Archive News Mar 02, 2001 - update 3

Talk about a bitter split. Having disbanded late last year after getting dropped by the Elektra label, the members of California's THE DEADLIGHTS have wasted little time in slamming each other in various postings on the Internet, with guitarist Billy Roan claiming, among other things, that he was ripped off monetarily and had his jaw broken during a physical altercation with frontman Duke (bassist Jerry Montano has since joined Washington D.C.'s NOTHINGFACE). Duke, for his part, has kept silent...until now. In a somewhat cryptic message posted on the band's official web site, Duke addresses the rumors and hints at his future plans. Here is Duke's posting in its entirety:

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'Peace to Jim, Jerry and Billy, and much respect goes out to them and whatever they do. As for me, I would like to finally thank all you fans who stuck by us, and continue to show your support for what we were trying to do. It's unfortunate that conditions that we had to face as a band made it impossible for us to keep making music together, but oh, well, fuck everyone. As for shit talkers, you can all suck a fat dick. I never gave a fuck about being a rock star, I just wanted to fuck shit up any way I could and will continue to do that. Besides, jealousy will get you nowhere. The real sick motherfuckers know who you are. I'm putting together a new thing, which like everything I've ever done, will be a progression of what I've always been trying to do, which is fuck with your heads any way I can. We all know the record business sucks , but you can't kill what's already dead. DEADLIGHTS rule.'

VOIVOD are still in the writing mode for their forthcoming studio album and will NOT be entering the studio this month (March),as previously planned, to begin recording the new CD. Drummer Michel Langevin (a.k.a. Away) is currently finishing up the artwork for PROBOT, the metal side-project of FOO FIGHTERS frontman / ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl, which is set to feature an appearance by former VOIVOD vocalist Denis Belanger (a.k.a. Snake),among others.

The reformed Texan ultra-progressive metallers WATCHTOWER have completed about half the material for their upcoming studio release, which should be recorded later in the year for an as-yet-unspecified label. WATCHTOWER were recently offered a chance to play a gig with FATES WARNING and PLANET X in Texas, but due to FATES WARNING's cancellation, the gig never happened.

Americabilia.com Inc. announced on February 26th that Worldwide Collectibles Inc. dba UNIQUE IMAGES, its wholly owned collectibles subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with entertainer Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS for the exclusive signing of reproduced lithographs of Gene Simmons artwork, which will be personally autographed by Simmons.

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As part of the agreement, Simmons has agreed to autograph the collectible pieces and to make himself available for a media conference to provide public awareness of the marketing arrangement with UNIQUE IMAGES for the autographed collectibles.

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The signing will occur in either Los Angeles or Tokyo, where KISS enjoys popularity among its many Japanese fans. The signed lithographs will be made available to national and international customers after March 12, 2001.

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Keith Veltre, president of UNIQUE IMAGES, stated that the company has been in negotiations for some time with Simmons, and that the company is very pleased to reach the agreement. 'This will definitely give the company the added momentum we need to propel our business further into the realm of authentic and unusual autographed collectibles from the entertainment industry,'' said Veltre.

California's theSTART, featuring former HUMAN WASTE PROJECT frontwoman Aimee Echo, have had the title of their forthcoming debut CD changed to Shakedown! The group recently went back into the studio and recorded two new songs to add to the long-completed album, which will now be coming out through The Label Records, the new company run by The Firm Management (i.e. KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, etc.),with distribution through Geffen / Interscope. Former porn director Gregory Dark (i.e. BRITNEY SPEARS) will direct the band's first video.

ANTHRAX / ARMORED SAINT vocalist John Bush recently commented in an interview with KNAC.com on the rumors suggesting that ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera may be in line to land the vacant METALLICA bassist slot. Here is what he said:

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'I'm gonna go out on a limb here. When Cliff Burton died, ARMORED SAINT was really tight with METALLICA. We had toured with them and shit, and when Cliff died, they were looking to get a bass player, obviously, and they asked Joey if he wanted to come up and jam with them. Now they didn't say, 'Do you wanna be in the band?' They said, 'Do you wanna come up and jam?' There were only a few people that they were asking that to. Joey decided against it, which I'm sure to this day, a lot more than me, he's probably kickin' himself in the ass for, because METALLICA was already happening. Why he didn't do it I'm not sure exactly. I don't know. I think it was just a commitment to the brotherhood vibe that we had, and I don't think you can ever say anything negative about that. But the reason I'm bringing this up is because, well, I believe firmly, and nothing against Jason Newsted, 'cause he's rad and he's done awesome for METALLICA, but the reality of it is, Joey would've gotten the gig, and I believe that, because we were that close with those guys and he's an amazing bass player.

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'Now here's the funny thing. Jason's quit the band now and everyone in our camp is like, 'Huh?' (ARMORED SAINT drummer) Gonzo called me and was like, 'What do you think? Is Joey gonna leave?' God! One can only hope! And I'll tell ya the reason it would be awesome. And I don't know what METALLICA's gonna do. They could get somebody young, or they could get somebody old-school. I don't know. The rumor I hear is that they're not gonna worry for awhile because they're writing. Whatever. If it happened it would be cool, and if it didn't it would be no big deal either. But the reality of it is, why I want it to happen, and this is my own selfish reason, is that Joey joins METALLICA, then that immortalizes ARMORED SAINT for good. I joined ANTHRAX. Joey would join METALLICA. I was asked to be in METALLICA. ARMORED SAINT was this band that never quite hit, they were always just there. To me that would be, like, okay, now it's valid. '

Former CARCASS / VENOM / CRONOS guitarist Mike Hickey has recorded an instrumental CD entitled Gold, which he's presently promoting by performing several shows in the New Hampshire area with a band featuring Shawn Progen on drums and Damian Carlson on bass. The group's next performance will take place on March 31st at The Rec Center in Keene, NH on a bill that also includes T.I.P. and KINGFINGER.

The UK's CATHEDRAL have officially announced that they will be making the journey across the Atlantic (for the first time since 1996!) in order to headline the third annual Metal MeltdownFestival, taking place April 6-7 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. This headlining appearance coincides with the US release of CATHEDRAL's new studio album, Endtyme (release date: April 3). CATHEDRAL founder / frontman Lee Dorrian had this to say about the group's upcoming appearance on American soil: 'We can't wait to return to the States. We've been away too long!'

Former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan (Daniel) Spitz is reportedly completing work on his debut solo album, containing the first original music he has written since leaving ANTHRAX in 1995. The diminutive, 'born again Christian' six-stringer is also said to be eyeing a producing / engineering career, and he has been contacting various metal labels about a 'partnership' arrangement that would allow Spitz to produce some of the company's acts at his home studio in Florida (on which he has reportedly invested $200,000 so far) at a relatively low cost, while also providing the label with the finished masters to his solo album to release.

Roadrunner Records' latest signing, New York's HINGE (described as a less manic MUDVAYNE with the heaviness of SLIPKNOT),are putting the finishing touches to their debut release in upstate New York with producers Eddie Wohl (PRIMER 55),Steve Regina (DREAM THEATER, DAYS OF THE NEW) and Rob Caggiano (BOILER ROOM) from Scrap 60 Productions. 13 tracks are set to appear on the as-yet-untitled album, which will feature guest appearances from PRIMER 55's J-Sin and Bobby Burns. Among the titles that are set to be included on the CD are: 'Nightmare', 'Pain', 'Rot', 'Give up, Give In, Lie Down' and 'The Strength I Call My Own'. 'We're all ready for the release of the record', states HINGE lead singer Cliff Rigano. 'It's shaping up to be a hell of a year so far, and we're excited about what's to come.'

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