STUCK MOJO Contemplates Future Without Frontman BONZ

STUCK MOJO guitarist Rich Ward has issued the following update on the band's current status:

"Well, it's been a while since I've sat down to give everyone the latest goings on in the world of MOJO. It's been non-stop since the first of the year, with the writing and recording of a new record, tours of the U.K. and our first U.S. tour since 1999. To be honest, I really thought that, after a seven-year absence from touring in the States, we'd be performing in empty rooms (unless you include the bar staff and the opening bands). I was really humbled and honored that night after night, folks spent their hard-earned money to see MOJO do our thing.

"Inspired by the turnouts, my goal was to work harder and play harder than ever to earn the respect of those who came out to see us. Equally as important to the future of the band was the need to write an album that exceeded all expectations. An album that ignored trends and took chances more than we ever have before. Basically, it had to be the shit! I think the album is amazing but, ultimately, you guys and gals can let me know what you think.

"Now it's time for a MOJO family meeting. Those of you who know the history of the band already know why the band decided to part ways with Bonz in 2000. The purpose of doing a few tours before we released a new MOJO record was to see if the issues of the past had died with our egos, our immaturity and our youthful sense of immortality. Sadly, old demons don't die easily.

"Bonz is my friend and my brother. We have traveled the world together and, just like any family, shared moments of trial and triumph. I'm not going to use this forum to air what issues I view as private matters. What I can tell you is that everyone in the MOJO camp — band, crew, management and those on our extended team — agree that Bonz is not in a place at the present time where he can deliver at the level necessary to continue as a member of this band.

"In the past, Bonz' substance abuse transformed a guy we loved into someone that no one in the band wanted to be around. With that said, it rarely affected his on-stage performance. He was almost always brilliant and, during the late nineties, there is no one that I would have rather shared a stage with. All of us who share the stage with him now know that the abuse continues to affect his performance. To perform at anything less than what you, our supporters, have come to expect from us is unacceptable. We are also very aware of the recent, substance-related deaths experienced by bands such as AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE and DROWNING POOL. We refuse to stand by and watch, afraid that one morning we'll wake up to find our brother dead because the previous night was just too much. So, after the tour concluded, the band discussed our options and came up with only one solution. Bonz was to enter a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program or he would need to step down as vocalist. No exceptions. Bonz responded with a compromise where he would work on the addiction himself. Everyone from the band, crew, management and those on our extended team felt that this was too big of a risk to take when the careers and livelihoods of everyone involved was at stake to varying degrees. To gamble the band's future on someone who is the source of such instability is not an option anymore. Bonz will always be part of our family and we will continue to support him in anyway that benefits him in his quest for healing.

"So, where does that leave us? Tell us what you think. On almost every message board and in almost every web poll I've seen, 'Declaration of a Headhunter' is cited as MOJO's best record. The same is true for the two new tracks from the 'Violate This' release. This material represents the era of MOJO when Bonz and the band had split.

"With this in mind, would you continue to support STUCK MOJO with another vocalist? If we searched the world and found 'the guy,' how would you feel about it? I realize that a change of front man can go either way. I like Paul Di'Anno's work MAIDEN, and of course Bruce Dickinson as well. I'm a big fan of the John Bush era of ANTHRAX. So, in other words, I know that, with the right guy, a new STUCK MOJO era could exist.

"I encourage all of you in the worldwide MOJO family to let us know what you think. You'll find a thread in the STUCK MOJO forum at www.StuckMojo.us where we can talk about moving forward. I speak for all of us when I say that we honestly want to know what you think."

STUCK MOJO recently completed work on its new album, "Southern Born Killers", at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K. with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS).

Joining Ward and Bonz in STUCK MOJO's current recording lineup are FOZZY/DUKE bassist Sean Delson and the band's latest addition, drummer Eric Sanders.

"Southern Born Killers" projected track listing (in no particular order):

01. I'm Back
02. Southern Born Killers
03. Metal Is Dead
04. Born For This Moment
05. Friends
06. The Sky Is Falling
07. That's When I Burn
08. The Fear Is All Around Me
09. Open Season
10. In My Mind
11. Home
12. Invincible
13. Rhythm and Bullshit

"Southern Born Killers" is tentatively scheduled for release in late 2006/early 2007 through an as-yet-undetermined label. The band was previously signed to Century Media Records.