When Love And Death Embrace

Trash metallers STONE will back again at the stage for the 20th Celebration of their self titled Debut, at last this is a happy news for me. The band broke up in the earlys 90's, they parts away with diferents proyects, the most active members have been Roope Latvala, and Janne Joutsenniemi. They back again once in 2000 for some successfully summer festivals, after that they said they will never reunite again but well seems they change of mind with the years ;)

the next  was published in Blabbermouth

Finnish speed/thrash metallers STONE will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their legendary self-titled debut by reuniting for a one-off concert at the Sauna Open Air metal festival on June 7 in Tampere, Finland. The band's lineup for the show will be as follows:

Janne Joutsenniemi (bass, vocals)
Roope Latvala (CHILDREN OF BODOM) (guitar)
Markku "Nirri" Niiranen (guitar)
Pekka Kasari (drums)

Commented Janne: "Every once in a while, we would talk about doing one more show and then we kind of noticed that it's been twenty years since the first album... Well, a short time later, while we were celebrating at the Femmagaala (Finnish awards show) we made a decision to go ahead and play this one final concert. We thought that taking part in a festival would be a good way to do it, so we looked around to see if anybody was interested in booking us. Well, Sauna Open Air was immediately enthusiastic about it, so we decided to make it official."

I would like live in finland to see it :P

The past 5th of March took place in Mexico the so called Mandragora fest, one that end in a real controversy. First of what is seems a bad organization and second for some opinion diferences between two bands. The cartel were conformed by 5 local bands plus 5 europen: Atrocity, Clan of Xymox, Lacrimas Profundere and Leaves Eyes as headliner. sadly they could not give their show.

Leaves eyes posted the next statment in his official myspace:

"LEAVES' EYES & ATROCITY are giving more details about the last weekend in Mexico. Alex Krull: "Actually this trip was supposed to be a great start for our new people Nick and Alla for LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY, moreover, it would have been the live debut for the new ATROCITY songs from the WERK 80 II album. But this time, our trip to Mexico turned out to be ill-fated. Because we were headliners with LEAVES' EYES, we originally were supposed to have our sound-check done one day before the festival. But this never happened."

Dirk Lehberger (Noisegate Productions, tourmanager Leaves' Eyes & Atrocity) states: "The trip to Mexico was a very long and partly exhausting one for all of the bands coming from Europe. On Friday high noon, after the press conference, there was said to be a sound-check, but we were consoled from hour to hour. We finally arrived at the site on Friday night about 09.00 p.m. in order to soundcheck, however, the stage was not even built by then. Even the backline wasn't available at that moment. We had already been speaking to the promoter's representative that evening discussing all the deplorable state of affairs because the stage wasn't safe at all and not appropriate as stage. He told us that in the morning this should be improved and done. Returning at 10.00 am in the morning, this wasn't the case at all." Front of House mixer Arne Lakenmacher declares: "The safety of the whole event wasn't acceptable at all. As we finally arrived in the morning for soundchecking, we noticed that even the entrance to the stage was not secured at all and wobbly. As we walked on the stage I actually managed to break through the rotten stage shelves! It was impossible to think about soundchecking." Dirk Lehberger continues: "It was clear to all of us that the show couldn't take place, for nobody, after this incident concerning Arne and his breaking through of stage. Therefore, we took care in cooperation and approval with our Mexican agent from Dilemma for the safety of the whole event to get a new stage set up which finally was achieved by the local promoter. That's why I was staying the whole afternoon at the festival site to be sure that the new construction of the stage is secure enough for all of the bands. There was no single sight from any of the others who were responsible for the other bands." Stefan Liebhauser (lights): "The stage was a risk to our security, moreover, the electricity wasn't grounded. There was no controllable light mixing desk for me. It was total chaos and without our tour manager Dirk Lehberger, there probably would never have been a show at all."

