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Artist News: Firewind Part Ways With Drummer; Grave Digger Announces New Guitarist

Posted on Sunday, February 07 @ 08:10:00 UTC by nightowl

In the first of two items, Greek melodic metal act Firewind, which features in its ranks current Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G., has parted ways with drummer Mark Cross (ex-Helloween, Metalium) due to personal differences. The band states, "We thank Mark for his work and contribution to Firewind and wish him good luck in the future."

Sitting behind the kit for Firewind for the band's three shows in Mexico in February will be Michael Ehre (Uli Jon Roth, Kee Marcello). The group says, "Michael's a beast, a truly fantastic player with years of experience next to top musicians and bands and we're very happy to have him on board!"

Firewind is currently working on material for a new studio album, tentatively due later in the year via Century Media Records.



Firewind's "Live Premonition in Mexico 2010" tour dates:

Feb. 12 - Mexico City - Hard Rock Live
Feb. 13 - Puebla, Mex - Bulldog
Feb. 14 - Mexico City - Bicentennial Fest

Firewind's first-ever live effort, Live Premonition, was released all across Europe in December 2008 and is available as DVD, 2CD and deluxe DVD+2CD set offering a stunning 22-song set filmed and recorded in 2008 in the band's hometown of Thessaloniki.

The 2CD version of Live Premonition consists of the audio portion of the main show on two separate CDs, available for the price of one CD. The DVD also features many extras such as behind-the-scenes footage, special acoustic live performances, promo clips and much more.

Secondly, and separately, German power metallers Grave Digger have issued the following update:

"An eventful year 2009 lies behind us. It started with the release of the Ballads Of A Hangman album together with the successful European tour. Then the split with Thilo [Herrmann, guitar] ... Another successful trip to Russia. The festival season in summer with the Rock Harz festival and the Wacken Rocks South. Our first shows in Mexico and then finally Manni [Schmidt, guitar] leaving the band, that was a real big shock to us all.

"We had already booked some concerts [before] the end of the year and we didn't want to cancel them. So we decided to play the shows with a substitute guitarist.

"An old friend stepped in: Axel Ritt [Domain]. So we had the chance to finish the year in a peaceful way with these concerts.

"We are glad to announce Axel as the new guitar player of Grave Digger. His playing and his behaviour on and off stage totally convinced us that he is the right man for the job.

"We are already in the middle of the songwriting for the new album. In May we will enter the Principal Studios again to record the new material."

Ballads Of A Hangman was released on January 9, 2009 via Austria's Napalm Records.

[Source: Century Media via e-Prog; via e-Prog

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)