THE MERCY CLINIC Guitarist Working On Instrumental Side Project

THE MERCY CLINIC/PROFESSIONAL MURDER MUSIC guitarist Brian Harrah — who recently got engaged to AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler's daughter Mia Tyler (photo) — has issued the following update:

"Mia and I went to Boston for Xmas and are now on our way to Mexico to celebrate New Year's and my birthday. 2008 should be a great year and I look forward to another year of kick-ass new music and new friends.

"Besides the CLINIC, I've been working on some instrumental music as a side project which I will be recording and releasing in 2008. Look for a new MySpace website up once the recordings are done. I haven't come up with a name for the project yet so if I don't have one by the time the recordings are done, I'll be asking all of you for help with a name.

"The music is the farthest thing I've done from 'metal,' so I'm really proud of it as I am always trying to broaden my tastes and my influences.

"I've been listening to a lot of bands like JESU and MOGWAI lately and if you haven't heard of either of them, I strongly suggest you check out both. It's amazing that music can still be 'heavy' but doesn't have to be metal to achieve it (I'm sure the Blabbermouth kids will LOVE that statement...HA!).

"JESU is the new project by Justin of GODFLESH and MOGWAI has been around for a long time making kick-ass music. As always, NEUROSIS and THE CURE are constantly being played on my iPod as well.

"So I wish all of you the best in 2008 and will talk to you all soon.

"By noon tomorrow I'll be sipping margaritas and laying near a pool. Not to bad of a way to end the year, I must say!"

Describing how Harrah, 31, popped the question to her, Tyler, 28, recently told People.com, "[We] were just laying in bed and he stood over me and said, 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'"

But that was just their unofficial engagement. It wasn't until the following month that Harrah (who made sure to first ask permission from his father-in-law-to-be) surprised Tyler with an antique diamond ring.

"He had it in the box and got down on one knee," said Tyler, who first announced her engagement on her MySpace page. "It was playful. He's by far the greatest guy I've ever been with."

"We went over to my dad's hotel to show off the ring," Tyler told People.com. "He grabbed Brian and hugged him, and was like, 'Good job, son.' My dad absolutely loves him."

Tyler, who split from her husband of nearly two years, PAPA ROACH drummer Dave Buckner, in 2005, and Harrah, who has also been married once before, are planning a wedding for next fall — with half-sister Liv Tyler and her 3-year-old son, Milo, in the wedding party.

THE MERCY CLINIC is the California-based band featuring former DAMAGEPLAN frontman Patrick Lachman, guitarists Harrah and Josh Stinson (DRIST),bassist Steed Najera (TRIPLE SEVEN),and drummer Bevan Davies (DANZIG, COMES WITH THE FALL, JERRY CANTRELL).

THE MERCY CLINIC performing live in Orangevale, California in 2005 (footage courtesy of Capital Chaos):