Dirk Lehberger: "So the whole thing started already with a big delay in the evening because the promised new stage came much too late and it took some more hours to build it up. In order to keep the time schedule at least a little bit we had to adjust the playing times, i.e. all bands would have to play a shorter set, and the running order was modified too. So we discussed all of this together with the Mexican organizer." Alex Krull:" It was clear for most of the bands and a matter of course to play a shorter set, at least we had a secure stage, if not, the whole event would have been cancelled. But all of the bands should have the possibility to perform their set and giving the chance to the Mexican fans to watch all of the bands. So there were five Mexicans bands to play and after that five international bands, LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY as well as LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, TO DIE FOR and CLAN OF XYMOX. Of course we cut off some songs from LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY, too." Dirk Lehberger continues:" I asked Clan of Xymox to cut their set, so that we could get on with the festival. They showed a rude response not willing to listen and to adopt the new plan as all the other bands did." Liv Kristine:" What I experienced last week-end in Mexico really made me feel extremely disappointed and angry. The reason for this is the unbearable behaviour of Clan of Xymox. The band went on stage after the five Mexican bands had played. It was agreed that Lacrimas Profundere was playing next due to their early flight back to Europe. And the worst of all - they needed ages to get ready, although their performance consisted mainly of playbacks and it got later and later." Alex Krull:" This was totally unprofessional, the whole thing that happened. On the one hand they eternally searched for a guitar stand instead of soundchecking and they also had to look for their DAT Recorder which was later on playing "Sequencercheck" for half an hour in loop." Furthermore, the singer from Clan of Xymox also molested people on stage. Nick Barker: "The most incredible thing that happened was that the singer wanted to kick me from stage as I had to adjust some details on my drum kit in the back on our drum riser during their change-over. "Leave MY stage" the guy said, but I didn't allow him to provoke me and just answered: "You are a funny guy"." Dirk Lehberger: "In fact, they really took the wrong slot, Lacrimas Profundere should have played instead due to the danger of missing their flight back home! So time was really short. After them it was Atrocity and then Leaves' Eyes to play as well as the other bands."

Alex Krull: "That was a real joke as I talked to Clan of Xymox that it should be Lacrimas Profundere to play next because they had to fly back home. They answered that they don't care at all what's happening to the other bands and the festival itself. They said they don't care that the Mexican bands had already cut their sets before them! I haven't seen such an uncooperative attitude for a long time, to be honest! Instead they continued insulting the Mexican organizer as well as our tour manager." Dirk Lehberger: "So Clan of Xymox started to play and just didn't care. They were running over time a lot, therefore I, upon agreement with the Mexican organizer, had to take care that they would have to stop in order to be able to continue the festival." Before that, Clan of Xymox disobeyed to all endeavours from the responsible Mexican persons to fulfil their running time. Alex Krull: "The Mexicans desperately tried to inform the singer and Clan of Xymox to act in accordance with the time schedule. But this guy wasn't interested at all. He tried to make a show out of it in a totally embarrassing and egomaniac way, totally aware of the fact and danger that the whole event is tilting. He provoked more or less that the sound would be turned off! It's his own fault, he should try to do something like this on one of the big European festivals. The security would immediately prevent him from posing the big Rockstar and kick him from stage! If you take into account that the whole event was so much delayed and another European band had to be at the airport in time, then this behaviour is totally not understandable and stupid!" Liv Kristine: "The singer showed a clearly agressive behaviour before, during and after the show, showing his middle finger repeatedly to everybody around himself. As Clan of Xymox were told that they had to leave stage by one of the local stage crew persons, the singer told everybody to "fuck off", showing his middle-finger again. Leaving stage, the bass-player told me to "fuck off" as I was waiting next to stage, without having said a single word. I'd been dressing up in the van because there was no decent backstage and so I just waited at the side of the stage!" Meanwhile the singer from Clan of Xymox tried to instigate the audience against all other bands and appealed for boycotting the festival. Liv:" A few minutes later the singer finally left stage and slashed at everybody waiting next to stage, moreover, he kept screaming "Nazis" at all of us!!" Dirk Lehberger: "This completely uncooperative attitude of the band and the instigation of the audience against the other bands and the appeal of boycotting the festival isn't a correct thing to do and it puts the audience, the bands and everybody else involved in danger. We felt the effects of this as several things were thrown on stage, for myself I did get hit by a big chunk of ice in my back."

