Decapitated (VITEK) tribute t-shirts

Polish death metal heroes DECAPITATED and GOREROTTED have some VITEK (the late drummer of DECAPITATED) tribute t-shirts for sale to benefit the survivors of the horrid tour bus crash in Russia that took VITEK'S life last fall. Buy some t-shirts and help some Polish brothas pay their medical bills. My best of 2007 coming up real soon.
FROM DECAPITATED ON MYSPACE:

Decapitated / Gorerotted - Vitek Tribute Merchandise Available:  Now available is an exclusive Vitek Tribute T Shirt commemorating the untimely passing of Decapitated drummer Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka in 2007! Limited to 100 units, it also commemorates the 2005 Decapitated/Gorerotted European tour, which hit 12 countries in just under 30 days !

Wilson Gorerotted states – “I wanted to do something to mark our respect for the time we spent with Vitek, and all of Decapitated when we toured in 2005. It was a very important tour for us, and we have remained friends ever since. I felt that this shirt could give metal fans something to remember Vitek, and at the same time raise some money for the family. Vitek’s daughter was born when we were on the road together, and hopefully this toursouvenir can provide something for her future too”

Vogg (Decapitated) – “This is a tribute shirt for my brother Witek. This shirt is also an expression of respect from our brothers in Gorerotted, and a souvenir of one of the best tours we ever did”

The shirt has been donated 100% to the band, so every penny you spend goes directly to Vitek’s family (less shipping cost). All shirts are black short sleeve, with white/silver print that looks killer! Available in M/L/XL, the shirt is extremely limited to 100 units, but if it proves popular, then it may be re-printed.

Wojtek Kieltyka, Vitek’s brother, who is dealing with this tribute states – “On behalf of Witek’s wife and daughter, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and respect to everyone who will contribute to supporting his family, and keeping the memory of his genuinely inspiring personality and amazing talent alive by purchasing the t-shirt! ‘Nothing truly good can ever be destroyed, or can ever die!’”

Prices – UK £15, Europe £16, and Rest of the World £17

For any enquiries or info, please email vitektributeshirt@yahoo.co.uk
Paypal is now accepted to the above address, for alternative payments, please email for details

http://www.myspace.com/decapitated
http://www.myspace.com/gorerottedmetal

This shirt was made possible with help from our friends at TMFT London. Thanks to Alan and all the guys at TMFT - a killer merchandise company based in London.
http://www.tmftlondon.com and http://www.myspace.com/tmftlondon

The shirt can be viewed here

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/jmccr/vitek_webbanner-3.jpg
Thanks-Stay Metal and Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

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ITP: READERS POLL RESULTS: BEST and WORST OV EXTREME METAL 2007

Ok, here we go. This is ITP's BEST and WORST OV EXTREME METAL 2007 READERS POLL results..You can STOP voting now and I know I kept the "polls" open a little later than I should. ITP's 2007 readers poll results are the top 5 in each category, and the top two in the "Disappointments of 2007" as that poll is a TIE for the top 2.                                                                                                                                        If you STILL use Internet Explorer as your browser and can't properly view the last few journal entries, well that sucks for YOU. View this journal in MOZZILLA FIREFOX and hopefully things shall be well. More of you should have voted, but never mind..I'll have MY BEST of 2007 pics this weekend if all is well.
DOOM/FUNERAL DOOM BEST OV 2007 READERS POLL RESULTS:
1.OFFICIUM TRISTE-GIVING YOUR SELF AWAY
2.IMINDAIN-AND THE LIVING SHALL ENVY THE DEAD
3.REVEREND BIZARRE-III SO LONG SUCKERS..
4.WORSHIP-DOOOM
5.FUNERAL-FROM THESE WOUNDS
DEATH METAL BEST OV 2007 READERS POLL RESULTS:
1.BENIGHTED-ICON
2.ODIUS MORTEM-CRYPTIC IMPLOSION
3.MELECHESE-EMISSARIES
4..AEON-RISE TO DOMINATE
5.ROTTING CHRIST-THEGONIA
BLACK METAL BEST OV 2007 READERS POLL RESULTS:
1.- ANAAL NATHRAKH- HELL IS EMPTY AND THE DEVIL IS HERE
2.WOLFCHANT-A PAGAN STORM
3.MAYHEM-ORDO AD CHAO
4.SIGH-HANGMANS HYMN
5.FINTROLL-UR TERDENS DJUP
BIGGEST DISPOINTMENTS OV 2007 (EXTREME METAL ECT.)
1. (TIE) VITEK OF DECAPITATED'S DEATH AND DEATHS OF VARIOUS MUSICIANS AND FRIENDS./ HUMANITY IN GENERAL IS DOOMED
2.(TIE) GORGOROTH SPLITTING AND FIGHTING OVER BANDS NAME/NEW WAVE OF AMERICAN HEAVY METAL (METALCORE)
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-BBL- \m/ -l-

