Former PANTERA/current SUPERJOINT RITUAL frontman Philip Anselmo has posted the following message at his official web site, PhilAnselmo.com:

"I've been stumbling around in a coma of loss. No truer lyric has been written than 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.'

"To explain my side of things with the hiatus of PANTERA, please give me a moment and think about what I say. Think.

"I joined the band in late '86/early '87, and the chemistry clicked like a vice grip, we hit it off like four bad mother fuckers could. Perfection. Dime, Vince and ...

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For those who attended the quasi-riot at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center in December 2002 due to the GUNS N' ROSES no-show, GNR bassist Tommy Stinson claims the band is coming back and will actually perform this time.

"We owe Philly," Stinson told Ed Condran of SouthPhillyReview.com. He wouldn't elaborate about the aforementioned debacle. "That's all still in litigation." But he promised that GN'R would be on the road this year after the release of "Chinese Democracy" in April.

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JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton has told Launch Radio Networks that despite nearly a decade-and-a-half apart, the group's writing process for the upcoming CD, "Angel of Retribution", was not forced in any way. "We've obviously evolved, but one of the things we said to ourselves on this album is we're not gonna try too hard to write an album to order," he said. "We're just gonna write naturally. We're fortunate that we've got a formula in this band, a writing formula, that, even though we've evolved, is still unmistakably PRIEST. And although this album has evolved, I think it's pretty classic PRIEST, and I think that's what people want."

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Germany's SQUEALER have issued the following statement with regards to the recent passing of the band's singer/founder and AFM Records label boss Andreas "Henner" Allendörfer:"

"Last Monday we received the horrible news, that SQUEALER singer and band founder Andreas 'Henner' Allendörfer died on January 16, 2005 in a tragic car accident. He only reached an age of 38 years.

"At about 9:25 pm, Andy lost the control over his car due to black ice and hit a tree. He even died at the place of the accident.

"Making music for years and spending lots of time and patience working together on the band SQUEALER, we became a little ...

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Legendary rock producer and musician Bob Kulick (KISS, MEATLOAF) has almost finished producing "Michael Schenker and Heavy Hitters", an all-star lineup of musicians based around guitar virtuoso Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO, SCORPIONS) paying homage to their contemporaries. This 10-track powerhouse collection features an impressive lineup of artists showcasing their renditions of such classic songs as "War Pigs", "All Shook Up", "Money", "Doctor, Doctor" and "Hair of the Dog", to name just a few.

"Michael Schenker and Heavy Hitters" track listing (all cuts feature Michael Schenker on ...

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German thrashers DESTRUCTION are on the verge of signing a new record deal with the AFM label. A posting on the group's web site reads as follows:

"After four terrific and successful years with Nuclear Blast, the decision to work with a new label wasn't easy at all"

"We would like to thank Markus Staiger and his team for the great friendship and the fantastic work! They had a big participation of the positive progress of our reunion!

"AFM Records is the new partner of our trust! The contracts will get signed within the next days! The new album will be released via AFM/Soulfood here in Central Europe and thru other dist ...

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The classic STRATOVARIUS lineup of Timo Tolkki (guitar), Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jörg Michael (drums), Jari Kainulainen (bass) and Jens Johansson (keyboards) has reunited and is currently working on completely new material for release in late 2005/early 2006.

"Since his breakdown in April, we have patiently been waiting for Timo Tolkki's health to improve. It has been, and since about six weeks he has been strong enough to go back to work," reads a joint statement from the group.

"Also during the past months, after much talk, soul-searching and reflection most of the damage within the band has been repaired. The rest of us now understand Timo's condition, and have slowly come to terms with it. There has been forgiveness, and everyone has a good relationship again.

Many of the immense problems we were facing have now found concrete solutions."

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Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani is continuing his recovery from a recent bout with pneumonia which has forced the cancellation of several West Coast dates late last month.

In a message to his fans posted on his official web site, Satriani writes, "Thank you all so very much for the 'get well' messages, I believe they really made a difference.

"Pneumonia is no fun at all and I don't recommend it to anyone, but hearing from all of you has eased my down time quite a bit. Thank you again.

"My recovery will hopefully continue and I will get a clean bill of health by the end of the month...

"I was unable to post a 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New ...

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HILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho and STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto are among the vocalists that are scheduled to appear on the new solo album from CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman (to be released under the WARMEN moniker), tentatively due in May, according to the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-of-Bodom.com.

WARMEN had previously released two albums: "Unknown Soldier" (2001) and "Beyond Abilities" (2002). Both albums included a host of guest musicians, including Kotipelto and SINERGY frontwoman Kimberly Goss

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