ANGEL WITCH Split????

NWOBHM legends ANGEL WITCH appear to have split up following guitarist/mainman Kevin Heybourne's decision to relocate to the US. Here is an official statement on the matter from bassist Richie Wicks and guitarist Keith Herzberg (as posted at www.angel-witch.com):

It is with great sadness that we (Keith and Richie) announce the news first hand that ANGEL WITCH are no longer together. We thought rather than let all our trusted supporters find this out second hand or even not at all we'd prefer it if we made the news clear and precise.

With the ICED EARTH support in Sweden set for February 16th, a tour of China, shows in Japan and Germany in the offering plus shows with DEMON and WITCHFYNDE being set up in the UK, [guitarist/songwriter] Kevin [Heybourne] decided the time was right for him to relocate to the US. We felt he was even prepared to do this without a word of warning while we went on arranging gigs, the recording of the album, rehearsals, photo shoots and drummer auditions. In fact we (Keith and Richie) are responsible for almost all of the band's movements since the line-up's inception in early 2000, from our highlight in Wacken right down to the web site you are reading this from now. If you needed to speak to ANGEL WITCH, you spoke to Keith or Richie!

Kevin's input into the band has been surprisingly little. Don't get us wrong, he has provided us with some magical music to play, especially for the new album, which will now sadly never be recorded, and we will always regard him as a great songwriter, but he never seemed interested in furthering the band's career at the business end. It seemed he was loyal only to the name of ANGEL WITCH, not the animal. We knew he had personal problems, which hampered his attempts at times but chose to support him and stay loyal to the band no matter what. When Scott jumped ship, and we still wish him all the best with his endeavors, the time was right for fresh input but the reality of it was that it was effectively the end.

We (Keith and Richie) cannot condone Kevin's actions or timing after all the hard work and relentless hours in front of computer screens we have put in for the band and would like to, in the first instance, apologize to our friends in Sweden for letting you down. We'd also like to thank all the fans, promoters, organizers, musicians great and small and music business representatives who we have had the pleasure to deal with over the last two or so years. THANK YOU.

As for us two, well we've been here before! We have worked together for 13 years now and YES we do have one hell of an album in us! To speak once again in the third person, 'Richie has now recorded six songs and two videos with TYGERS OF PAN TANG as their new singer, and Keith is busy writing and preparing for the forthcoming SONS OF EDEN album with Richie (again). The last word on Scott was that he has been in the studio with side project EUPHORIA, and is still firmly a member of SHADOWKEEP.'

We (Keith and Richie) will continue to use this web site for our own purposes to keep you informed of our movements, since we set it up, so keep those e-mails coming in we tend to answer every one.

Finally we'd just like to say thanks to you all once again for the love, loyalty and support you have given us. It will not go unrewarded remember the name, SONS OF EDEN.

Keep it metal,

RICHIE WICKS and KEITH HERZBERG