Bassist REX BROWN Will Not Return To DOWN, Says Drummer JIMMY BOWER

MetalChroniques.fr conducted an interview with DOWN drummer Jimmy Bower before the band's June 14, 2011 performance at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about the status of DOWN's bassist, Rex Brown (formerly of PANTERA),who is not currently touring with the group (he is being replaced by Patrick Bruders of CROWBAR),Bower said, "It's a real delicate situation, because what he went through was really [In 2009 Brown was diagnosed with pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas which can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment. Ed.] I mean, he's got a scar from here [points to his stomach] all the way to here. We just wish him to find peace within himself and be healthy, and we weren't seeing that for DOWN. We have Pat now. Pat's playing bass. Pat's from New Orleans, [which] makes sense. He plays with CROWBAR as well." He added, "We love Rex to death, man, and wish him the best. He has a new project as well KILL DEVIL HILL, with Vinny Appice [DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL] and I know he's having fun doing that. He gave Pat his blessing, so it was on a good term [that we parted ways]. But he will not be back."

During a press conference at this year's Sweden Rock Festival, DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo stated about Brown, "Just to put it kindly, [Rex] needs to address some personal things in his life and when he has to address these personal things, the extremity of them, it's gonna take him away from music and touring and stuff like that. We all support him, we love him, we're still very close with him, speak with him all the time. . . We wish the best for him."

Speaking to The Delaware County Daily Times, DOWN guitarist Pepper Keenan stated about Brown, "Rex is not gonna be with us [on the road for the upcoming shows]. He's got things he needs to deal with, and we gave him an ultimatum and he's trying to work things out. We've got Pat from CROWBAR playing bass, and he's ass-kickin' in the same way. He plays with his fingers which is really cool; he's got the whole Geezer Butler thing going on."

When asked if Rex was still considered a part of DOWN, Pepper replied, "I don't know what to really say on that; he's not out of the band, but he's not playing with us live."

During a recent interview with the "Focus In The Mix With Denise Ames" TV show, Brown was asked if he still speaks to Anselmo. "We're having a little marital spat, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm in the doghouse," he replied.