METAL CHURCH Drummer Explains Concert Cancellations

METAL CHURCH has issued the following update:

"Yesterday we put up an announcement stating that drummer Jeff Plate had incurred an injury at the Nashville show and due to that some shows would be cancelled. The announcement was put together very quickly because we wanted to get the word out to the ticketholders in order to avoid as much inconvenience for them as possible; however, we did not have all the facts at that time." The following is a statement from Jeff himself explaining the circumstances behind the cancellations:

"As much as we did not like making the decision to cancel shows, I personally am also upset at the vague explanation that was posted about my situation. I did not injure my back the other night. I have had a herniated disc in my upper back since 1994, which I did to myself hitting golf balls one day in Buffalo on my first SAVATAGE tour. This flares up once every couple of years, and unfortunately it decided to rear its ugly head now. The disc swells and pinches the sciatic nerve in my left arm, which causes more pain when I'm not moving than it does when I'm playing, and unfortunately not playing is the only way it heals.

My doctor has always recommended against surgery, and a traction unit to relief the pressure and time off is the only way to help this. And, not to make excuses, but I've been drumming now solid for four months straight: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA rehearsals, the tour and now the METAL CHURCH tour. This tour has beaten us all up. The schedule has been crazy to say the least, the weather has been terrible, problems with the bus, no heat, arriving late to the venue and helping unload and setting up my drums, no days off... it all caught up to me, and everyone else for that matter. Let's face it, I'm not a kid anymore. This sucks, trust me.

"I cannot honestly say when I'll be able to play at this intensity again, but it is generally several weeks. I have some work with Mark Wood at the end of February, but it is not nearly as demanding. There are many people involved in putting this tour on and it obviously affects everyone. Once again, sincere apologies to everyone."

As previously reported, the five current members of METAL CHURCH will host "The Classic Metal Show" on Saturday, February 3. Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar),Ronny Munroe (vocals),Jay Reynolds (guitar),Steve Unger (bass) and Jeff Plate (drums) will discuss their current album, "A Light in the Dark", as well as the history of the band, the passing of David Wayne, and their involvement in other bands, including MALICE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, CHRIS CAFFERY, SAVATAGE and PRESTO BALLET.

"The Classic Metal Show" is heard live every Saturday from 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. EST, and in rebroadcast throughout the week.

To view the weekly schedule or to tune in, go to www.theclassicmetalshow.com.

Escapi Music has set a February 23 German release date for a live METAL CHURCH DVD featuring the band's now 1991 performance at the Dynamo Open Air festival in Eindhoven, Holland. The footage features the band touring in support of its "The Human Factor" album with the following lineup:

Mike Howe (vocals)
Craig Marshall (guitars)
Craig Wells (guitars)
Duke Erickson (bass)
Kirk Arrington (drums)

METAL CHURCH's video for the song "Mirror of Lies" has been posted online at this location (you must have Flash enabled to view the video). The clip was shot by Roax Films on the band's "Light in the Dark" summer European tour at the Wacken Open Air festival and in Hamburg at the Markthalle.

METAL CHURCH's latest album, "A Light in the Dark", was released in Europe on June 19, 2006 (June 27 in the U.S.) via SPV. The CD includes a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.