DIAMOND PLATE Vocalist Forced To Leave OVERKILL Tour

Bassist and lead vocalist Jon Macak of Chicago, Illinois-based thrashers DIAMOND PLATE will leave the band's current tour with OVERKILL and GOD FORBID to return home due to a recent family emergency. His bandmates have decided to continue on with the remainder of their trek with tour manager and close friend Dan Valente filling in on bass and vocal duties.

Commented Macak: "I am very sad to say that I will not be able to be a part of the last six Killfest dates. I will be flying home to Chicago Sunday morning to be with my mother who is very ill and needs my support. There is a chance that she does not have much time left, so I want to be by her side as much as possible. The rest of the band will finish the tour without me and I want to thank everyone for their support and understanding."

Added the other members of DIAMOND PLATE: "We all wish Jon and his family strength through this incredibly hard time. Words can't describe how much Jon's presence will be missed on stage as a frontman, but most importantly our best friend. After these shows without him, we will come back stronger than ever and with a new understanding of what it means to be a band. An incredible thanks goes out to Dan Valente, our tour manager, who will help us finish the tour by handling bass and vocal duties. Thank you to all the fans for the support and understanding, and please keep Jon's family in your positive thoughts."

Remaining DIAMOND PLATE tour dates with OVERKILL:

May 08 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
May 09 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
May 10 - Atlanta, GA -The Masquerade
May 11 - West Springfield, VA - Jaxx Nightclub
May 12 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater

DIAMOND PLATE's "At The Mountains Of Madness" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director Dave Vorhes in the band's hometown. The song comes off DIAMOND PLATE's debut album, "Generation Why?", which was recorded at RAX Trax studios in Chicago with producer Neil Kernon (JUDAS PRIEST, DEICIDE, NEVERMORE, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

By incorporating elements of extreme metal, hardcore and other outside interests, DIAMOND PLATE has made a solid thrash album that is proudly modern, yet can stand the test of time. Neil Kernon, no stranger to making records that were hallmarks of aggression, helped shape "Generation Why?" into just that.

DIAMOND PLATE is a young, dynamic band which has taken the Midwest metal scene by storm and now have its eyes set on global domination. Formed in 2008, this high-energy act has earned high honors from respected outlets such as Terrorizer magazine, which named DIAMOND PLATE as one of the best unsigned bands in the very year that the band first got together.