“Hey, this is Dez. First off, I’d like to thank anyone who has supported Coal Chamber either in the past or in the present. We understand we don’t make music for the masses and I’m proud of what we do. Especially in the face of the current so called rock bands that water down their sound so as to drown our youth, so devoid of character it is tasteless and bland, so candy sugar coated sweet that it literally is rotting the teeth out of the mouths of the youth that are hungry for something real…Something tangible…Something that lives and stands alone on its own merit. Coal Chamber is that band. A place musically you can turn to for dark shelter when the masses are listening to the newest slicked up shit. Am I saying only heavy music is great? No. Tastes run from Billy Holiday to B.B King to Black Sabbath to Black Metal. But, there is always a common thread amongst these artists, INTEGRITY. I’m sure in time there will be much more great music to come from Coal Chamber. Now, let me address the rumors…Coal Chamber is NOT breaking up. We don’t break up, we take prolonged absences. Even though the members of this band never see eye to eye, we understand that the music we make is unique and has its place at the table. The love for playing that music which we’ve created is what brings life into us. Though Coal Chamber took its time to produce our 3 cd’s (7 Years), I believe it is the time this art needs to come about. However, it is those prolonged absences from playing live with the band, those absences from the microphone and a live audience that led me to realize the void that time away from music was giving me. It is a catastrophe to my soul….. So I create diversions in those times away from Coal Chamber. Such as, “The October Bunch,” a children’s book based on Halloween that I wrote with Anahstasia. Sever Records, my record company that is turning out quite successful. A soon to be published poetry book or producing bands such as Dirt, whose cd is out now. ALL THESE THINGS, ALL OF THESE DIVERSIONS (BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE)… NONE OF THESE THINGS HOLD A CANDLE TO PLAYING LIVE EVERY NIGHT AND TOURING AND MEETING THE FANS THAT SUPPORT YOUR ART. Unfortunately, I don’t play any instruments. All I have is the microphone, a love for words and a love for the crowd. So, if Coal Chamber isn’t touring or merely getting in a room and playing music, I’m left empty, with a feeling that I can’t really put my finger on…something like frustration and despair mixed with heartache and anger. This, coupled with the fact that I suffer (if you can call it that) from extreme A.D.D., this makes for misery in my down time. It is this gift of A.D.D. – and the drive that it gives me – that led me to search out other musicians to play music with, simply for sanity’s sake. In my search to fill my heart with music, not only did I find song, but spirit and comradery within 5 individuals now collectively known as DEATHRIDE. The members of Coal Chamber are each very talented in his/her own way and have been gracious enough to allow me to have a house in which to grow. I’m sure you can expect many great things from each one on an individual basis while we pass the time between us for now. I thank all of you once again for your support and wish you to understand I’m extremely reclusive and don’t often bare my soul, but felt it necessary to speak out on this subject immediately. Since I don’t do anything half assed or on the fence, I am moving forward with Deathride and looking forward to recording and touring with them. Respect, Dez Fafara Ride if you like Ride if you like, Deathride!”

