EARLY MAN Parts Ways With Drummer, Bassist

Vocalist/guitarist Mike Conte of EARLY MAN has issued the following update:

"We are currently one week into our U.S. tour with EVILE and BONDED BY BLOOD.

"I haven't had a chance to get to a computer until now so here's a much-needed update for you.

"It's been a crazy few weeks, to say the least.

"About five days before this tour started, I made the decision to part ways with Adam [Bennati], our drummer of the past seven years. A plethora of things were taken into consideration before making this difficult decision, but as the leader and founding member of the band, it is my responsibility to make decisions based on what I feel is best for myself and the band in both the short term and long term.

"I wish Adam the best in the future and have some fond memories of his time spent in the band. That being said, my number one interest as always is to take EARLY MAN to the next level, and that process continues.

"EARLY MAN has been my musical creative outlet for nearly 15 years, the band is essentially an extension of me. As always, the creative vision and everything that the band has been about since its inception continues to be steered by me and remains unchanged. There have been numerous musicians involved with the band over the years and there will be more in the future and I appreciate the time spent with all of them. For me, the beat goes on. I've already recently turned my attention to writing songs for the next EARLY MAN record and am eagerly looking towards the future with newfound interest.

"Speaking of time, I realize parting ways with a bandmember five days before the start of a U.S. tour is far from ideal, but it is what it is. We'll soon have another permanent drummer. In the meantime and in order to salvage this tour, I found a drummer through a good friend by the name of Jabari Parker in Los Angeles who learned six of our songs in one day, something that I would've thought was impossible when I started spreading the word that I was looking for a fill in for this tour. Rather than cancelling any dates, I practiced with Pete (our other guitarist) and the new drummer for about five hours and then we got into a van and drove 24 straight hours to Tulsa, Oklahoma to start our current tour. We played four shows without a bass player and then we picked up an old friend of mine in Austin, Texas who is the guitarist and singer of a band called LIONS OF TSAVO to play bass.

"Although it's been a whirlwind of insanity, we are having a fucking blast! I honesty haven't laughed this much in years. I can't remember a time in the recent past where I was having this much fun on a tour, something that has been missing in the band at least for me for many years now. Everyone from the fans to the bands have been such a huge support and they've made it easy to keep the fire burning.

"So if we're hitting your city over the next few weeks, come out and say hello, share a drink and bang your head.

"I apologize for the fact that we are playing an abbreviated set (6-8 songs a night) but the important thing is we're making it happen, and to be honest, it sounds pretty goddamn amazing given the circumstances, which attests to the talent and ability of the the fill-in drummer and bassist."

EARLY MAN's sophomore full-length album, "Death Potion", was released in July 20 The End Records. The Los Angeles- and Brooklyn–based band tracked the 12-song CD at Soundhouse Recording in Seattle, Washington with producer Jack Endino.

EARLY MAN released its debut album, "Closing In", in 2005 and then followed it up with the "Beware The Circling Fin" EP in 2008. The trio toured extensively for the past three years with such acts as ICED EARTH, SKELETONWITCH, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and HIGH ON FIRE, among others.