Stabbing Westward
Photo: Koch

After 12 years of Stabbing Westward, members of the Chicago industrial rock quartet are moving in different directions, the group announced on Saturday.

The decision to disband was made a week prior to the announcement, but the band wanted the termination to marinate for a bit before going public, according to the group's manager.

Singer Christopher Hall, drummer Andrew Kubiszewski, bassist Jim Sellers and programmer/multi-instrumentalist Walter Flakus posted a farewell note on Stabbing Westward's Web site: "Thank you very much for all the support and love. We are very sad and, as well, very excited about all our futures."

The future plans aren't yet known, though it's likely that they'll stay in the musical realm, their manager said.

Three years after Stabbing Westward's 1993 debut, Ungod, an LP that featured Stuart Zechman on guitar and David Suycott on drums, the group found success with Wither Blister Burn & Peel, thanks to the hit "What Do I Have to Do?" The follow-up single, "Shame," failed to reach its predecessor's bar, though the LP went on to sell more than 717,000 copies, according to SoundScan, while the band latched onto the reunion tours of Kiss and the Sex Pistols. They also contributed to the soundtracks of 1995's "Johnny Mnemonic," 1996's "Escape From L.A." and 1997's "Spawn."

Darkest Days, released in 1998, fared poorly despite efforts to make the volatile "Save Yourself" a widespread alternative anthem, and the band was dropped from the Columbia Records roster by 2000.

Stabbing Westward returned in 2001 with a self-titled record on a new label, Koch. The LP also featured the addition of touring guitarist Derrek Hawkins. But with their forth album selling only 117,000 copies since its May release, an "amicable" split with the label was agreed to by year's end.

Stabbing Westward were working on new material for a fifth album, which they had hoped to release this year. Those songs are likely to appear on new endeavors from Hall and Kubiszewski, with each song reverting to its primary author, the manager said.

• Stabbing Westward

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus
Photo: MCA

Blink-182, Papa Roach and Staind will join rock vets Jane's Addiction and the Cult at the ninth annual KROQ Weenie Roast on June 23 in Irvine, California.

The daylong radio fest, to be held at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, will also feature Coldplay, Crazy Town, Disturbed, Linkin Park, Stabbing Westward and 311 on the main stage.

Pennywise, Sum41, New Found Glory and the Living End will rock a punkified second stage.

KROQ-FM will announce ticket information on Monday.

• blink-182
• Jane's Addiction
• Staind
• Coldplay
• Linkin Park

The Cult
Photo: Deluxe Management

The Cult have recruited Monster Magnet and Stabbing Westward for a summer tour of amphitheaters and arenas slated to kick off June 14 in Reno, Nevada.

The Beyond Good and Evil tour, which takes its name from the Cult's new album, their first since 1994, will keep on rocking until at least mid-August. Another to-be-determined band may join the bill, according to the Cult's management.

The Cult, who regrouped in 1999 after informally disbanding in 1995, are warming up for the trek with a series of club dates and radio festival appearances. The band's lineup for the roadshow features original vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, longtime drummer Matt Sorum — who served as Guns N' Roses' drummer in the early '90s — and touring bassist Billy Morrison.

At one point former Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn Le Noble was expected to join the group on tour, but he is playing instead with the reunited Jane's Addiction. Le Noble joined the Cult in 1999 but left while the band was working on Beyond Good and Evil, due June 5.

He plays on a few of the album's tracks, while session musician Chris Wyse (Tal Bachman, Big Blue Missile) fills in for the remainder. "Rise," the LP's first single, went to radio early this month.

Space-rockers Monster Magnet are currently touring with Buckcherry in support of God Says No, which features the single "Heads Explode." Stabbing Westward are also on a national club tour and will release their self-titled fourth album, produced by Ed Buller (Suede, Crystal Method), on May 22. Their "So Far Away" is at #27 on the Billboard Modern Rock singles chart.

