THEATER keyboardist Derek Sherinian and DIO/ex-AC/DC drummer Simon Phillips are producing the new effort from the Orange County, California 'progressive metal' band ACCOMPLICE. The group have completed recording all drum tracks at Phillips' home studio and have moved over to the Leopard Room to track the overdubs. No record deal for the album's release has yet been secured.

AC/DC have reportedly filmed their recent show in Munich, Germany for a DVD release, with longtime producer/engineer Mike Fraser having been enlisted to record the music for the project. No release date has yet been announced.

Frontiers Records and Now &amp Then Productions have secured a worldwide multi album deal with THE CAGE, the duo formed by Italian guitar-hero Dario Mollo (of VOODOO HILL fame) and ex-BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin. The group is currently recording its second CD at the 'world-renowned' Damage Inc. Studios in Ventimiglia, Italy, with the recording line-up featuring Roberto Gualdi on drums, Dario Patti on keyboards and ex-BLUE MURDER/THE FIRM four-stringer Tony Franklin on bass. According to Martin, 'This album will include some of the most outstanding vocal work that ever came from myself. The song 'Terra Toria' has the highest note that I've ever sung on an album: G#4!'. Dario Mollo adds: 'It is going to be slightly more aggressive and powerful than the previous THE CAGE album and the VOODOO HILL one, but still it contains possibly some of the best melodies I have ever written in my life!' The as-yet-untitled effort is tentatively scheduled to be released at the end of the year.

The release date of DREAM THEATER's forthcoming triple live album entitled Live Scenes From New York has been pushed up a week to September 11th. In related news, DT guitarist John Petrucci will be doing an autograph session/meet-n-greet while on the G3 tour (also featuring Steve Vai and Joe Satriani) in Raleigh, North Carolina. The session will be held at 2:00 PM on July 18th at the Music Loft in Raleigh.

Finland's IMPALED NAZARENE will be issuing their upcoming studio album, Absence Of War Does Not Mean Peace, through Osmose Productions on November 5th.

According to an official statement posted on the web site of the UK's JANUS STARK (featuring THE PRODIGY guitarist Gizz),Justin Welch of ELASTICA is currently sitting behind the kit for the band in Germany because drummer Ben Calbert 'left the band just days before the start of the tour. Justin will now also play the forthcoming UK shows with JANUS STARK and therefore the gig at the Verge in London on 28th June will be the first appearance in the UK of JANUS STARK with Justin on drums!'

Brazil's KRISIUN will be embarking on a nine-show headlining tour of Poland during November.

Australia's FURY have completed work on a new, as-yet-untitled nine-track CD. No release date has yet been announced.

SILVERCHAIR have yet to select a producer for their upcoming studio effort, according to the group's official web site, but they still plan on entering the studio during July to begin recording the album, which is tentatively scheduled for release at the end of the year.

Congratulations are in order for U.D.O. bassist Fitty Wienhold, who is getting married on Saturday, June 23rd.

Norway's SUSPERIA, featuring former DIMMU BORGIR/OLD MAN'S CHILD drummer Tjodalv, will spend the summer working on the material for the group's upcoming studio album, which is tentatively scheduled to be recorded in October/November at The Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren (i.e. PAIN, HYPOCRISY). Due to he group's upcoming recording schedule, the band have had to pull out of their planned tour with DIMMU BORGIR of South/North America in the autumn and will now focus on the next album instead, with the CD tentatively scheduled to be released in early 2002.

Former RAINBOW/OZZY OSBOURNE keyboardist Don Airey has left COMPANY OF SNAKES. He has been temporarily replaced in the group's line-up by Josh Phillips.

Sweden's THYRFING have cancelled their scheduled appearance at the Hell on Earth Festival in Austria. No reason was given for the cancellation.

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