Former CELTIC FROST Mainman: 'The Biggest Mistake I Have Ever Made In My Life'

Former CELTIC FROST frontman Tom Gabriel Fischer has posted the following update on his blog:

"It is, apparently, the nature of my personality and my career. I have lived a life in which I have frequently and always voluntarily accepted risks to my art, my existence, and my financial security. I have exposed myself uncounted times and very publicly, and I have never hesitated making controversial decisions. It has always been this course of action which has defined me and my path as well as my music. At the same time, this approach has often made me fail miserably, and my audaciousness has led me to make plenty of mistakes, some of them very serious ones.

"And yet, the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life was to agree to Martin Eric Ain's proposal to add that one member to the line-up of the reformed CELTIC FROST, in late 2002. Regardless of the urgency of the situation then, and in spite of the enormous difficulties we encountered in finding an adequate drummer in Switzerland, it is a mistake I will never forgive myself for, until the day I die. Particularly so, since I subconsciously sensed it was a mistake even within the first week of rehearsals.

"His litanies continue verbally and in writing, even as CELTIC FROST no longer exists. They have affected friends, musicians, fans, as well as CELTIC FROST's band and crew members, who have all become an involuntary, awkward audience. Even notwithstanding my own very clear opinion regarding the above, it is a disgrace and an immense display of disrespect towards the history of CELTIC FROST and the sentiments of the group's dedicated friends and fans. It is a betrayal of what we agreed to as the group disintegrated. It is a descent into the muck utterly inappropriate for CELTIC FROST, even in death."

Tom Gabriel Fischer recently announced the formation of his new band, TRIPTYKON, also featuring Reed St. Mark (ex-CELTIC FROST),V. Santura (DARK FORTRESS) and Vanja Slay. Check out the group's logo at this location. The first audio sample, a track called "Cucifixus", can be heard on TRIPTYKON's official MySpace page.

Commented Fischer: "TRIPTYKON will sound as close to CELTIC FROST as is humanly possible, and the album I am working on will feature all the material I envisioned for the successor to [CELTIC FROST's] 'Monotheist'. I desire the album to be a darker, heavier, and slightly more experimental development of 'Monotheist'.

"'Cucifixus' is but one of many compositions to that end. TRIPTYKON is not defined by just this one song, however, just like CELTIC FROST was not defined by 'Totengott' alone."

Fischer announced his departure from CELTIC FROST in April, citing "the irresolvable, severe erosion of the personal basis so urgently required to collaborate within a band so unique, volatile, and ambitious."

It was reported earlier in the year that CELTIC FROST was putting together an album tentatively titled "Monotheist Companion" that will feature unreleased songs from 2006's "Monotheist" sessions and rearrangements of tracks from the album.