DECAPITATED, CHRIONICS, RED SHORE UPDATES:

Well here's some good news. Two bands that had the unfortunate experience of fatal tour bus/van accidents are recovering nicely. First, Australia's RED SHORE, whose vocalist Damien and merch salesman/van driver (Andy) sustained fatal injuries on an Australian tour (December 2007) with the USA metal core act ALL SHALL PERISH.. The RED SHORE  have issued an update proclaiming that the band will continue on as they are currently in the studio:                                                                          FROMRED SHORE:  FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNAWARE, ON THE 19TH OF DEC WHILST TRAVELING BETWEEN BRISBANE AND SYDNEY ON TOUR, OUR BUS CRASHED, RESULTING IN THE PASSING OF OUR VOCALIST DAMIEN MORRIS AND LONG TIME BAND WORKER AND FRIEND ANDY MILNER. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS OUR PAIN AND FRUSTRATION OVER THESE EVENTS, BUT THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, THEY WOULD BE VERY PROUD.......THIS IS NOT THE LAST YOU WILL HEAR OF THE RED SHORE. "We will make you proud our brothers"-RED SHORE on  MYSPACE

Poland's death metal heroes DECAPITATED have also issued an update on vocalist COVEN's recovery from last October's tragic tour bus accident in RUSSIA. DECAPITATED'S drummer, VITEK sustained fatal head injuries in the Russian tour bus accident. The best news I've heard all day, DECAPITATED's vocalist COVEN is on his way to a full recovery. (Pics above-COVEN in NYC 2006, DANO of the RED SHORE)

FROM DECAPITATED:  


"Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to each and every person due to the overwhelming response followed by the tragic events of last October.

"The friends and families of Covan [DECAPITATED singer Adrian Kowanek, who was also hurt in the accident] and Vitek will do their best in keeping you up to date with news on DECAPITATED and everything pertaining to the Vitek and Covan charity fund.

"The auction and tribute shirts have been temporarily delayed — but they are still in the works and should be up and running in the near future. We are also waiting on a statement from Covan's family about his current condition. As far as we know, he is stable and on his way to a full recovery. We have high hopes for the future.

"Thanks again to everyone for your amazingshow of support. It really means the world to us."


Also, Polish extreme metal band CHRIONICS whom were sharing a tour bus with DECAPITATED on the fatal Russian bus accident are also recovering from injuries: FROM CHRIONICS: "Next month and next days on tour — very good welcomed gigs in Russia, this time with DECAPITATED. Great atmosphere between bands and very good organization of the tour made it one of the best both bands participated in as we used to say, until its unexpected tragic end... In our van's accident that happened at exact finish of Extreme Hallucinosis Eastern Tour. Vitek, the drummer of DECAPITATED, died, and Covan, the vocalist, got serious head injuries and is still being hospitalized.

"We returned to Poland, still shocked with last tragic experiences which ingrained in our minds but we had to move forward...
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-RIP VITEK, DANO, ANDY and all the best to the RED SHORE, CHRIONICS, COVEN and DECAPITATED camp.-\m/ -l-

Another upstate New York Venue Closing: Northern Lights Clifton Park, NY

Ugh, another one bites the dust. First, in the "no one cares" or Trent Reznor has something to "smile about" news file, TVT records, former label of Nine Inch Nails and KMFDM are filing for bankruptcy, as the Nine Inch Nails EP "Broken" spewed venom about said record label:                                               FROM  NINE INCH NAILS and TRENT REZNOR: Under the title "You're gonna get yours," the post simply reads: "Not ALL news in the music industry is bad these days" with a link to a story about the collapse of TVT.   www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jspvnu_content_id=1003712279                                                                                          The Capital Districts premier live music venue NORTHERN LIGHTS in Clifton Park, NY has also filed for bankruptcy. First Saratoga Winners, The Chance and now Northern Lights all whom are either being sold, bankrupt or closed.
While many freinds of mine whom live in the Capital District region are disappointed that NORTHERN LIGHTS is bankrupt, there are other music venues that cater to some extreme metal in that region: SSCC, Backstreet Billiards in Saratoga and Saratoga Springs, Revolution Hall in Troy, NY and Magic City Music Hall in  Binghampton, NY.
While I'm not a fan of TICKETMASTER's outrageous service charges, there are other ticket agencies that venues use to combat said ticket agencies monopoly on the North American market including the VAULT and TICKETWEB.
However, NORTHERN LIGHTS did not register or pay for copyright licensing. As this debacle reminds me of an archived journal entry about Rochester, New Yorks MONTAGE MUSIC HALL last year. Copyright and publishing licenses can be obtained from ASCAP or BMI for $700.00 dollars or less per year.
Bring back Saratoga Winners..

