Guitarist Michael Schenker has quit UFO.

The official statement announcing Schenker's departure from the group reads as follows:

"Michael Schenker quits UFO!!! Michael gives back his 50% so they can tour (without Michael Schenker). Be aware if you buy a UFO concert ticket — it will be without Michael Schenker! Don't be fooled again."

In related news, UFO bassist Pete Way has announced plans to embark on a solo tour of the U.S. with a backing band that will include former UFO guitarist Paul Chapman.

Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Feb. 23 - Parma, OH @ The Revolution
Mar. 15 - Barrington, IL @ Penny Road Pub

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Sweden's LOST HORIZON will embark on a Spanish tour in late March.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Mar. 20 - La Casa del Loco – Zaragoza, SPA
Mar. 21 - Ritmo y Compas - Madrid, SPA
Mar. 22 – Bilborock - Bilbao, SPA
Mar. 23 – Mephisto - Barcelona, SPA
Mar. 27 – Argos - Salamanca, SPA
Mar. 28 – Tanganicca - Valencia, SP

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Finland's AMORPHIS are scheduled to commence the mixing process for their as-yet-untitled new album on Feb. 4 at Finnvox studios with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (H.I.M., MOONSPELL, SENTENCED). A late spring release through an as-yet-undetermined label is expected.

The sextet, who are currently unsigned following a lengthy stint with Relapse Records, tracked 15 songs during the sessions, with 10 tentatively scheduled to appear on the follow-up to 2000's "Am Universum". AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen tracked all vocals for the album at Seawolf studio in Suomenlinna, just outside Helsinki. The vocal parts were produced by Seawolf owner Hannu Leiden (ex-singer of HAVANA BLACKS), who has previously worked with HANOI ROCKS, among others. Says guitarist Esa Holopainen: "I think our new material is a mixture of both new and old elements."

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David DeFeis (VIRGIN STEELE) is currently locked in his newly built studio, named The Wrecking Ball Of Thor, recording music for his new Metal opera based on the ancient Sumerian character, Lilith. The works will premier on the theatrical stage (performed by The Landestheater Schwaben), this June in Memmingen, Germany. The resulting soundtrack album, which will be issued sometime after, plus all subsequent Virgin Steele albums, will bear the following: "A Hammer Of Zeus Production - Recorded At: The Wrecking Ball Of Thor Studio.” David describes the music as, “the next stage in development from The House Of Atreus. It is bombastic, epic, romantic, barbaric, complex and yes also qu ...

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DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci served as the opening act for the 2001 G3 tour, for which he wrote and performed a great deal of new material. He subsequently entered the studio to record his debut solo album with DIXIE DREGS bassist Dave LaRue and Boston-based drummer Dave DiCenso, but then came the release of DT's Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence and a year-long world tour. But don't think he's forgotten about the project. "I'm continuing work on it," he says. "I started it a year ago, went on the road from January to November or so and (just) got back into the studio. I hope to finish it up very, very soon. Dream Theater's going to go into the studio around March, so I want to have mine wrapped up by then and get it out in the summer, so we could do a G3 thing or something like that." Expect Dream Theater's new album to surface in late fall, with a tour to follow in January.

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After years of rumors, innuendos and denials, it's finally official: JUDAS PRIEST has publicly admitted that the Ripper Owens era is, for all intents and purposes, over. "We hope Rob rejoins the band so we can go out this summer, but part of the ball's in his court, so he's going to have to make a decision," drummer Scott Travis exclusively told Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. It remains unclear if a reunited Priest would go it alone, tour with TWISTED SISTER as has been reported elsewhere or team up with IRON MAIDEN. Whatever happens, though, a resurrection is near.

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Despite the tragic passing of CONTROL DENIED mainman Chuck Schuldiner (founder of the seminal death metal outfit DEATH) in December 2001, the surviving members of the band — bassist Steve DiGiorgio, vocalist Tim Aymar, guitarist Shannon Hamm, and drummer Richard Christy — will regroup during the coming months to complete work on the act's long-awaited sophomore effort, tentatively entitled "When Machine and Man Collide".

"Yes, the album is very definitely going to be released," Jane Schuldiner, Chuck's mother, reaffirmed in a posting on DEATH's official web site. "We just have to very carefully choose which label will do it. The legal problems I spoke about [in an earlier posting] ...

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Straight from the keyboard of FALCONER mastermind Stefan Weinerhall:

FALCONER and vocalist Mathias Blad have parted ways!

The reason was clashes of schedules, FALCONER wanted to give the "live activity" a serious try and take all chances they could get. The schedule Mathias´ musicals have didn´t make that easy to go through with. So the choice was to continue with him and thereby maybe not being able to tour after the next album. The second choice was to get a new singer losing a trademark of the band but being able to take the chances when they come. Cease the day, as they say.

There are no hard feelings between us, we just had different priorities. Mathias wanted to do ...

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JOHN ARCH, former frontman of the ever-popular progressive rock band Fates Warning, has just signed a solo deal with Metal Blade Records. The solo EP will be approximately 25 minutes in length and will embrace the talents of the amazing musicians John Arch on vocals, Jim Matheos on guitar, Joey Vera on bass, and Mike Portnoy on drums. The title of the forthcoming EP is “A Twist of Fate”.

Here is what John Arch had to say when asked about his thoughts on his latest project since his departure from Fates Warning 15 years ago. "I think the music has a good feel to it. There are a lot of elements of the old Fates present but it doesn't sound retro 80's thanks in part to the newer ...

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W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless has issued a public letter of support for THE WHO guitarist Pete Townshend over accusations that the latter has downloaded pornographic images of children over the Internet.

Lawless' letter reads as follows:

"Gathering support for Townshend...

"Judge not lest ye be judged.... I have watched the events in the last few days surrounding the very public arrest of THE WHO visionary Pete Townshend. I am angered and appalled at the way the news media has made a circus of their portrayal of this case. But they can't really be blamed as they are the same ones that were there covering the crucifixion back in the day. There's nothing to forgive - They ...

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