Cult solo and festival dates, according to thecultnet.com:

• 5/15 - Wichita, KS @ Rita's Little Uptown
• 5/16 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
• 5/18 - Omaha, NE @ Ranch Bowl
• 5/19 - Peoria, IL @ Madison Theatre
• 5/21 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
• 5/22 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
• 5/23 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 5/25 - Saratoga Springs, NY @ Performing Arts Center
• 5/26 - Foxboro, MA @ Foxboro Stadium
• 5/27 - Washington, DC @ RFK Stadium
• 5/29 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
• 6/2 - Toronto, ON @ Warehouse
• 7/8 - New Orleans, LA @ Radio Show

• 6/14 - Reno, NV @ TBA
• 6/16 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
• 6/19 - San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theatre
• 6/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Web Theatre
• 6/22 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
• 6/25 - Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
• 6/26 - Denver, CO @ Magness Arena
• 6/28 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
• 6/29 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre
• 6/30 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre
• 7/1 - Saint Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium
• 7/5 - Detroit, MI @ State Theater
• 7/6 - Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Stage
• 7/7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 7/10 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
• 7/11 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 7/13 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Convention Hall
• 7/14 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
• 7/16 - Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
• 7/17 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
• 7/18 - Birmingham, AL @ Sloss Furnace
• 7/20 - Miami, FL @ Bayfront Amphitheatre
• 7/21 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
• 7/22 - Atlanta, GA @ DeKalb Atlanta Center
• 7/24 - Dalton, GA @ NW Georgia Trade
• 7/26 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 7/27 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
• 7/28 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Gardens
• 7/29 - Houston, TX @ Aerial Theatre
• 7/31 - Lubbock, TX @ Fair Park Coliseum
• 8/1 - El Paso, TX @ County Coliseum
• 8/3 - Universal City, CA @ Universal Amphitheatre
• 8/5 - Portland, OR @ KNRK-FM Radio Show
• 8/7 - Vancouver, BC @ Plaza of Nations
• 8/10 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield

• The Cult
• Monster Magnet
• Stabbing Westward

Stabbing Westward is preparing to work on its next album, the band's fourth, with a new label and a new producer.

The group's management told MTV News that the band is waiting to hear back from Bob Rock in order to schedule sessions with the producer at his recording studio in Maui. Rock is perhaps best known for his work with Metallica, The Cult, Mötley Crüe, and most recently, ex-Veruca Salt member Nina Gordon (see "Nina Gordon Enjoys 'Life' After Veruca Salt").

The group expects tape to be rolling by mid-August at the latest, management said.

According to a Net post by Stabbing Westward keyboardist Walter Flakus, the bandmembers have written a number of songs and have been tweaking and rehearsing them live almost daily since winding down the band's last effort, 1998's "Darkest Days." That record was certified gold earlier this year.

The band was cut loose from Columbia Records in April; the Koch label will be issuing the group's next effort, which is most likely to surface in early 2001.

• Stabbing Westward

In what may be one of the more interesting tour pairings of the season, moody glam rockers Placebo and the industrial metalmen of Stabbing Westward have agreed to join forces for a co-headlining tour, slated to kick-off in Pittsburgh in late February.

Even though the two bands hail from two rather distinct genres, Placebo and Stabbing Westward have walked in each other's figurative footsteps before, as both groups opened at differing times for the Sex Pistols "Filthy Lucre" tour a few year back.

For Placebo, it will be the chance to build on the rave reviews the band's live show drew back during a short promotional tour of the U.S. in December. In a recent interview with MTV News, the band talked about its live evolution, much of which Placebo credited to the stability offered by drummer Steve Hewitt.

"It's such a tight unit now," Hewitt offered,

"It's just rather obvious that the more you play the better you get," scoffed frontman Brian Molko.

"Exactly," Hewitt agreed.

"We just got a bit more powerful," added bassist Stefan Olsdal. "Tight and large."

"It just connects, you know," Hewitt said, "good chemistry."

