RIPPER OWENS’ SUPERGROUP TO PLAY ON WITHOUT DEAD SLIPKNOT STAR=20
SLIPKNOT star PAUL GRAY’s supergroup side project HAIL! are to continue w ith plans to tour Europe in June (10) following the bass player’s death o n Monday (24May10).
The rocker was preparing for the three-week tour, which begins at the w eekend (30May10), when he was found dead in an Iowa hotel room.
Bandmates Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, David Ellefson and Andreas Kisser insist the show must go on, and they’ve drafted in session musician James Lomenz o, who has played with White Lion and Megadeth, to replace the dead star.
A statement from HAIL! reads, "On Monday we were dealt a devastating bl ow with Paul’s passing two days before our departure. We discussed the si tuation and unanimously thought that, in the face of this tragedy, we nee ded to remain strong and push forward because Paul would have vehemently insisted that the show must go on.
"In a desperate situation, we made an emergency call to James Lomenzo a nd James responded with a Herculean effort, on only one day’s notice, to fly to Portugal and rescue the Rock In Rio festival. His immediate and un selfish call to arms single-handedly saved this entire tour." Lomenzo will perform with HAIL! at the Rock In Rio Festival in Lisbon a t the weekend (30May10). The band then has dates scheduled in Siberia, Ru ssia, Finland, Estonia and Spain.
Meanwhile, former Judas Priest star Owens has issued his own statement about the passing of his bandmate to the Cleveland Scene.
He says, "I played three or four times on stage with Paul and crossed p aths a few other times throughout the years. He was always a great guy to be around and a great talent! I was looking forward to doing this HAIL! run with Paul on bass. Once again, let’s pray for his family and keep the m in our thoughts in their time of need."
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