Thomas Rhobatsch (Stagetech and Monitors): „One bottle of water just flew by about five centimeters away from my head. If it would have hit me, the show would have been over for me." Alex Krull:" That guy from Clan of Xymox behaved like a complete idiot, I can't say this in any other words! He told the audience a bunch of shit and instigated the people senselessly. As I noticed that he insulted us as nazis in front of the audience and backstage, I took him to task. Now he insulted me as "Scheiß' Deutscher (fucking German)", "Deutsches Nazischwein (German nazi pig)" and "Du bist ein Scheiß' Nazi (you are a fucking nazi)", he was wide of the mark! Meanwhile his German band members and crew had gathered around and at first they couldn't believe what this scatterbrain was talking about. I don't think anybody must tolerate something like this but I kept a cool head like the rest of us. But this guy didn't stop insulting us as "Scheiß' Deutsche (fucking Germans)" and "Nazis" which is utter mockery because I heard from their bass player which rampaged around as well that both of them are living in Germany. That's the biggest joke of all! I was going mad! What was the problem of that guy, it must be a serious one! If I would be a German band or crewmember, I would immediately pack my stuff and leave! I wouldn't make a fool of myself for such a dump ass idiot. It was also terrible the way this guy tried to instigate the audience after their show and telling them only stupid things. Such behaviour is irresponsible and inexcusable. Even to fancy oneself if people start screaming „Xymox" isn't just totally stupid and ridiculous; it is just shabby! I want to emphasize that later on, people were screaming for the other bands too!" Liv Kristine: "I've never seen any behaviour of this kind throughout my whole career. Leaves' Eyes, our crew, and even the crew on Xynmox are shocked, they couldn't believe their own eyes and ears! I really see that it is necessary to warn promotors and other bands about this band. This kind of sabotage is not acceptable!" Dirk Lehberger: "All the other people involved had to fight with the same organizational deficiencies. Such an attitude just isn't tolerable!"

Unfortunately not all problems were solved right then. There already emerged heavy problems during the changeover to Atrocity. Thomas Robatsch: "Basically we didn't get the 230 Voltage on the location as requested. The ordered Voltage Regulator wasn't traceable as well. Because there was no soundcheck, we couldn't check all the things properly. Both amps, Matze's and Tosso's, dropped out completely. The Floor Pad which Tosso had lent was also shut down because of the voltage relations. Nick's drumtrigger module didn't get the full voltage and didn't function properly! Due to the fact that the stage wasn't grounded we got several electric shocks!! So there was no operational safety right from the start and normally I wouldn't let anybody on stage under these circumstances. It was surely due to this agitational story of the support band that several things got thrown on stage during the changeover." As finally at 1 a.m. Atrocity wanted to enter the stage despite all the problems, the complete power turned out still unanswered till now why it happened. The stage, lights and PA were out of power. All people have stayed in total darkness for almost an hour. The irritated audience started to throw things on stage, lighting fires and heavily chanting. Thomas Robatsch: "As finally the crowd was even more heated up by the power loss they threw again bottles, stones and even burning wood… Some stones hit Nick's cymbals and later on during load out I found pieces of burned wood on the drum pads." After connecting an emergency power generator, the next bitter surprise turned up. Dirk Lehberger: "Due to the power loss right before the show start another part of the equipment which is necessary for the show was hosed and not useable any more. Finally this forced us to cancel the show."

Alex decided to enter the stage to say it directly to the fans and to talk to the disappointed fans. All fans had been waiting and as Alex entered the stage they started chanting "Atrocity". They still had hope that the show is ready to start now. Alex: "It was a very bitter moment. You are waiting the whole time that it's going to begin. You think you went through all technical and organizational problems, the stage is walkable, the rockstar band before us is away from stage, and then something like this happens. So you have to go on stage facing the people who were expecting a show and who were partly really frustrated by all this mess, telling them that you can't play. The people already started cheering and then I had to announce that the equipment doesn't work anymore and therefore we can't play. In the beginning not even the microphone was working and so me, and my translator had to shout into the audience in order to understand what I was saying. Most of them understood why we couldn't play. Of course they were disappointed but they saw what was happening and what went wrong until the final and fatal power loss. Some screamed that we should perform some a capella tunes. So Liv and me spontaneously did something together with our Mexican fans. At least we could give some autographs afterwards, clarify things and speaking personally to some of the fans. We will try to return to Mexico as fast as possible to recompense for this story for our fans, we were as much disappointed as you. Many thanx for your support!"

