as the band prepares to hit the road for their US tour, they are giving fans the opportunity to help choose the setlist for their particular city - a list of 30 or more songs will be provided for fans to choose from at megadeth.com - each show is expected to consist of 24 songs

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Total Rock reports that former Voivod bassist / vocalist Eric Forrest is suing the band over injuries he suffered as a result of a crash in Germany in 1998 which nearly left him paralyzed - Voivod has announced that they are taking an extended break before thinking about a new album - Forest is said to be working on new material in a project known as E-Force

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drummer and founding member Dirk "Assy" Assmuth has rejoined the band replacing Michael Sticken - guitartist Ritchie Wilkison who stood in on guitar during the band's recent North American tour has been added as an official band member

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the legendary German power metallers have signed to Nuclear Blast - 'The Grave Digger' to be released in October will feature new guitarist Manni Schmidt

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the Chicago act has severed ties with the Necropolis Records - according to guitarist and co-founder Rick Scythe: "If all goes as planned, we will record our fourth full length album in January of 2002 and have it released in the Summer of 2002 on a new label"

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Blackie Lawless has announced that the official replacement for Chris Holmes is Darrell Roberts - the band will be hitting the road with Mushroomhead and Dog Fashion Disco for a US tour in late August

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The Century Media website has an interesting bit of news about Blind Guardian's upcoming album:

"German power metal veterans Blind Guardian are nearly finished recording their new album which you can read about in the "New Album" section on their official website. The band and Charly Bauerfeind will produce the album. Lyrically, there will be a topical issue for each song. The music is reportedly a straight progression of Nightfall In Middle Earth and Imaginations From The Other Side, though the band assures that there will be some surprises, of course. At least one song (the longest they have written so far: 13 minutes) will be dedicated to author J.R.R. Tolkien. A release date has not been scheduled for the album yet but stayed tuned for details."

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Cryptopsy's vocalist Mike DiSalvo is leaving the death metal band due to family obligations. No replacement has yet been announced.

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Grave Digger's bassist, Jens Becker, broke his toe a day before the Rockmachina festival in Valencia forcing him to do part of the trip in a wheelchair.

The band hopes he'll be well again by Saturday for their scheduled Wacken gig as they plan to record the event for a Live CD/DVD.

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It's gratifying to know that rock 'n' roll still has the power to shock and frighten world governments. On July 23, 2001, it was learned that metal legends Megadeth have been banned from performing in the Southeast Asia nation of Malaysia.

Megadeth was scheduled to promote their Sanctuary Records album 'The World Needs A Hero' by playing at the Warp Club on August 2 in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital. However, the Malaysian government stepped in and canceled the concert. Malayasian authorities say that Megadeth's imagery ...

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