JAMES MURPHY On Loss, Progress, And Inspiration

September 1, 2005

Guitarist/producer extraordinaire James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) has issued the following update:

"Hi everyone. I'm sorry for dropping out. I've been dealing with my grandmother's illness and passing. Several weeks ago she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, quite large and inoperable. She has always been a major part of our family life and an 'anchor,' if you will, always there for me with a place to stay and a meal throughout the ups and downs of my career, not to mention her unconditional love.

"Dealing with the emotional side and logistics of always having at least one family member in the hospital with her... And now with the family handling all her final business... It's been overwhelming and ongoing. Her funeral was last week and I have begun to see the light of day again finally.

"Even with these issues I managed to get more recording for the DEATH tribute [album] done. On the day of my grandmother's funeral, after the services, I made the trip to Tampa to record the singer of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN... And only two days before (one day after she passed) I traveled to Orlando to record the bassist of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN. It was hard for me to focus but I couldn't lose the opportunity to have these two great musicians on 'Within The Mind'. Their performances for Chuck's [Schuldiner] memory transcend the difficult circumstances I recorded them under.

"I also want to take a moment to express my sadness about the passing of Piggy [of VOIVOD]. I have no words that haven't already been spoken more eloquently than I can manage at this moment. I was given the first two albums as a gift and when number three, 'Killing Technology', came out I was at the store the day it was released. Some months later I stood outside at Janis Landing in St. Petersburg to see the tour and buy the T-shirt. Piggy was, and is, an inspiration."

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