SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Parts Ways With Vocalist, Announces Replacement

June 6, 2010

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, has parted ways with vocalist Janne "J.B." Christoffersson (GRAND MAGUS) and has replaced him with Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND).

Commented Amott: "This will be a surprise to most of you, but it's been mutually decided for some time now that J.B. would step down from his role as the singer in SPIRITUAL BEGGARS to focus on his own band.

"We had a fantastic time working with J.B. We remain great friends and we wish him the best of luck!

"We decided to make a new SPIRITUAL BEGGARS record and to find a new voice — and we found a killer singer that lives in our hometown. Some of you will already be familiar with him as a singer in the Greek metal band FIREWIND.

"We've had a blast in the studio and it's been highly satisfying on a creative level.

"We have already confirmed some shows in Japan later in the year and we are in the process of booking more concerts around the world.

"We are looking forward to getting the new music out to the fans and playing LIVE again"

A short sample of new song featuring Apollo Papathanasio on vocals is available now at the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS official MySpace page.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2010 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS is currently mixing its first new studio album in five years for a late summer/early fall 2010 release. The CD was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

The band previously stated about the new effort, "We used a lot of vintage equipment in this process and we got some really amazing tones.

"To describe the music itself, we feel the songs are strong and melodic with a lot of '70s and early '80s hard rock atmosphere…

"If you are a fan of our albums 'On Fire' and 'Demons', we are pretty sure you will also enjoy this next chapter…"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS has been confirmed for the Loud Park 10 festival, set to take place October 16-17 at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' last album, "Demons", was released in Europe in June 2005 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2002's "On Fire" was recorded at Slaughterhouse Studio with Rickard Bengtsson and was mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. Mastering duties were handled by Göran Finnberg. The album cover art was conceived by Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media.

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