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

From Club Crannel to the Nutty Irishman

The CHANCE THEATER, Poughkeepsie, NY has transitioned from CLUB CRANNELL to an Irish bar, THE NUTTY IRISHMEN,  one of the three clubs at THE CHANCE COMPLEX, because of "redundant" situations".

THE NUTTY IRISHMEN will offer live music on occasion.


SOURCE: THE POUGHKEEPSIE, JOURNAL
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, all the best to the Chance staff- \m/ -l-

Bad News for the Hudson Valley Area music fans and scene: The Chance Theatre Complex is for sale

Who in the local and tri state area music scene hasn't gotten a push start at The Chance Theatre? Everyone in the tri state area , or more than 70% of the local (heavy music) scene have played at The Chance or Chance Theatre Complex...Yes..I heard the news. In fact I heard a rumor about this (The Chance Theatre's Complex being sold) as early as March of 2007. However, I refused to spread any rumors about said venue being sold (after all we support MUSIC and NOT rumors). Lots of rumors about the Chance last year, pay to play, NOPE, local unsigned bands sell tics for payment depending on draw.
This awful news, while no surprise, is the END of an incredible, legendary era for national, international music and the local music scene, specifically for heavier bands. If you're in a local band that's not signed and touring by now, start crying, or by now you should have expanded your network into larger markets in the tri start area. In a small market area, The Chance under quite a few different owners in the 20 years since I lived in the Hudson Valley area, has been more than just a music venue, but has cultivated and nurtured a whole music scene. Bands and artists play at The Chance on their way up in the music industry or down. Along with local and regional support, The Chance hopes that these local bands too will become heroes and have upward mobility as well, and believe me, Frank (Chance owner) doesn't have to book locals.
Back in the late 80's, before Frank Pallett took over ownership, the "Last Chance"  former owner fell out of favor with national/international touring booking agents. Frank Pallett got the Chance back on track, owning many fitness shops, and being a die hard 80's metal fanatic. The Chance hosted hardore, metal core, extreme metal shows 2 or 3 times a week as Frank Pallet practically worked at the pizza shop next door (now Club Crannel).
Then Frank Pallett went on a limb and expanded The Chance Theatre into 4 different clubs/music venues including Club Crannel, The Loft and the Platinum Lounge (The Chance Theatre complex), giving more shows to local bands and expanding diversity of genres booked. BTW, with the exception of a few in house buyers and promoters, Frank Pallet and Mike Miller book the shows themselves, but the unfortunate down side for any club owner are lawsuits, and rising insurance costs. The Chance Theatre complex, while centrally located in the heart of Poughkeepsie, NY, can be a sketchy neighborhood, and with increased violence at shows and lawsuits, it took its toll on the club ownership.
I can only THANK Frank Pallett and Mike Miller for the great job they have done with the Chance Theatre, as I too booked local unsigned bands that played there, and had the time of my life. I have plenty of friends and family that live in other (middle ma
rket areas) in the tri state region whom moan about not having a venue like The Chance, lucky for the Hudson Valley being such a small market region in New York state.. Club Crannel is already prospected to be a Irish bar, so I doubt in the transition of The Chance being sold that things will be the same, as this might adversely effect the local music scene and national, international touring acts intinery.
Memories of The Chance, mostly good as I can't just pic one show. Perhaps the camaraderie of the local extreme metal scene, BACK THEN. Gwar, spouting artificial food coloring (fake blood) all over the Chance covered in plastic, Napalm Death, Nile, SYL, ect. packed on our terms. Type O Negative throwing toilet paper at the audience, meeting Lemmy of Motorhead
, getting his autograph and my ears being blown out for days after that show, Dillenger Escape Plan, breathing fire and wiping the floor with everything. Going back and forth between the Chance and Club Crannel back in the day. ...All the death metal shows, and the great metal heads, and loyalty of the fans, and bands... The INTIMACY and the beautiful decor of the Chance Theatre, and meeting the bands. Stage diving, moshing and crowd surfing while NOT getting hurt. Friends and acquaintances working at the Chance claiming that the venue was haunted from entertainers that never made it, 50 years ago, and died since then. The wonderful balcony of The Chance Theatre and the perfect view of the stage from up there. Too many memories, too little space to type in this journal.
Here's a piece from the Hudson Valley area Chronogram (2006) about the upward mobility of the Chance Theatre's Complex (2 page piece): http://archive.chronogram.com/issue/2006/08/communitynotebook/artofbusiness.php
Once again, we are saddened to hear the Chance Theatre Complex is being sold and THANK YOU Frank and Mike, all fans, bands, and staff for the great memories. BTW, any tour that comes through the Hudson Valley area, will come through NYC/NJ/ or Connecticut as well. There are other venues in the Hudson Valley Area as well:  Bearsville Theatre (Woodstock), UPAC (Kingston), Paramount (Middletown
), Bardavon (Poughkeepsie), Mid Hudson Civic Center (promoted by The Chance) . However, most of these venues (except the MH Civic Center) are seated and do not host local/regional support, nor heavier music genres.  As the Chance is sold, the local/tri state area music scene will demoted to bars or forced to expand into larger markets.
Say it aint so..

