Thrash legends SLAYER have issued the following open letter to fans around the world:
“Slayer fans everywhere – it’s time to let you know what is going on with our brother Jeff Hanneman. As you know, Jeff was bitten by a spider more than a year ago, but what you may not have known was that for a couple of days after he went to the ER, things were touch-and-go. There was talk that he might have to have his arm amputated, and we didn’t know if he was going to pull through at all. He was in a medically-induced coma for a few days and had several operations to remove the dead and dying tissue from his arm. So, understand, he was in really, really bad shape. It’s been about a year since he got out of the hospital, and since then, he had to learn to walk again, he’s had several painful skin grafts, he’s been in rehab doing exercises to regain the strength in his arm; but best of all, he’s been playing guitar. We were all excited when he joined us onstage for the encore a year ago at The Big Four show at Coachella (see photo below).
Since then, we’ve given him all the time and support he’s needed to continue his rehab so he can come back to the band fully recovered and able to deliver the kind of shows we all want him to. While Jeff’s been doing some writing and has been coming to rehearsal over the past several weeks, he has decided he needs to take more time to continue his rehab. While we want him back onstage with the band, all of us support his decision. So, we’re very grateful that Gary Holt (EXODUS) will continue to fill in for Jeff, and will tour with us until Jeff completes his rehab and is ready to return. How long will that be? The best and most honest answer we can give you is ‘as long as it takes.’ We also wanted you to know that we’ve been doing some writing and recording for the next Slayer album – we’ve tracked a few songs, and will finish the album when we’re off the road later this year. Gary will join us on tour in Europe and the UK in May and June, and then we’ll all see you on this Summer’s Mayhem Festival.
On April 12, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke to Loudwire about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band’s next album, tentatively due later in the yaer. “We’ve only been working on it for a couple of weeks right now, since our producer from the last record [Greg Fidelman] had a small window and me and Dave [Lombardo, drums] are working on nine songs so we thought we could get in and finish two or three and demo everything else so that’s what we’re trying to do now,” he said. “I don’t know if anything will come out by [the time we hit the road as part of this summer’s Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] or not. Hopefully we’ll get two done and we can get it out to Mayhem.”
Lombardo confirmed to Metal Injection at the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards — which was held on April 11 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California — that the band will release a new EP prior to taking part Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
During an interview with The Nervous Breakdown, Lombardo stated about SLAYER‘s current status, “[We’re] writing new music. Kerry [King, guitar] and I are writing new material. We have nine songs and everything’s moving forward.”
When asked what the new material sounds like, Lombardo said, “[It sounds like] SLAYER. . . Traditional fans will be pacified and non-traditional fans will be like, ‘Again?'”
On the topic of when SLAYER fans can expect to hear some new music from the band, Lombardo said, “I don’t know, but we’re going to do a three- or four-song EP to keep the fans pacified until we come out with the full-length record. Kind of like what we did with ‘Psycopathy Red’, which was like a two-song 45.”
PHILM — the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — will take part in an online chat via Yowie on Tuesday, May 1 at 1 p.m. PT. More information is available at this location.
PHILM will release its debut album, “Harmonic”, on May 15 via Ipecac Recordings.
“Harmonic” track listing:
01. Vitriolize
02. Mitch
03. Hun
04. Area
05. Way Down
06. Harmonic
07. Exuberance
08. Sex Amp
09. Amoniac
10. Held in Light
11. Dome
12. Killion
13. Mezzanine
14. Mild
15. Meditation
The song “Area” is now available for streaming using the <>SoundCloud player below (courtesy of Terrorizer magazine).
“When people hear about my involvement in PHILM, they automatically assume that it will compare to SLAYER’s sound,” explains Lombardo. “They couldn’t be more different. I have scaled down my drum set to a four-piece, reminiscent of the drummers from the late ’60s that influenced me. Each song is unique in itself, I like to refer to it as ‘rhythmic emotion.’ It’s almost like taking all the heavy songs of the ’60s and bringing that era to a modern plateau, then blending them with the modern trance and psychedelic sounds of today.”
“We decided to record Harmonic in the intimate setting of a home, with various vintage recording equipment,” says Lombardo on the band’s debut album. “The music was written collectively in an improvisational manner, unlike the majority of recordings I’ve done before. This was very important given this is my first recording where I’m carrying the title of producer and performer. The album achieves a dense, unholy convergence of tones and discords. We also touch on haunting, desolate, ambient sounds. Our music tends to be written in a manner where we never know the outcome until we listen back to what we recorded. A harmonic journey.”
