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REDEMPTION: Fund To Aid Guitarist Bernie Versailles Created

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 3, 2014
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

BernieVersailles

On the morning of October 5th, 2014, guitarist Bernie Versailles of Redemption, Agent Steel, Engine, Masters Of Metal and others, suffered a brain aneurysm and was rushed to an emergency room in Southern California for an operation. While many know him as a talented guitarist, songwriter, and recording engineer, Bernie is also a loving friend, son, brother, and parent — alongside his longtime partner Soma — to two young children, Sevina and Apollo. Those who know him can attest that his personality radiates kindness, generosity, and humility.

Last week, Bernie underwent a successful craniotomy to permanently fix his aneurysm; physical therapy will follow.

Longtime friends Gary Wells and Juan Garcia wish to rally the worldwide metal community to assist Bernie’s fight in overcoming this unexpected health hurdle by launching a fundraising page on YouCaring.com. Thus far, nearly $5800 has been raised. No matter how small, donations will aid in Bernie’s rehabilitation toward a full recovery and will help his family cope with the growing medical expenses.

Your concern and compassion toward a much loved human being who has given his heart and talent to the world is greatly appreciated.

Donations for Bernie Versailles are being accepted RIGHT HERE.

REDEMPTION‘s latest release, Live From The Pit, was released in September via Sensory Records. The new live-recorded audio/visual full-length album from Los Angeles-based progressive superforce was filmed and recorded as the band co-headlined the world-famous 2012 installment of the annual ProgPower Festival in Atlanta, where the band performed a unique show featuring nearly eighty minutes of material and staged with complementary visuals that drive home the compelling emotional impact of this band. This monumental performance not only captured the special ability of the band’s music to deeply connect with fans, the tradition now continues, as the set becomes available as Live From The Pit, a massive package including the full album in both audio CD as well as a joining DVD which features a 5.1 surround mix, bonus material/features and more.

http://www.redemptionweb.com – http://www.facebook.com/RedemptionBand – http://twitter.com/redemptionmetal – http://www.lasersedgegroup.com – http://www.facebook.com/TheLasersEdge

REDEMPTION Guitarist Nick Van Dyk Issues Message On Bernie Versailles’ Condition

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 8, 2014
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Bernie-Versailles2
As we earlier today reported, Bernie Versailles, Guitarist For REDEMPTION /AGENT STEEL, is in coma after suffering aneurysm.

Los Angeles’ REDEMPTION‘s Guitarist/Keyboardist Nick Van Dyk has issued, via the band’s Official Facebook Page, his message on Bernie’s condition:

Friends –

I have been struggling with whether or not to comment about our friend and bandmate Bernie’s condition as it is first and foremost a matter for him and his family. However, the news has gotten out, and we have had many expressions of concern and support, so I wanted to acknowledge them. And it’s therefore time at this point to talk a bit about our friend, while keeping details at the appropriate level.

As I understand it, Bernie felt nauseous on Saturday, which as it turns out is a warning sign for an aneurism, but who would have known? He slept that evening and through the next day when some friends found him and were unable to wake him. They noticed blood, called an ambulance, and had him brought to a hospital, where surgery was performed. Surgery went well but he remains in very serious condition at this time (that is not a hospital’s designation — that is meant literally: it is very serious). Out of respect for Bernie and his family, this is as much information as I am comfortable sharing.

Bernie is young and in otherwise good health, and those are favorable factors for recovery. I do not have details on the severity of Bernie’s condition upon arrival, which is the other factor. Evidently an aneurism is not something that needs to be attended to within half an hour of happening; surgery is typically performed within 24 hours, so it is certainly possible that everything will be fine.

As any fan of Redemption, Agent Steel, Engine or Bernie’s other projects knows, he is immensely talented. Those of us who know him can also attest that he is incredibly kind, gentle, humble, funny, giving and a dozen other adjectives. He has two beautiful children and a long-time girlfriend who need him. He has a lot of music left in him. He’s also a fighter.

I would ask that those of you who consider yourselves religious, keep Bernie and his family in your prayers, and for those of you who are not religious, send positive thoughts. My hope is that I will be able to update you very soon and let you know that Bernie is recovering and doing well.

Thanks for you concerns.

Nick van Dyk

REDEMPTION/AGENT STEEL Guitarist Bernie Versailles In Coma

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 8, 2014
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . 1 Comment

Bernie-Versailles
Metal Fortress CT Radio Station, via their Official Facebook Page, has issued that Bernie Versailles, Guitarist For Redemption/Agent Steel, is in coma after suffering aneurysm:

According to Arizona punk act We Steal Copper, Redemption/Agent Steel guitarist Bernie Versailles has apparently suffered an aneurysm and is current in a coma. As of yet, there has been no official press statement from either the Versailles family or Redemption.

The post on We Steal Copper’s Facebook pages as of last night reads: “Please keep our best friend & camera man, Bernie Versailles, in your prayers. He is in a coma right now after suffering an anyerism. Some of you know him from our Beer Pong video shoot. Some of you may know him as the guitarist of Agent Steel. We know & love him like family. Either way he has been with us since the beginning and he and his family need all the positive energy. Thank u guys!”

This morning, the band posted the following statement from Agent Steel bassist Michael Zaputil: “Michael here. First off, I want to thank all of you. I want to thank Bernie’s and my forever brothers in the Agent Steel family, Juan, Karlos,Rick, and Chuck. I also want to thank our brothers in the thrash community who have expressed their concerns. I love you all more than I could express, it is exactly how we pulled together in the first place and took the world as our own back when it mattered.

But I have to get this off my chest. It isn’t fair. Bernie and I joined Agent Steel together in late 1985. He was 18, I was 26. Before that as a teenager, he devoted himself to being the best musician possible, but he was also a gifted natural.

Clean living. Dedicated. In contrast, I on the other hand from the late ’70s through the ’80s was Sid Vicious and Kurt Cobain combined. I did enough blow and heroin to keep the Afghan and South American drug cartels in business for years, and trust me, that is no exaggeration. Along with being a heavy drinker and smoker. Still smoking actually.At that time, I considered
myself a Christian, talk about a walking contradiction. Here is a guy that never abused his physical body though, took his music totally seriously, and than this. Just one of many things nowadays that make no sense to me. I happen to know that there are enough of us sending positive prayer and energy to see him through this. It will happen, I will not accept this otherwise. He and I have been through things together you wouldn’t believe. Going on thirty years. Way too much to get stopped in our tracks now, we have much work to do. And I’m sorry I didn’t respond to some of you earlier, when I get hit with something like this, I tend to pull away and go into my shell. I’m fucked up that way. But bless you all….”

Redemption founder Nick van Dyk posted an update on the surgery: “Doctors operated on him and said it was successful and vitals are good, but Bernie is not out of the woods by any stretch. I think we will keep updates to a minimum as this is a matter for his family. Please keep Bernie and his family in your thoughts and prayers. He is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people one could ever meet, and his talent is as big as his heart.”

Redemption, signed to Inside Out Music, is one of the leading progressive metal bands in the world today. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 2000 by guitarist / keyboardist / songwriter Nicolas van Dyk, the band features legendary progressive metal vocalist Ray Alder of Fates Warning, as well as guitarist Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel), the phenomenal rhythm section of Chris Quirarte (drums)

Send your prayers — Metal Fortress