Be sure to check out the Chimaira video for Sp Lit on Kerrang! TV! It’s selection number 411 and you can request it by calling this number: 09067 533433. We’ve made mention of the Chimaira side project High Point previously – mentioning the music in the works, upcoming debut show, and that the Chimaira pedigree in this band is Mark Hunter and Jim LaMarca. So, what now? A bit more detail…AND, it’s finally time to hear some tunes. From the palatial city of Cleveland, we invite you to check out WMMS online for the detail, the music, and to find out where the title of this update – SWEET TUNES FOR THE LONG HAIR – comes from. Rock. What’s up amigos? Please sit back, relax, and take in the following full service Chimaira update: 1) Chimaira’s upcoming release has a name. At close of business today, the title is to be The Impossibility Of Reason. 2) Tracks for the upcoming The Impossibility Of Reason are as such: “Cleansation” “Awakening” “The Dehumanizing Process” “Stigmurder” “Pictures in the Goldroom” “Overlooked” “Indifferent to Suffering” “Implements of Destruction” “Army of Me” 3) Chimaira will be playing a short set at the Odeon in Cleveland, Ohio on October 5th as part of a special night celebrating a horror film that will be made in Cleveland. The film, ‘Dead Planet.’ The short set, it will include “Overlooked” from the upcoming album. Chris and Mark will actually have their hand in the score for the film. 4) Matt DeVries’ previous band, Ascension, will be playing Peabody’s Down Under on September 20th. Matt, along with Andols, with both be playing with Ascension on said night. 5) This brings us to our final point of the update – High Point. High Point is a bit of a Chimaira side project, featuring Mark Hunter on guitar and Jim Lamarca on bass. The rest of the line up is rounded out by Ed Gandolf (vocals, guitar) and Drew Scalero (drums). If you search hard enough, you might just find a couple recordings floating around. However, what would even be better, would be to see and hear the band first hand – their first show is slated for November 2nd at Peabody’s Down Under. Look for Chimaira to hit the studio later this autumn for the recording of The Impossibility Of Reason Currently getting set up to do their follow up to Pass Out Of Existence: writing, rehearsing, lookin’ for a producer. Word is the band has somewhere between 8-10 bare bone tracks in the works (i.e. no lyrics, samples…).

What’s latest in Cantrell’s world? Just finished a UK tour taking in Newport, Wolverhampton, Bradford, London, Glasgow, and Manchester not to mention playing a storming set at the Kerrang! Weekender at Camber Sands – which according to Craig Alway was totally worth the weekend ticket price just to catch Jerry’s set! Set list changed every show, but always included a few classic Alice In Chains tunes towards the end… nice.

Well, close enough. If you buy the 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage, or Five Pointe O albums from the following shops you can save yourself a bunch of cash at the moment. Virgin – Available now as part of their “3 for 퉌£20” or “5 for 퉌£30” offer plus FREE ‘Roadrage’ DVD. HMV – Available now for 퉌£10.99 (퉌£8.99 with your ‘Download 2002’ discount card). Slit Wrist Theory – This is how it’s done by our boys from Alaska – the debut 36 Crazyfists video, from a song off their Bitterness The Star debut – you can check it out right now in the VIDEO section. Did You Know? The official state sport of Alaska is dog mushing. True. The Alaska Legislature adopted it in 1972. 36 Crazyfists most recently had to cut their U.S. tour run with Candiria short. The band is back home in Alaska for the time being, with hopes of getting back out on the road in a couple weeks. Did You Know? When questioned earlier today, 36 Crazyfists drummer Thomas Noonan had no idea dog mushing was Alaska’s official state sport. True.

Congrats! Nickelback were nominated for 4 awards at the Prairie music week awards held in Winnipeg on Sep 26-29th. They won 3 out of the 4 awards. 1. outstanding songwriter of the year 2. outstanding rock recording 3. outstanding album – major label artist website: prairiemusicweek.com – Thanks to Kirsten D for the info.

Did You Know? Nickelback’s single “Never Again” has hit the #1 position on the mainstream rock radio charts in the USA. This makes Chad Kroeger the first artist to top the charts three times in a calendar year (“Too Bad” and “Hero” being the other two tracks)…well, the first artist since 1992, when both the Black Crowes and U2 also did such. True. An last, but certainly not least, last night the 15th annual High Times Doobie Awards were held in NewYork City at B.B. King’s Blues Club. Nickelback, though not on hand at the event (touring duty), won BEST ROCK ALBUM by an Established Band, beating out System Of A Down, Queens Of The Stone Age, Oasis, New Found Glory, and Incubus. The trophy, a glass bong with plaque. True. Congratulations Nickelback. Did You Know? Silver Side Up is STILL in the top 30 in the UK album charts… and it’s been sitting pretty in the charts for an entire 52 weeks. Yup, that’s right, Silver Side Up was released one year ago. What else? The very next issue of Guitarist magazine has a feature with Nickelback.. check it out.