is strange for me this situation ive kwon that promoter company as one of the most respetable and serious companies  :S And well Clan of Xymox response to this with the next statment also posted in their oficial myspace page

"Back From Mandragora Fest Clan Of Xymox just returned back from the Mandragora Fest in Mexico which was plagued with chaos and confusion from day one. Although the organization did try to do their best to make all things happening , the control over the whole event was far from ideal. We have to make some kind of statement as the message boards are full with accounts of the event: Clan Of Xymox was booked as the headliner of the festival but since the band was told the scheduled Headline slot would be at 4.00 am Clan Of Xymox chose for a time around 23.00 in the evening. Unfortunately the organization did not communicate too well ( or not at all) with all the acts / or their managers present and confusion reigned in the camps. Clan Of Xymox started roughly on time ( with the help of only one present stage manager). When Clan Of Xymox was well into the set the manager of Atrocity displayed an atrocious ,despicable , unprofessional and self important behavior by pulling plugs and switching off the monitor system, causing Clan Of Xymox to have to leave the stage since there was no security on the side of the stage to keep these kind of people away. Ronny & Mojca displayed their dismay on stage about this sabotage and their fans picked up on it immediately by showing their support by shouting as loud as possible Xymox, Xymox, Xymox !!! (Clan Of Xymox wishes to thank all the fans in Mexico for showing such a heart warming support throughout the event and will remember that for ever) . In the end it all backfired on the Atrocity and Leaves Eye who could not play because of an angry mob throwing anything at them they could grab , making clear they wanted to see the rest of the set of Clan Of Xymox and not them. If these bands ( or rogue manager) would not have interfered with the scheme of things the Mexican audience would have a great festival and would have had respect. It is a real shame. A better organizational structure for the event would have been highly recommendable for a festival with so many bands. There were no guidelines, rosters , schedules , stage managers ,security, etc., so any one could do whatever and interpret all what they wanted , like this said manager. Thanks to our audience who mainly came to see Clan Of Xymox displayed their loyalty towards Clan Of Xymox and let their support loudly heard 2 hours before they arrived , during the show and after Clan Of Xymox left the stage till 4.00 in the morning the shouting for Clan Of Xymox was heard loud and clear. Xymox , Xymox! Despite the great stage and setting there was a lack of any qualified personnel to let this festival go smoothly and it is this that doomed the festival. If it was a tight scheduling with security to keep egotistical so called tour managers away all would have gone smoothly and the audience would have had their full festival's worth. So far we haven't received any word from the organization or apology for letting these things happen or grow out of control or any explanation for that matter. We sincerely hope they will learn from this event for ( if any) newly planned festival. Clan Of Xymox will look into another concert date in Mexico to give their loyal fans what they came for in the first place on this festival , a great show and a full set with encores... Clan Of Xymox wish to thank all of the Mexican audience who already gave their warm messages and support to the band on My-space and the message boards. Thank you so much again for standing by us! Also respect to the band To Die For !"

Truth is i really dont know about the facts. There are a lot of opposite opinions about what happend there, some supporting Leaves Eyes/Atrocity version, some others supporting Clan of Xymox and others the promoters. I saw Leaves eyes two years ago in my city, during last metal fest, exelent show that sadly also ends for a technic problem with their equipment( i really listen it was for a technic problem :/) and they tried to continued but it dont works so Liv sang a little a capella before left the stage(but the time was good used by Vainglory to steal atention in the second stage) but i didnt saw a bad attitud from Leaves Eyes and they were 2nd band in main stage, but is true i cant made a formal opinion about Clan of Xymox beacuse i didnt know the band, it was 1st time i hear of them...anyway the festival went bad and end worst , and thought the true will be in the opnion in all the participants, bands, promoters and audience.

Leaves Eyes

Clan of Xymox