BEATALLICA Parts Ways With Guitarist, Seeks Replacement

Milwaukee-based BEATALLICA, a satirical mashup act whose hilarious schtick marries the songwriting prowess of the BEATLES to the deep-throated rock growl of METALLICA, has issued the following update:

"We've been busy working on several different things over the last month: shows for the U.S. and Europe, moving forward on some legal issues, getting some new stuff gathered from the last few shows to put up on the site, and unfortunately, a loss...

"Our lead player, Krk Hammettson, real name Michael Brandenburg, has announced to us that he is unable to perform live with BEATALLICA. He's becoming quite a Renaissance man — now the Mr. Mom of two creative kids and has another on the way, due towards the end of September. He's been weighing some options in his life and has come to the conclusion that it's best to be home with the kiddies and their mom, whom some of you know as sk8raw on the BEATALLICA forum.

"With the band looking towards the future with many plans in store, it is possible you may see the former Krk popping up in some places, but it wont be as a live guitar player with BEATALLICA. He's a close friend of ours and, much like our former bandmate Lee Bruso (Kliff),we've all played together, been in formal events together (tie excluded, please),and have literally grown up together. If there are ways Michael can be involved with the project, and it's best for everyone's time and families, then we would happily look to those days.

"Family and community is a great thing. If there is one reason for Michael to not be able to give all the needed aspects to BEATALLICA, this is a damn good reason. He was a founding member of this oddball band. His creativity, along with the co-songwriting between him and Jaymz, is obviously something we'll miss. You folks out there just should've been at some of the initial songwriting sessions...! We wish him and his family many blessings, much rock, and a raised pint.

"Now, this doesn't mean that the band is heading into a long layoff...quite the contrary. We've been looking at some candidates to take Michael's place. Though we wont find anyone with quite the same, uh...panache and affinity for cushy socks, shall we say....(or anyone nearly as skinny) we have narrowed the field to include fans of both THE BEATLES and METALLICA, musicians that are talented, experienced, creative, expressive, and have plenty of punch. We hope to have our decision on someone before long, hopefully no later than a matter of weeks, as we have started to book shows for the fall and have begun talks for early 2007. We'll be ready — we hope you are too! Hell, we were ready to go back out for a road trip after a mere matter of days upon our return home in May. Watch for an announcement on officially booked shows before August is through."

BEATALLICA last year received help from METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich in their dispute with the Sony Corporation over BEATALLICA's "unlawful use" of the group's compositions "without authorization or license." The case has since been resolved, with BEATALLICA being allowed once again to operate their web site, Beatallica.org, and continue performing their patented blend of BEATLES tunes in a METALLICA style.