Metal News.

· Well, another year is drawing to a close, but there are still a few shows happening before it ends. On Sat 22 Dec, locals Guantanamo Bay City Rollers will launch their debut album, 'Alcoholocaust', at the Enigma Bar, with support from Captain Cleanoff, Los Diablos and Spacebong. The sure-to-be-chaotic proceedings get underway at 9 PM. Also on the 22nd, the Magill Club will play host to the massive all-ages Santa's Slayride to Magill, which will feature Skintilla, A Red Dawn, Taunt, Officer Down, Obdurate Seduction, Splyne, Left by the Wake, Absinthe Betrayed and Cryosis; also appearing will be Motormouth, "Sydney's best classic rock and metal DJ". Doors open at 3 PM.

· On a sad note, it appears as if irreverent local two-piece Team Metal has decided to call it quits. As a consequence, vocalist Redrum is now on the lookout for either another band to join, or musicians to collaborate with on a new project. "Influences are obvious, experience is magnificent, no emos," states he. "Phone/SMS 0421 452 980 or email johnconnor@live.com.au if interested."

· A couple of updates on some items from my last column. First of all, the cause of death of Kevin DuBrow has now been established; apparently, the Quiet Riot frontman died as the result of a cocaine overdose. Secondly, the killer (and brother-in-law) of Mario Gutierrez, the 37 year-old guitarist of Los Angeles metal outfit Engrave, has been acquitted on self-defence grounds. Apparently, the deceased, who was slain after an argument at a family Thanksgiving function got out of hand, had been fighting with others, and "picked up a chunk of cement to lob". Brief details of his slaying can be found on the disturbing (if perversely fascinating) 'Los Angeles Times Homicide Blog' (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/homicidereport/). As the old cliche goes, only in America...

· In the continuing saga of Iraq's Acrassicauda and their quest to settle somewhere where they can play their music without fear of being shot or blown up, the group have now found a (hopefully permanent) home in Turkey. Although they initially took sanctuary in Syria, they were forced to leave that country when its government started making it a lot more difficult for Iraqi refugees to remain there. Unfortunately, things did not get off to a great start for them in their new home; not only are food and accommodation much more expensive there than in Syria, but the group's apartment was also robbed. On a more positive note, they've been given the use of a fully-equipped studio by the local music community, and have also done a benefit show in Istanbul. As mentioned in an earlier column, Acrassicauda have been made the subject of a documentary film entitled 'Heavy Metal in Baghdad', which, ironically, has probably made it more dangerous for them to return to their home country. As bass player Firas al-Latif puts it, "Most Iraqis now know about us. To be known in Iraq is not a good thing."

· In news from a more sedate part of the globe, Danish death metal outfit Illdisposed have bidden farewell to guitarist Martin Thim. Thim left the band due to other commitments taking precedence over the music, and holds the slightly troubling distinction of being the first member of the group to have left of his own accord, rather than being sacked. He's been replaced by a certain Franz Hellboss, who the band describe as a longtime friend.

· Drowning Pool have had to cut short a tour they were doing of the US after bass player Stevie Benton was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a neurological disorder that causes paralysis of the face. Thankfully, the disease usually clears up by itself, although it's meant that Benton has had to take a minimum of six weeks' rest from his musical duties.

· In another of those occasional news items that shows just how crazy some metal people can be, a newly-engaged, metal-mad couple in the US (sigh, where else?) recently attempted to put on a benefit concert for the families of American troops serving overseas - an endeavour that had them taking out a whopping $100,000 bank loan! Headlining the proposed concert was Twisted Sister, with support from a couple of relative unknowns, Metal Skool and The Iron Maidens, the latter an all-female Iron Maiden tribute band. Unfortunately, the concert ended up being cancelled, mainly as a result of poor planning and promotion; a week before it had been due to go ahead, the organisers had only gotten rid of about 600 of the 4300 tickets they'd hoped to sell.

· Lawnmower Deth were a shamelessly silly thrash band from the UK who were around from the late '80s to the early '90s. Initially going by the name SCRAWM, they changed their name after the release of their first demo, 'Demented Genius', and went on to put out three full-length albums, as well as a split album with an equally irreverent (and also long-defunct) outfit called Metal Duck. Band members adopted such outrageous names as Mightymo Destructimo and Concorde Faceripper, and unfortunately, as is so often lamentably the case, none seem to have done anything music-related since. A Myspace tribute page, set up by the band members themselves, can be found by going to www.myspace.com/lawnmowerdeth.

· And that's it from me for 2007. See y'all next year!



James Brazel (jbr09171@bigpond.net.au)