| Rockin' News: Breaking News for July 22, 2009 |
ANTHRAX Splits With Singer DAN NELSON
JOHN BUSH To Fill In For U.K.'s SONISPHERE
ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, has released the following statement to
BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"The members of ANTHRAX have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this
development, ANTHRAX's slot on the U.S. SLIPKNOT dates set for August and September, has also
been cancelled. ANTHRAX is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to
hitting the road before the end of the year."
JOHN BUSH To Fill In For U.K.'s SONISPHERE
ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, has released the following statement to
BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"The members of ANTHRAX have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this
development, ANTHRAX's slot on the U.S. SLIPKNOT dates set for August and September, has also
been cancelled. ANTHRAX is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to
hitting the road before the end of the year."
Dan Nelson: The singer's brief stint with
Anthrax has come to an end.
Anthrax has come to an end.
According to ANTHRAX's management, the band's new album, Worship Music, which was previously due in Europe on October 23 via Nuclear
Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." It is not presently clear if Dan Nelson's tracks will be erased from the CD, which
was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as
MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).
Zivkovic continues in his statement: "As announced last week, thrash legends ANTHRAX regretfully cancelled the first three dates on the
second leg of their European tour due to new vocalist Dan Nelson's unexpected illness. An additional seven European dates are also cancelled,
those scheduled from July 22 to July 30.
"ANTHRAX is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush
[ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005] joining them for a very special one-off performance."
Departed vocalist Nelson has released the following statement via his manager, Michael H. Nelson of MHN Management:
"On the advice of counsel, I have remained silent to the statements issued by ANTHRAX in recent days and now must address these issues to
my loyal fans and others. I want to set the record straight.
"I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in ANTHRAX's July 17, 2009 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt
me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not
aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to all of you. It was the other band
members' decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job.
"After issuing the press release, the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never
resigned from the band.
"Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as earlier today I made it clear that I was ready willing and able to
continue to fulfill my obligations. After that offer was made, the most recent press release was issued which announced my 'confirmed'
departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that ANTHRAX was
canceling the European and SLIPKNOT tours. I regret any disappointment and confusion this situation has caused. I want to thank my loyal
fans, family and friends for all their support and their many messages, emails and calls. My counsel has been instructed to take any and all
appropriate actions to address this situation."
Eddie Trunk, co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on
New York's Q104.3 FM, has posted the following commentary on his official blog:
"This (Nelson's departure from Anthrax) is really not a huge surprise to anyone who followed this story the last week.
"It was pretty clear to me at Rocklahoma that there were some serious chemistry issues off stage with the band and their new singer. I had
been hearing and sensing rumblings about this the last few months from various sources. The shame of it is that he was a great singer for the
band in the one show I saw, but obviously the band decided it was better to end this now before further conflicts come out.
"For band members in any group, there is on-stage and off-stage connection that needs to be reached and clearly there were issues off stage
and in other areas from both ends. It's also pretty obvious to any dummy that he was not sick as the press release stated. If he was legit
sick, you don't lose your gig. There were issues, and no doubt much more will come out about this story in coming weeks. It's also pretty
obvious that whoever ends up with this gig will no doubt re-cut the vocals on the new album. There is no way I can imagine they would have his
voice on a CD now that it is over, which is why the album is delayed now.
"Interesting that John Bush is returning for one gig. Bush is the band's best option at this point. The way I see it, things will be felt out with
the one gig and if vibes are good, maybe he returns? John said on my show he would not rule out coming back to ANTHRAX at some point and
clearly wants to still perform since he was doing ARMORED SAINT gigs. This is by far the best scenario for ANTHRAX and they need him.
"Obviously, I have a long history and friendship with the guys in ANTHRAX and I wish them well dealing with this crazy situation. As for Dan,
he was great in the one show I saw and maybe there is a better opportunity for him down the line.
"Like I said, there will no doubt be all kinds of rumor and speculation about what really went down, but it was not working off stage and singer
#4 in ANTHRAX is a very brief footnote now in the band's crazy history. But ANTHRAX has dealt with all kinds of stuff and they will no
doubt come back strong." (Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." It is not presently clear if Dan Nelson's tracks will be erased from the CD, which
was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as
MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).
Zivkovic continues in his statement: "As announced last week, thrash legends ANTHRAX regretfully cancelled the first three dates on the
second leg of their European tour due to new vocalist Dan Nelson's unexpected illness. An additional seven European dates are also cancelled,
those scheduled from July 22 to July 30.
"ANTHRAX is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush
[ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005] joining them for a very special one-off performance."
Departed vocalist Nelson has released the following statement via his manager, Michael H. Nelson of MHN Management:
"On the advice of counsel, I have remained silent to the statements issued by ANTHRAX in recent days and now must address these issues to
my loyal fans and others. I want to set the record straight.
"I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in ANTHRAX's July 17, 2009 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt
me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not
aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to all of you. It was the other band
members' decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job.
"After issuing the press release, the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never
resigned from the band.
"Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as earlier today I made it clear that I was ready willing and able to
continue to fulfill my obligations. After that offer was made, the most recent press release was issued which announced my 'confirmed'
departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that ANTHRAX was
canceling the European and SLIPKNOT tours. I regret any disappointment and confusion this situation has caused. I want to thank my loyal
fans, family and friends for all their support and their many messages, emails and calls. My counsel has been instructed to take any and all
appropriate actions to address this situation."
Eddie Trunk, co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on
New York's Q104.3 FM, has posted the following commentary on his official blog:
"This (Nelson's departure from Anthrax) is really not a huge surprise to anyone who followed this story the last week.
"It was pretty clear to me at Rocklahoma that there were some serious chemistry issues off stage with the band and their new singer. I had
been hearing and sensing rumblings about this the last few months from various sources. The shame of it is that he was a great singer for the
band in the one show I saw, but obviously the band decided it was better to end this now before further conflicts come out.
"For band members in any group, there is on-stage and off-stage connection that needs to be reached and clearly there were issues off stage
and in other areas from both ends. It's also pretty obvious to any dummy that he was not sick as the press release stated. If he was legit
sick, you don't lose your gig. There were issues, and no doubt much more will come out about this story in coming weeks. It's also pretty
obvious that whoever ends up with this gig will no doubt re-cut the vocals on the new album. There is no way I can imagine they would have his
voice on a CD now that it is over, which is why the album is delayed now.
"Interesting that John Bush is returning for one gig. Bush is the band's best option at this point. The way I see it, things will be felt out with
the one gig and if vibes are good, maybe he returns? John said on my show he would not rule out coming back to ANTHRAX at some point and
clearly wants to still perform since he was doing ARMORED SAINT gigs. This is by far the best scenario for ANTHRAX and they need him.
"Obviously, I have a long history and friendship with the guys in ANTHRAX and I wish them well dealing with this crazy situation. As for Dan,
he was great in the one show I saw and maybe there is a better opportunity for him down the line.
"Like I said, there will no doubt be all kinds of rumor and speculation about what really went down, but it was not working off stage and singer
#4 in ANTHRAX is a very brief footnote now in the band's crazy history. But ANTHRAX has dealt with all kinds of stuff and they will no
doubt come back strong." (Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)