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Former ANGEL WITCH Bassist Takes The High Road In Dispute With Group Founder

March 5, 2003

Former ANGEL WITCH bassist and current TYGERS OF PAN TANG vocalist Richie Wicks has released a statement regarding WITCH founder Kevin Heybourne's decision to carry on with an all-new version of the band.

The statement reads as follows:

"ANGEL WITCH as fans from 1999 onward got to know it through hard work, endless rehearsals, hours at our PC's and countless phone calls is DEAD as far as we're concerned (Wicks, guitarist Keith Herzberg, and drummer Scott Higham). As for a war of words as has been written by various people on the internet, sorry, but we're not interested. Haven't got the time. The only thing that does concern me, not that I should be surprised, is how selfishly Kevin and his 'new' line-up (though not necessarily the other guys themselves) tell WITCH fans 'don't be fooled' by the .com web site. Kevin never lifted a finger to promote the band, Keith funded almost all its promotion, I wrote all the press, Scott sold it over the phone. Oh, you bet, Kevin loved it at the time, getting all the work done for him, now it's trying to 'fool the fans'?? I don't think so! I lived and breathed ANGEL WITCH, even after we split after Kevin pulled a support with ICED EARTH for a very lame reason I still championed what we had achieved. Then, even after joining TYGERS OF PAN TANG and SHADOWKEEP I STILL agreed to give ANGEL WITCH another try. Us fooling the fans? Make your own minds up please.

"I for one am proud of what I did as a bassist when really I am a singer and I still thank Kevin for the opportunity to prove my versatility on such a grand scale, but some people ought to remember that if it wasn't for 'the other three he mills around on stage with,' Kevin Heybourne would have had no Wacken, no Live at the LA2, no Borderline, no 4-track demo, no web site, no e-mail, no Bang Your Head, nothing. So a little public 'Thank you' wouldn't have gone amiss instead of trying to make it look like we're trying to fuck things up for him.

"Kevin, we wish you all the best, we hope you now have what you always wanted. I for one am far too busy to worry about word wars with a world tour with the TYGERS coming up plus a new album NOISES FROM THE CAT HOUSE, live DVD, 'Second Wave' compilation, live album too. I will say this to all the WITCH fans, I loved every minute of it, you made us all feel so accepted despite the nostalgia crap that surrounds the band. I'll miss you all, maybe you'll all convert and join the TygerTribe instead ha ha. Either way, this is the final word, WITCH is a closed chapter, .com will stay up as long as people want it to, there are no lies on it. We had to disassociate ourselves from Kevin's unprofessional manner so the mud didn't stick to us, that's all. Kevin's new web site is www.angel-witch.net I think so check it out, it's quite good actually.

"I'll keep you updated here with the TYGERS and SHADOWKEEP movements. As far as the album goes, the final mix by Mr Rock God himself Chris Tsangarides is almost ready, we're very excited with it and can't wait for the UK tour in June prior to the USA leg in July. Just wait till you hear the new version of 'Love Potion No.9'!! IT FUCKING ROCKS! See ya on the road,

"Richie Wicks"

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