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Brave Bits
By Tim Henderson of Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles Magazine-Canada |
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Brave Bits
By Tim Henderson of Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles Magazine-Canada |
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6/22/98
MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza is suffering from cancer and has been replaced indefinitely by ex-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (Y&T, Alice Cooper) drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. In a message posted on Megadeth's official website (www.MEGADETH.com), Mustaine stated the following: "Droogies! I felt it was necessary to fill you in on what is happening with Nick. He told us that he had cancer in his right knee, and was going to have a complete MRI done. The results were evidently unclear as he didn't tell me if they found any cancer or not. He will have surgery on or about June 29th. Jimmy DeGrasso has been filling in for him and has done an excellent job. We feel that he has helped us in this time of need and we will continue to bring you the best Megadeth music that we can. Please pray for Nick. MUSTAINE." Megadeth will still be part of Ozzfest which begins on July 3 in Holmdel, New Jersey. DeGrasso made his debut performanceon June 10 in Fresno, CA. DeGrasso was slated to hit the road with ALICE COOPER this summer, but it looks like he'll be replaced by Eric Singer. Singer recently returned from a six week trip of Europe, where he conducted drum clinics and appeared at KISS Expos. Megadeth will are scheduled to hit the studio in January to record their ninth album with producer Dann Huff... ANNIHILATOR founding guitarist/singer Jeff Waters recently contacted BW&BK about his AWOL status: "I have been out of commission since December '97 due to a nasty separation/custody court case with my (ex!) wife. The good news is that I have both my boys and that I'm back writing for the next Annihilator CD; it sure is sounding like the first two CD'S, Alison Hell and Never, Neverland!"... DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy told London's Rock Radio Network that the band's current tour with DEEP PURPLE and ELP may be their last. In addition to 20 North American dates, the band are playing a one-off "semi-acoustic" Fan Club-only gig of old, new and cover tunes in Rotterdam and a special 2 set, 3 hour-plus gig in Paris, both of which will be recorded by Kevin Shirley for a new live album and possible home video for release in the fall. BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler stated that "there's still a possibility that Black Sabbath will do a US tour from November this year." Here's the band's headlining set list: 'War Pigs', 'N.I.B.', 'Fairies Wear Boots', 'Snowblind', 'Into The Void', 'Spiral Architect', 'Lord Of This World', 'Sweet Leaf, 'Electric Funeral', 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath', 'Black Sabbath', 'Iron Man', 'Children Of The Grave' and 'Paranoid'. OZZY's set featured 'Believer', 'I Don't Know', 'Bark At The Moon', 'Goodbye To Romance', 'I Don't Want To Change The World', 'Suicide Solution', 'Mr. Crowley' and 'Crazy Train'. Ozzy summed up Ozzfest '98 after the gig in his own inimitable way: "God got it all wrong. We should have been born sensible and get more stupid as we grow older"... Informed sources say that W.A.S.P. is now OFF the Iron Maiden tour of North America... ALL of TWO's European live dates have been cancelled, including Festival appearances in July. Let's hope Rob will wake up from the nightmare he created and transform back into a leather-clad metalhead... According to SRO Management, the forthcoming RUSH live album WILL be a triple CD, featuring two CDs of material from the Test For Echo and Counterparts tour alongside a special gift for the fans - their 1978 Hammersmith Odeon show in London, England... MONTROSE's fourth album, Jump On It, from 1976, has been reissued in Japan... Watch for BLACK 'N BLUE Live, recorded in 1997... IAN GILLAN, The Japanese Album, is a rare, lost 1978 album from the Ian Gillan Band, previously only released in Japan. It has now been reissued from Gillan's own masters... ROXX GANG has a new record out called Mojo Gurus... FIREHOUSE will be inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame on July 12. As well, Firehouse has spearheaded a lawsuit against their former label Sony Music, charging that the record company defrauded artists by underpaying