While there are elements of metal detected throughout PHILM‘s sound, the band manages to also incorporate such other styles as jazz, ambient, hardcore punk, experimental, and funk into its unpredictable, cacophony-heavy style. An obvious reason for this multi-genre amalgamation can be directly linked to the gentlemen that play alongside Lombardo in PHILM — Tomaselli is a longtime member of funk rockers WAR, and Nestler fronts prog metallists CIVIL DEFIANCE. Add it all up, and you get the wonderful world of PHILM.
In an interview with AOL‘s Noisecreep, Nestler stated about PHILM‘s formation, “Dave and I first got together in 1997 to start an original band. We later regrouped between SLAYER‘s scheduled tour dates in late 2009, playing some upstairs jams at the Rainbow in Hollywood. We then decided to restart our band. Pancho had met Dave a few years back at one Dave‘s drum clinics and we decided to invite him in.”
Regarding PHILM‘s sound, Nestler said, “The music of PHILM is channeled through the many different influences of drum and bass, expressionism, and underground that ranges via ancient and indigenous to street. There are many different things that Dave and I have been into that have contributed to the vision of PHILM. Pancho‘s highly skilled bass playing, chordal color and shape have helped expand the overall sound instrumentation and groove. Dave Lombardo‘s drumming goes without comparison, except that it might be said, to quote Pancho that ‘it’s like playing with the seven, not four, horses of the Apocalypse behind you.'”
PHILM officially took form in late 2010 with a handful of tour dates and an early four-song demo that quickly began to make the rounds of in-the-know music critics. Noisecreep said the band “has crafted a crunchy, thrashy, yet thoroughly unclassifiable sound” and the OC Weekly said of the trio: “PHILM‘s ability to melt down metal influences and mix them with the elements of funk, ambient jazz and punk… is potent and has left audiences wondering how so much noise could emanating from just three musicians.”
Ipecac Recordings is the brainchild of Greg Werckman (former label manager for the legendary punk label Alternative Tentacles) and FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton, who played with Lombardo in the eclectic supergroup FANTÔMAS.
Video footage of PHILM performing on May 29, 2011 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California can be viewed below (courtesy of Metal Assault).
California thrash metal legends SLAYER have released their own Sweden-exclusive red wine. The name of the wine, “Reign In Blood”, is taken from the band’s classic album, which came out in 1986.
In the past few years, hard rock acts like MOTÖRHEAD, AC/DC and KISS have all launched their own wines, and now it’s time for SLAYER to join in the battle for the thirsty metalheads, reports the Swedish business magazine Dagens Media.
Behind the launch is the start-up company Brands For Fans.
The fact that Sweden is the first market to enjoy the “Reign In Blood” wine is a well-thought-out strategy.
“Sweden is a good market to start with,” says Brands For Fans founder Sari H Wilholm. “We are a small country but we have incredibly dedicated fans, which makes it worthwhile to do the test launch in Sweden.”
For the launch, Brands For Fans hired Agent Kommunikation, which designed the bottle and wrote the press release.
According to Wilholm, the response to the wine has been astounding. If the wine is successful, she hopes to export it to other countries.
“The demand has been enormous; we never expected it to be quite like this,” she says. “Given the reactions, there seems to be a lot of SLAYER fans out there. Especially the response we have received from Finland, which has a lot of metalheads.”
When asked why it was a good idea to launch a SLAYER wine, Wilholm tells Dagens Media, “I think people understand that SLAYER would never sell their name without having been involved throughout the process and having tried and approved the product. That kind of commitment, I think, is different from other artists who release similar products.”
She adds, “It is quite unexpected for a band like SLAYER to release a wine, but they are just ordinary guys who like the same things as you and I do.”
The wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon from California, is as uncomprimising and tough as the band. After a couple of Seasons in the Abyss, the wine has an undisputed attitude and a soft nose of dark berry fruits with oak and spicy nuances. Good mouth feel with hints of fresh fruit and juicy, smooth tannins. Well structured and rounded with subtle notes of oak, showing true Divine Intervention. Enjoy it while headbanging, riffing or with food, friends and great music. Reign in Wine!