Following their awesome summer shows here, Nickelback are returning in November and December for several UK arena dates. Tickets are 퉌£19.50/퉌£21.50 London and they are on sale now. Support is to be confirmed. The full dates are as follows: November 23 – Brighton Centre 25 – Sheffield Arena 26 – Newcastle Telewest Arena 28 – Birmingham NEC 29 – Cardiff CIA December 1 – Manchester MEN 2 – London Wembley Arena 4 – Dublin Point Depot

Time to share with you a little more information on Nickelback’s debut long-form video/DVD, it will be in stores from October 28th, and should retail for approx 퉌£18.99. The bulk of the footage was shot at an emotional homecoming show in Edmonton, Canada on January 25th 2002, with a full production and pyrotechnic show. All the hits from ‘Silver Side Up’ are included, as well as prime slices of their U.S. breakthrough album ‘The State’. The two real rarities though, are a cover of Alice In Chains ‘It Ain’t Like That’ (featuring A.I.C. guitarist Jerry Cantrell) plus a brand new unrecorded Nickelback song, ‘Mistake’. Extras? But of course. The DVD also includes other Nickelback concerts, interviews with the band & candid backstage footage. There are also all the band’s promo videos to date: ‘Leader Of Men’, ‘How You Remind Me’ & ‘Too Bad’ plus a ‘Making Of Too Bad’ documentary. Finally 2 of the live tracks (‘How You Remind Me’ and ‘Too Bad’) will have multi-camera angles available to the viewer. The full tracklisting is: Live Tracks: 1. Woke Up This Morning 2. One Last Run 3. Too Bad 4. Breathe 5. Hollywood 6. Hangnail 7. Worthy To Say 8. Never Again 9. Old Enough 10. Where Do I Hide? 11. It Ain’t Like That (with guest Jerry Cantrell) 12. Leader Of Men 13. Mistake 14. How You Remind Me Promo Videos: 1.’Leader Of Men’ 2.’How You Remind Me’ 3.’Too Bad’ 4.’The Making Of Too Bad’. Bonus Features: 1. Set Up – Shows how the filming of the DVD was organized at the venue. 2. On tour – A glimpse into what it’s like to be on tour with Nickelback. 3. Director’s Composite – Allows the viewer to see the show as the Director sees it. 4. Before Show – backstage, in the dressing room, before the show. 5. After Show – Backstage after show: shows the band relaxing and celebrating.

Did you know you can now buy Nickelback’s ‘Silver Side Up’ on vinyl from Simply Vinyl? And the company making this glorious piece of vinyl will ship all over the world? And you can get your hands on it online right here? Well now you know. Here’s the newsflash in full: ROADRUNNER HAVE JOINED TOGETHER WITH SIMPLY VINYL IN AN EXCITING NEW PROJECT. SIMPLY VINYL SPECIALISE IN HIGH QUALITY LP VINYL RELEASES AND ARE THE WORLD’S LEADER IN THEIR FIELD! AS A RESULT NICKELBACK’S ‘SILVER SIDE UP’ ALBUM WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON HEAVYWEIGHT 160 GRAM LP VINYL. THIS IS A UK ONLY RELEASE SET FOR SEPTEMBER 16TH. WE ARE OFFERING ROADRUNNER WEBSITE READERS WORLDWIDE THE CHANCE TO PRE-ORDER THIS VINYL DIRECT FROM THE SIMPLY VINYL WEB SITE AND THEREFORE BE THE FIRST TO OWN THIS EXCITING RELEASE. PRICE WILL BE JUST 퉌£12.99 + P&P. THE GUYS AT SIMPLY VINYL WILL SHIP DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD..JUST CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE SIMPLY VINYL WEB SITE AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS… Check it out.

CONGRATULATIONS! We are thrilled to report that Silver Side Up is now TRIPLE PLATINUM in Eire.