Tom Hunting stopt bij Exodus wegens ziekte
Artist news 11-05-2005 14:13
Exodus-drummer Tom Hunting, zie foto, is dusdanig ziek dat hij per direct zijn functie als drummer van Exodus moet neerleggen.
"This is one of the most depressing moments of my musical career… I‘m saddened to announce that Tom Hunting has fallen very ill, he's been hospitalized several times over the course of the last two months."
De groep, die in het verleden niet keek op wat drank en drugs meer of minder, besloot enkele jaren geleden schoon schip te maken. Holt benadrukt dan ook dat de ziekteverschijnselen niets met druggebruik te maken hebben:
"I need to be very clear about this before any rumors arise….this is in no way associated to drugs… Tom had conquered his drug addiction well over a year ago and we are all very very proud of him for the unbelievable amount of strength and desire that it took to get and stay clean."
De opnames van het nieuwe Exodus-album zijn uitgesteld vanwege Toms ziekte. Onlangs werd duidelijk dat de drummer niet langer in staat is om naar behoren te spelen binnen Exodus:
"Recently it became evident that [Tom] would be unable to resume his duties behind the kit for us. …. Tom and the band both know he cannot continue as our drummer and his health must come before any obligations to the band. (...) By no means was Tom fired or nor did Tom quit the band… The sad fact is that Tom is not able to play drums at this time….and we (Exodus) have got to carry on without him."
Vanzelfsprekend betreuren alle bandleden het buitengewoon dat Hunting wegens gezondheidsproblemen moet opgeven.
Als opvolger is Paul Bostaph, bekend van onder andere Slayer, Testament en Forbidden, aangesteld. Hoewel het nieuwe album dus nu al vertraging kent, probeert de groep zo snel mogelijk te starten met nieuwe opnames. Exodus-gitarist Gary Holt:
"We could not be any luckier than to have as awesome a drummer as Paul available and living in our own backyard. I am stoked about working with Paul as he is, bar none, one of the best drummers in the world, and we are fired up to have someone with his ability coming aboard."
De nog titelloze opvolger van "Tempo of the Damned" zal wederom worden geproduceerd door Andy Sneap (Machine Head, Arch Enemy, Nevermore) en wordt de eerste release met nieuwe zanger Rob Dukes.
Megadeth-drummer Shawn Drover is een van eerste collega's die zijn steun betuigt aan Tom Hunting. Op zijn website schrijft Drover:
"Today I found out that Tom Hunting from Exodus has taken ill and has had to step down from playing drums for the band. (...) Tom is a drummer that I looked up to when the whole thrash metal scene exploded many moons ago (and I had no problem telling him this many times while we were on tour together). His style is instantly identifiable (at least to my ears), so naturally, I took great pleasure in watching him perform on almost a nightly basis. (...) I do not know the extent, or what Tom's exact health condition is, but I felt it important to say that I hope he is going to fully recover as fast as possible!"
Ook Slagwerkwereld wenst de drummer een snelle genezing toe.
