FOZZY: 'Red Tape' Forces Album Delay

FOZZY webmaster Eddie DiBergi has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Hi everyone, just wanted to pass along an update to let you know what's going on with the new album. As we've mentioned before the album has been completed and was mastered (finalized sonically) on July 28th, 2004. So, in a nutshell, it's done and everyone in the FOZZY camp is VERY pleased with the results. So what's the hold-up? I'm glad you asked.

"I'll skip the boring details but the bottom line is that we are still waiting on a couple of legal clearances from the camps of a couple guest musicians. You've all seen them before in liner notes. Things like 'Corky St. Claire appears courtesy of Guffman Records.' You'd think that getting these things would be relatively easy but, sometimes, there are many people (managers, labels, laywers, etc.) that have to sign-off before that little line is approved and the songs can be released. Without these legalities, though, things can get ugly down the line should anything arise.

"As you know, we have many fantastic guest performers who were generous enough to appear on the new disc and they are all very down with the FOZZ. But, unfortunately, we're at the mercy of the rest of the machine to get the final clearances. You can be assured though that FOZZY's management and legal counsel are trying to get everything squared away ASAP. Everything else is ready to go — the music, the packaging, etc. Just waiting on the legalities to be sorted out.

"The reality of the situation is that it also takes time to press and get the records into the distribution channels like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc. So, even when all these things are resolved it could be up to 8 weeks before it hits the shelves.

"So that's what's up with the disc. Again, it's not the guest artists who are causing the delays. Just the red tape. Keep your fingers crossed!"

As previously reported, FOZZY's third album, "All That Remains", features guest appearances by Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY),Marty Friedman (ex-MEGADETH),Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE, ex-CREED) and heavyweight rapper Bone Crusher. "All That Remains" is the follow-up to 2002's "Happenstance", which was released through Megaforce Records.