EXODUS's TOM HUNTING "THE NEW MUSIC BEING CREATED IS THE HEAVIEST EVER"
Recently, EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting, who rejoined the group, has issued the following update:
"I feel honored and inspired to be a part of this band again. I've really missed it in my absence. The touring, the recording of the music, but most importantly, the experiences together, and with all of the extended EXODUS family on this twisted musical journey tha began so long ago.
"I want to thank everyone for such a warm welcome back. I want to say a big thanks to Paul Bostaph [ex-SLAYER, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN]. Paul is an amazing drummer, but even more so, he's an amazing person. I'm very happy that he was able to jump in and do such a great job on the last record. He's a monster drummer and I will play at my best to honor his work.
"The new music being created is the heaviest ever. The most ground-breaking EXODUS material to be released.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's faces again and then 'melting them away with heavy!'"
Added guitarist Gary Holt: "I just returned from the mountains of Lake Almanor after jamming with Tom the past couple of days, and the shit is insane. Songs I knew were heavy took on a whole different form when Tom started playing them. But in the end, I am only mosquito food! I've so many bites all over me I'm going to scream! Too many bugs in those mountains!"
LORDI bandleader Mr. Lordi has told Reuters the group — whose members dress in armour and ghoulish skeleton and zombie masks — has seen its fan base grow worldwide, particularly through the Internet, and that it was a personal ambition to crack the key U.S. market.
But he added that LORDI would not go to America with trumpets blazing: "Easy does it. I do not think it is very different to Europe. It is about overcoming prejudices."
"We are a strange bird, as we do not play metal music per se — although many want to label us that way. We play more like retro 1980s rock," said Mr. Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Putaansuu.
"If you catch the drift, it takes you one second to get hooked. If it is not instant, it is likely you will never get it."
With their monster appeal, LORDI has begun filming a horror movie, set for release before Christmas.
"It will be a full-blooded horror flick, where our characters bluntly butcher people," said Mr. Lordi, who refuses to appear in public out of costume. "It will not be for kids."
After the film and tour that also takes in Canada, Mr. Lordi intends to keep fans happy and is composing new songs with the aim of producing a new album by late 2008.
SMASHING PUMPKINS are one of the sixteen headliners whose names were announced as being part of the the U.S. leg of the 7-continent, 24-hour Live Earth concerts on 7/7/07. The concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, Live Earth Founder and Executive Producer Kevin Wall said. Tickets for the show go on sale Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. EDT.
"Capping Live Earth with a blockbuster show like this will ensure we meet our challenge of building a mass audience to combat global warming," Wall said. "Live Earth will be a monumental event both in terms of entertainment and in turning the tide against global warming."
The global concert on 7/7/07 will begin in Sydney and continue across all 7 continents, concluding with the U.S. show.
"We hope the energy created by Live Earth will jump start a massive public education effort," Live Earth Co-Chair Vice President Al Gore said. "Live Earth will help us reach a tipping point that's needed to move corporations and governments to take decisive action to solve the climate crisis."