"It's as tight as a vicar's dirt box," Molko said, "that's how we say it in ole England." [28.8 RealVideo]

The dates for the Placebo/Stabbing Westward tour:

• 2/25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Metropol
• 2/26 - Baltimore, MD @ WHFS Radio Show
• 2/27 - Norfolk, VA @ Boathouse
• 3/1 - Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
• 3/2 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
• 3/3 - Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues
• 3/5 - Hallandale, FL @ Button South
• 3/6 - Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing
• 3/9 - Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theatre
• 3/11 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum
• 3/12 - Oklahoma City,OK @ Diamond Ballroom
• 3/13 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
• 3/16 - St. Louis, MO @ TBA
• 3/16 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
• 3/17 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
• 3/19 - Toronto, ONT @ Warehouse
• 3/20 - Montreal, QUE @ Spectrum
• 3/22 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 3/23 - Providence, RI @ Lupos
• 3/26 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 3/27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 3/29 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 3/30 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 4/1 - Cleveland, OH @ TBA
• 4/2 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo
• 4/3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera
• 4/5 - Milwaukee, WI @ Rave
• 4/6 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
• 4/8 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
• 4/9 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Brick's
• 4/12 - Vancouver, BC @ Rage
• 4/15 - San Francisco @ TBA
• 4/16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Palace

• Placebo
• Stabbing Westward

According to Stabbing Westward's record label, the band has been tapped to open a string of dates on Depeche Mode's upcoming U.S. tour.

The Chicago-bred industrial-flavored rock outfit will hook up with Depeche Mode when that band launches its first U.S. tour in five years on October 27, and will tour with the group through late December.

DM is mounting the tour in support of its upcoming two-CD retrospective "The Singles '86-'98," while Stabbing Westward is still touring behind its most recent effort, "Darkest Days."

Here's how the Depeche Mode/Stabbing Westward double bill shapes up so far:

• 10/27 - Worcester, MA @ Centrum
• 10/28 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
• 10/29 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
• 11/1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Spectrum
• 11/5 - Toronto, ONT @ Skydome
• 11/6 - Montreal @ Molson Center
• 11/8 - Cleveland, OH @ Gund Arena
• 11/9 - Detroit, MI @ The Palace
• 11/11 - Washington DC @ Patriot Center
• 11/13 - Miami, FL @ Miami Arena
• 11/14 - Orlando, FL @ Orlando Arena
• 11/15 - Tampa, FL @ Ice Palace
• 11/18 - Houston, TX @ Compaq Center
• 11/19 - Dallas, TX @ Reunion Arena
• 11/20 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
• 11/24 - Chicago, IL @ Rosemont Arena
• 11/29 - Denver, CO @ McNichols Arena
• 12/1 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
• 12/4 - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
• 12/6 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
• 12/7 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
• 12/11 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
• 12/14 - Phoenix, AZ @ America West Arena
• 12/15 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
• 12/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Forum
• 12/19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Forum
• 12/20 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond

• Depeche Mode
• Stabbing Westward

Looks like the summer radio festival season will come to a hell-razing close of sorts, as Rammstein, Creed, Monster Magnet and Stabbing Westward are among the artists that have signed on for the third annual Rockstock concert, slated for September 12 at Chicago's New World Music Theater.

Sponsored by local radio station WRCX and Mountain Dew, the show will also include sets by the Black Crowes, Anthrax, Local H, Candlebox, ex-Queen guitarist Brian May and former Living Color frontman Corey Glover, and more artists are expected to be named in the next few weeks. A portion of the concert's proceeds will be donated to the "Chicago Tribune" Charities, which helps aid and fund charities in the Chicago area.

Tickets for Rockstock '98, which will feature some 20 bands spread across three stages, will go on sale this Saturday, and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations.

• The Black Crowes
• Rammstein
• Stabbing Westward

Looks like Stabbing Westward is bent on going through more drummers than Spinal Tap.

With regular drummer Andy Kubiszewski sidelined by a broken collarbone, the band recently tapped Johnny Haro as its third touring replacement after two previous enlisted stand-ins were forced to bow out.

Nine Inch Nail's Chris Vrenna headed Westward for three concerts before the in-demand producer, who recently completed Rasputina's new album, had to return to his day job because of a recording obligation.

