Brendon "Dakk" McDonald, bassist for the Australian melodic power metal band DUNGEON, has quit the band due to "personal reasons." Dakk's official statement on the matter reads as follows:
"The decision [to leave DUNGEON] has not been an easy one — yet at the same time I feel that due to many factors I have no choice. To leave the band at such a critical stage is obviously a very hard decision for me (and some of you may well say very stupid!) as a life-long dream of mine is possibly about to manifest, though I believe in the long term this will best suit all involved.
"Whilst I won’t go into the fine detail of it all, let me just say that I am no longer enjoying being in DUNGEON off-stage — for many reasons.
"To everyone that has supported DUNGEON since I joined in 1999 — thank you so much… you are the ones that make playing in a band such as DUNGEON so magical. If everyone who plays in bands could feel what I feel on stage just once in their lifetime they would know success. To succeed in your dreams is to be living them in every moment, & every moment on stage with DUNGEON has been a realisation of my dreams. To the maniacs who are at the front of stage screaming their lungs out, and to those with raised fists & flying hair in the crowd. To those that sing along to the songs, & to those that cheer at the end of them all. To the people who ask for autographs, photos, or even for a bass pick ('Why!?' I keep asking — it's just one of my picks!?). To my friends & family in metal & in blood — thank you all so very sincerely for your love & patience. Thank you to the DUNGEON fans who have sweated as much as I have for the band. Thank you to my beautiful wife who gave up her dreams to be with me on this journey & to whom I will share another magical journey with the birth of our first child in July. Rest assured this is not the reason for me leaving.
"I’ll be around – lurking at metal shows somewhere in the crowd. I look forward to having a beer with you all some time soon.
"Thank you all for the years of enjoyment. I will miss each & every one of you, though as the mighty MEGADETH say in 'Et Tout le Monde', to the world, and to all my friends, I love you (but) I must go."
DUNGEON are currently seeking a replacement bassist, while using session bassists for recording and shows. The band recently spent time at R&R Recordings Studio working on two full-length albums: the follow-up to last year's "A Rise To Power" album, entitled "One Step Beyond", and a re-recording of their 1999 Australian debut, "Resurrection".