them for foreign royalties and seeking compensatory and punitive damages of $70 million combined. DANGER DANGER is also part of that lawsuit, which affects 1500 artists... On June 11, METALLICA guitarist James Hetfield's wife, Francesca, gave birth to their daughter, Cali Tee Hetfield, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. And, from Sept 21st METALLICA will spend 3 weeks in the studio recording a number of new cover songs for their new 'Garage Days' CD, due Nov 17th... According to web sources, GLENN DANZIG confirmed that the original members of SAMHAIN will reunite for about eight to 10 shows in the U.S. and will release a box set, containing previously released material and some previously unreleased live tracks, is also in the works. According to a spokesperson at Danzig's Verotik publishing company, the box set will likely feature five CDs and a live video. Danzig is presently without a label since splitting from Hollywood Records. Danzig is also working on a new album, and is slated to appear at some European festivals this summer... MONSTER MAGNET, who have pulled off the MEGADETH bill in Toronto on June 28, will headline a show at Milwaukee's Summer Fest on June 27th and support Van Halen on a six date U.S. run in July. As for Van Halen, they have now cancelled all remaining dates of their European tour, blaming injuries to drummer Alex Van Halen's arm caused by falling plaster. The drummer is said to be "doing better and is in high spirits!" Fans wishing to pass Alex a get well message are invited to sendmail to: bradman@van-halen.com... The entire set at a CLUTCH gig at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on June 15th was filmed to provide footage for the video for 'The Soapmakers'... STYX is still recording its studio follow-up to last year's gold-certified CMC International album, Return To Paradise... DAVID LEE ROTH was seen doing the business at one of the Spy bar's karaoke nights in New York. On June 10th he jumped onstage for 'Just a Gigolo' before joining comedian Dominic Chianise for 'California Girls'... The new line up of PRETTY BOY FLOYD recently played in LA at the Key Club with BULLETBOYS... PAUL SABU's new album, Between The Light, features former Bonfire men Angel Schleifer and Joerg Disinger... ANTHRAX's White Noise: The Videos, is a Japanese-only release, 29 minutes long with all six of the promo videos made to support their 1993 album Sound Of White Noise and 1995's Stomp 442: 'Room For One More', 'Only', 'Hy Pro Glo', 'Fueled', 'Nothing' and 'Black Lodge'... ANTHRAX's new album, Volume 8 - The Threat Is Real is released in Japan with 'Giving The Horns' added as a hidden bonus track. The initial pressing also contains a 5" x 5" logo sticker sheet with two stickers... TEN vocalist Gary Hughes has released his solo album, Precious Ones. In Your Eyes is the name of the first Japanese edition EP from the record. It contains two versions of 'In Your Eyes' (EP Version & Karaoke Version), plus three tracks released for this EP only: 'The Miracle Is You', 'Be My Fantasy Tonight and 'All Fall Down'... The first Japanese single from ERIC MARTIN's new solo album, Somewhere In The Middle, is 'Fly On A Wall'. It's backed with 'Wink And A Smile' and the previously unreleased 'Stayin' Close To You'... RICHIE SAMBORA has released a two-CD 1998 Tour Edition of his Undiscovered Soul album. The first CD is the solo record with 'All That Really Matters' added as a bonus track. The bonus CD is limited to the initial pressing with live versions of six songs recorded on his 1991 tour: 'Bad Medicine' and 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' (presented as a medley with the ALLMAM BROTHERS' 'Midnight Rider'), plus THE BEATLES' 'A Little Help From My Friends', as well as 'We All Sleep Alone', 'Stranger In This Town' and 'I'll Be There For You'... PANTERA's Ozzfest U.K. appearance marks the end of a two-year stint on the road. Phil Anselmo will now be taking a well-deserved week off in New Orleans before returning to more writing and work with his side project DOWN... ZAKK WYLDE recently posted this on AOL: "Looking for a bassist. Preferably a guitarist who's willing to play bass. Fender P Bass preferred. Mid/Late 20's, early 30's. CRUSHINGLY HEAVY. If you don't dig Cliff Burton don't bother replying. Send cassette tape and photos to: Zakk Wylde, P.O. Box 801898, Santa Clarita, CA, 91380-1898. Take care. Zakk"...
OzzFest tour dates:
US dates:
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Tim Henderson
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