Killing Joke drummer Geoff Dugmore then agreed to take up the sticks in the band through mid-July, when Kubiszewski was expected to return (see "Stabbing Westward Continues With Vrenna, Dugmore"), but Westward was left drummer-less once more when Dugmore, citing family obligations back in England, withdrew as well.

Haro, who previously played in Star 69, will join Stabbing Westward for the remainder of the band's tour, which arrives in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The rescheduled dates of the (battered) Stabbing Westward tour are:

• 6/24 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
• 6/25 - Phoenix, AZ @ Hayden Square
• 6/27 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Live
• 6/28 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Will Rogers Center
• 6/30 - Milwaukee, WI @ WLZR Radio Show
• 7/1 - Chicago, IL @ The Riviera
• 7/2 - Louisville, KY @ The Brewery
• 7/4 - Greensboro, NC @ Washington Street Stage
• 7/5 - Miami, FL @ Markham Park
• 7/7 - Tampa, FL @ Masquerade
• 7/8 - Orlando, FL @ Firestone
• 7/9 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
• 7/11 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's
• 7/12 - Syracuse, NY @ Vernon Downs
• 7/14 - Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
• 7/15 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
• 7/17 - Norfolk, VA @ The Boathouse
• 7/18 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
• 7/19 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 7/21 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 7/22 - New York, NY @ Roseland
• 7/23 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 7/25 - Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theater
• 7/26 - Omaha, NE @ Ranch Bowl
• 7/28 - Denver, CO @ The Odeon
• 7/29 - Salt Lake City, UT@ Wasatch
• 7/31 - Portland, OR @ KNRQ Radio Show
• 8/1 - Seattle, WA @ Kitsap County Fairgrounds
• 8/3 - Palo Alto, CA @ The Edge
• 8/5 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
• 8/6 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
• 8/15 - Indianapolis, IN @ WRZX Radio Show

• Stabbing Westward

The show will go on. Stabbing Westward will be replacing fallen drummer Andy Kubiszewski with former Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna on three key dates in the near future, and then will continue to tour with session player Geoff Dugmore (Killing Joke, Tim Finn, Stevie Nicks). Kubiszewski broke his collarbone while in-line skating just prior to the band's show at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin, May 21. His injury initially caused the cancellation of 14 shows on the band's Spring tour. His recovery is expected to take five weeks or more.

Vrenna will be manning the kit June 7 in Kansas City, June 12 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and Sacramento, June 13. The dates are largely radio station festivals or special industry events. Dugmore takes over from there.

Vrenna was a logical choice. In 1991, he toured with Stabbing Westward singer Christopher Hall as part of Die Warzaw then joined him in the studio to play on the original Stabbing Westward demos that led to the band's deal with Columbia. Vrenna re- joined NIN instead of joining Stabbing Westward. Coincidentally, current drummer Kubiszewski, Trent Reznor and Vrenna were all in the band Exotic Birds. Kubiszewski was the singer/guitar player, Reznor was on keyboards.

Vrenna's taking time out from a production schedule and a solo project. He's been in the news of late for his programming and production duties with the Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Hole and others. (see "Chris Vrenna Reworking Green Day's 'Brain Stew' For 'Godzilla'" )

• Stabbing Westward

Stabbing Westward was forced to postpone three-weeks worth of tour dates yesterday after drummer Andy Kubiszewski broke his collarbone while roller-blading before a scheduled show in Madison, Wisconsin.

• 5/21 - Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theater
• 5/23 - Somerset, WI @ Somerset Park
• 5/25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Star Lake Amphitheater
• 5/26 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
• 5/27 - Sea Bright, NJ @ Tradewinds
• 5/29 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
• 5/30 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon
• 6/2 - Scranton, PA @ Tinks
• 6/3 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
• 6/5 - Detroit, MI @ Clutch Cargos
• 6/7 - Kansas City, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheater
• 6/9 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
• 6/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ DV8
• 6/12 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues

• Stabbing Westward