Report: Heavy Metal Bandmember Says Bassist Stabbed Crew Manager

August 17, 2007

Bob Fowler of the Knoxville News Sentinel reports: A heavy-metal band member repeatedly stabbed the crew manager in the chest after a Knoxville, Tennessee show with a knife the group used as a stage prop, according to testimony Thursday in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

During performances, the knife was used to stab a doll filled with strawberry jelly, band member Brandon Love testified.

Love said after Thursday's hearing that the band, now dissolved, was named "MALIGNANT CHRIST" (MySpace page).

An attempted first-degree murder charge against bass guitarist Zebulon D. Rouse, 22, of Knoxville, was sent to an Anderson County grand jury following the hearing.

Rouse is accused of stabbing Christopher McDowell, 23, of Clinton, with a butterfly-style knife early Aug. 5 while they were both seated in the back of a van traveling on West Wolf Valley Road.

The men had been bickering after a "battle of the bands" performance Aug. 4 at the Long Branch Saloon in Knoxville, according to testimony.

"McDowell was getting on Mr. Rouse's nerves quite a bit," said Love, who was driving the van. Rouse told McDowell "he was getting a little bit mouthy," Love testified.

Read the entire article at www.knoxnews.com.

Watch MALIGNANT CHRIST performing at the "Karaoke Battle of the Bands" with original lineup:

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