We are just getting to the middle of the week and seems like every band got a memo and agreed to change their line up at the same time. Revocation lost their long time drummer, Phil Dubois; Morbid Angel allegedly fired their frontman, David Vincent, and replaced him with former singer Steve Tucker, even though Vincent claims he is still in the band; Dyscarnate parted ways with their bassist and founding member, Henry Bates; and now is Soilwork who announced the exit of their bassist Ola Fink. Soilwork’s singer Björn “Speed” Strid declared:
We all, sooner or later, come to a crossroad in our lives when our focus of being fueled by the past is just as strong as our visions of the future and we have to make that incredibly hard decision. Where do I go now?
Flink will forever be a symbol for SOILWORK and of all we were and still are about. That being said, we all could sense that he eventually would come to the above mentioned crossroad. He understandably and respectfully chose to step down.
With their current plans to tour Europe and the US in the near future, the statement came with the news of Fink’s immediate replacement:
So, where do WE go now? Let me introduce you to one of the finest and most stand-up people I know: Markus Wibom. He’s been a longtime friend and is an overall multi-instrumental amazing musician. He’s been with us before, on past world tours. He’s also an amazing character and I couldn’t think of a better person to fill Flink’s shoes, which indeed are very big… literally. (Markus’s shoe size is actually even bigger, if anybody wants to know)
Anyway, as much as I will miss Flink, I’m just as excited to tour the world with one of my absolute best friends.
Thank you, Flink; you will forever rule. Thank you, Markus, for taking this on. I know you will blow people’s minds, once the world tour of ‘The Ride Majestic’ commences.
Please give Markus a very warm welcome, everyone!
Wibom took the opportunity to add his thoughts about joining the band:
It’s a great honor and a true pleasure to play with such skilled musicians and amazing people! It’s going to be awesome to share the stage with those guys after all these years on the road together, and with the new record coming up — it absolutely kills!
The band will release their tenth studio album titled The Ride Majestic worldwide on August 28 via Nuclear Blast and, aside from the European festivals where they will perform, they will visit North America supporting Soulfly, to later headline their tour throughout Europe with support of Denmark’s Hatesphere. The dates for both journeys can be seen below:
EUROPE – Upcoming Summer Festival dates
7/25/2015 Essen, Germany @ Nord Open Air
7/30/2015 Szekesfehervar, Hungary @ Fezen Festival
8/1/2015 Bollnäs, Sweden @ Karlslundsfestivalen
8/7/2015 Mikkeli, Finland @ Jurassic Rock Festival
8/21/2015 Geneva, Switzerland @ Octopode Festival
UNITED STATES – “We Sold Our Souls to Metal” 2015 Tour- SOULFLY, SOILWORK, DECAPITATED, SHATTERED SUN
09/30/2015 Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
10/01/2015 San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
10/02/2015 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
10/03/2015 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
10/04/2015 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
10/06/2015 Kelowna, BC @ Level Nightclub
10/07/2015 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
10/08/2015 Saskatoon, SK @ O’Brian’s Event Centre
10/09/2015 Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
10/10/2015 Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam
10/11/2015 Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
10/12/2015 Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
10/13/2015 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
10/14/2015 Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/15/2015 Montreal, QC @ Corona Theater
10/18/2015 Columbus, OH @ Northland Performing Arts Center
10/19/2015 Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom
10/20/2015 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
10/21/2015 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
10/22/2015 Knoxville, TN @ The International
10/23/2015 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10/24/2015 Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
10/25/2015 St Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
10/27/2015 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
10/28/2015 Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room
10/29/2015 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
10/30/2015 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
EUROPE – Upcoming Headline Tour w/ HATESPHERE
11/27/2015 Malmö, Sweden @ KB
11/28/2015 Herford, Germany @ X-Herford
11/29/2015 Lyss, Switzerland @ Kufa
11/30/2015 Sion, Switzerland @ Le Port Franc
12/1/2015 Brescia, Italy @ Colony Club
12/2/2015 Munich, Germany @ Backstage Halle
12/3/2015 Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof
12/4/2015 Leipzig, Germany @ Hellraiser
12/5/2015 Czech Rep. @ Winter Basinfire Fest
12/6/2015 Berlin, Germany @ Bi Nuu
12/7/2015 Hamburg, Germany @ Logo
12/8/2015 Koln, Germany @ Luxor
12/10/2015 Tillburg, Netherlands @ 013
12/11/2015 Vooselaar, Belgium @ Biebob
12/12/2015 Metz, France @ Les Trinitaires
12/13/2015 Dunkerque, France @ Les 4 ecluses
12/14/2015 Paris, France @ Trabendo
12/15/2015 Rennes, France @ Antipode
12/16/2015 Bordeaux, France @ Rocher de Palmer
12/17/2015 Blois, France @ Le Chato’do
12/18/2015 Limoges, France @ CC John Lennon
12/19/2015 Lyon, France @ CCO
[via Blabbermouth.com]