Name: SLAYER “Reign In Blood” Red Cabernet Sauvignon
Item No.: 74527-09
Year: 2010
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: California, USA
Quantity: 6 bottles (cardboard)
Price: 714 SEK (approximately $107) per cardboard box (6 bottles)
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King has released the following statement regarding the passing of his longtime tech Armand Crump (pictured below):
“Holy shit. Never thought I’d be writing this.
“The world lost a great man yesterday.
“It was an incredibly rough day for me, I can’t imagine what it was like for his family and Cassie [Armand‘s longtime girlfriend Cassandra Dines]. Needless to say, no one saw this coming.
“I thought I had a great guitar tech until the day I retire.
“Life is short. Enjoy what you have while you have it.
”I was one of the few lucky ones. I saw him Friday, played him some new SLAYER and watched him bang his head and play air guitar.
“What a great dude!! I even got what may have been his last man hug.
“Love ya, buddy.”
For more musician tributes and remembrances of Crump, go to this location.
Video footage of Armand Crump taking Dunlop TV through King‘s live rig back in 2010 can be seen below.
Several musicians and members of the rock music community have paid tribute to SLAYER guitarist Kerry King‘s longtime tech Armand Crump (pictured below), who passed away earlier today.
Dave Lombardo (SLAYER): “SLAYER and the metal road crew community is mourning the loss of a hard worker and dear friend Armand Butts Crump III. He was the best, he had to be to work for Kerry King. I’m going to miss him fucking with me from stage left. I still can’t believe it. We are deeply saddened. RIP ABCIII.”
GUNS N’ ROSES: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague and friend. Your spirit lives on! RIP Armand.”
Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH): “Rest In Peace guitar tech, Armand Crump.”
Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD): “It’s times like these when I realize how much I take for granted how lucky and blessed I am to have my health and the love of family and friends. My thoughts and prayers go out to Armand‘s family. The world is a darker place without you my friend, you will be sorely missed.”
Zach Myers (SHINEDOWN): “For the big man with a even bigger heart … Boise tonight is for Armand! Thanks for being so nice to me.”
Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT): “One of the best guitar techs I’ve ever known, Armand Crump — whom I borrowed from my friend Kerry last year — has passed away. RIP AC.”
Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD): “A bro died — Kerry King‘s tech Armand Crump. Known him for 12 years, from the very first LAMB OF GOD tour when he was with AMEN. RIP bro. We will miss you”
Rob Dukes (EXODUS): “I will miss you my friend. Me and John are gonna take our ride in your honor. You will be missed.”
Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA): “Fuck!!! Just heard about Armand!!! Man, this sucks big time, So sad. My feelings goes to Armand‘s family. RIP my friend….”
Paolo Gregoletto (TRIVIUM): “Just heard about Armand, Kerry King‘s tech, passing away. He was a very nice dude and always treated us well when we toured together.”
Matt DeVries (FEAR FACTORY, CHIMAIRA, SIX FEET UNDER): “Armand was a such a great dude and was always nothing but kind and helpful to me when I was in Chimaira. RIP brother.”
Brian Fair (SHADOWS FALL): “So sad to hear about Armand Crump passing away. Was a great friend for years. Teched for Amen on one of the 1st ever Shad tours. RIP brother.”
Tony Campos (SOULFLY, ex-STATIC-X): “Saddened to hear an old friend, Armand Butts Crump, passed today. His bad attempts at cholo Spanish always made me laugh. Rest in piece, my friend.”
Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED): “My heart hurts for the friends & family of Armand Crump. He always made me smile. R.I.P.”
Chris Beattie (HATEBREED): “The world lost a really awesome guy RIP Armand Crump.”
Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY): “Just heard about guitarist Kerry King‘s longtime tech Armand Crump passing away. Great guy… Was always cool to see him. Very sad news. RIP”
Mark Hunter (CHIMAIRA): “RIP Armand… always treated us like family.”
EMG: “SLAYER tech Armand Butts Crump passed away today. We don’t have any of the details but our hearts and thoughts go out to the SLAYER camp and all of Armand‘s friends and family. Armand was a really kick-ass guy and one hell of a tech… It’s a sad day to lose someone so talented and so young. R.I.P. brother…”
Brian Slagel (Metal Blade Records): “This is terrible, Armand was such a great guy. We are saddened by the tragic loss. Your spirit lives on! RIP Armand.”
Video footage of Armand Crump taking Dunlop TV through King‘s live rig back in 2010 can be seen below.
Photo below courtesy of EMG – Source: Blabbermouth.net
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