Drummer GENE HOGLAN: 'STRAPPING YOUNG LAD Is Not Disappearing Anytime Soon'

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan has rejected reports that the band will split up shortly after completing their current second-stage slot at this year's Ozzfest.

In a recent interview with Finland's Imperiumi webzine, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend revealed that the band's upcoming album, "The New Black", will likely be their last. "I signed a five-album deal with Century Media and this is now the fifth," he said. "There you have five records; they are very happy with that and I've done my job. Next! (laughs)" Asked what the Century Media people thought when he told them that he was going to take rest of the year off to be with his family," Devin said, "Well, this might get me in trouble, but I couldn't care less. Should I be on tour while I have a newborn baby at home? My wife is pregnant, so should I be far from home drinking booze and pretending that I care about heavy metal? In how many different ways I can say that I don't care? In how many ways I can say that I'm through with this thing? I said I'd make five records, [and] I did them. We are now doing a European tour, playing some big shows. Fine. We'll do Ozzfest; those are big shows too. We don't need anything else, in my opinion. . . You can keep 'The New Black', I don't care anymore. Keep the rights to the band, do what you want. I don't care anymore, and I think it is just stupid. The manager, the band and record company look at me now just like I am the enemy, because I feel this way. But what can you do? You can't just keep going like this anymore. I have done this for a several years now."

Responding to Devin's comments from the Imperiumi interview, Hoglan has issued the following statement:

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I read the Finnish interview. True, Dev is burnt out, and of course he can change his mind quicker than bolt of lightning, but, just two days ago, he and I were talking about the next SYL record, what we're gonna do on it, and how absolutely mind-blowing it will be. We ARE taking some time off for Devin to have some much-needed family time, but, we ARE hitting the road again in March 2007, headlining tours of both America and Europe, as well as Australia and the Far East. And I am shooting the straight shit with you, as I always do. We are too good to just dissolve, and those are Dev's words. I will never apologize for one of my bandmates speaking his mind, and if that was what was on Devin's mind at that exact time and date, then that's what was on his mind. Give the man some space. Don't worry kiddies, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD is not disappearing anytime soon. We are a fuckin' fungus. No cream or lotion is gonna do us in that easily. Unless, of course, it's Vagisil."