EDITORS NOTE: 9/27/2013: THE CHANCE is STILL OWNED BY FRANK PALLET, and the beat goes on..

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-Thanks to the Chance-\m/ -l-

Hillary Clinton's open letter to the LGBT community

This post/entry is not a politcal endorsement, I'm an undecided Amercan voter who does not endorse politicians or like politics at all. I figure even if you agree or semi agree with someones politics, I don't either know or agree with thier character or often like politicians (specifically local ones) personally.I don't know Hillary Clinton, but whomever wrote this: Thumbs Up. . . However, this is so well written that have to repost this. Unlike our current president who wanted to ban gay marriages, this letter is far more supportive of gays ect, at least theoretically speaking on paper. All those domestic programs mentioned by Hillary, I'm 100% supportive of.

FROM HILLARY CLINTON:
As I have traveled around the country these past twelve months, what I sensed in my heart has been confirmed. America is embracing its LGBT sons and daughters with an acceptance and understanding as never before.

On the campaign trail, a father of a gay son will ask about ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. A woman will ask why she can be discriminated against just because of who she is. Sometimes they wait furtively for the crowd to thin and then whisper their confidences in a soft voice and sometimes they stand up proudly at town meetings and want me to share my views on how I will help lead the change to assure that this country fulfills its promise to everyone.

Let me tell you what I have been telling voters across America. I am fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans. For seven long years, the Bush Administration has tried to divide us - only seeing people who matter to them. It's been a government of the few, by the few, and for the few. And no community has been more invisible to this administration than the LGBT community.

I will change that. The best evidence of what I will do as President is what I have already done.

I am proud of my record as First Lady, as a U.S. Senator and as a candidate for President in working toward the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans.

I am proud that as Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee in 2006, I worked closely with LBGT community to develop a smart strategy that defeated the Federal Marriage Amendment. I am proud of fighting the FMA as divisive wedge politics at its worst.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act which would grant the same benefits (including health insurance) to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees’ legal spouses.

I am proud to have authored the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV, and fought to fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act.

I am proud that I hired a National Director of LGBT Outreach within a month of announcing my candidacy for President and to have openly gay and lesbian staffers serving at all levels of my campaign.

I am proud to have a National LGBT Steering Committee of over 130 that includes openly LGBT elected officials, Board members and opinion leaders on issues ranging from transgender rights, to HIV/AIDS, to “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.

I am proud to have marched in Gay Pride parades as both First Lady and as Senator and to have spoken in front of so many LGBT audiences ranging from the Human Rights Campaign, Empire State Pride Agenda, the Hetrick Martin Institute, PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), and the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

I am proud to have fought Republican efforts to demonize and marginalize the LGBT community, and I will continue to do that as President.

We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We're going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts.

America deserves a President who appeals to the best in each of us, not the worst; a President who values and respects all Americans and treats all Americans equally no matter who they are or who they love. I want to be that President. I want to be your President.

Hillary...

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