EPICA Stand-In Singer Releases Final Video Video Tour Diary Entries

May 14, 2008

Amanda Somerville the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who was recently tapped to replace EPICA vocalist Simone Simons on the band's North American tour with SYMPHONY X due to Simons' ongoing health issues has posted the final updates to her video tour diary.

Watch the footage below.

Simons was recently infected with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA),also known as the hospital bacteria.

A Michigan native, Amanda has resided and worked mainly in Germany and the Netherlands since 1999. She has collaborated with several bands in the metal scene (EDGUY, AFTER FOREVER, EPICA, KAMELOT, etc.) along with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro, and co-wrote the rock opera "Aina". Her own music is of the pop-rock genre and she is currently focusing on her solo career.

Commented Somerville: "I'm spoiled, I know. I know it and I love it. I get to earn my bread and butter doing something that I love to do, I get to travel all over the world and meet and work with all kinds of phenomenal people. But I don't ever take it for granted because that would be akin to the motorcyclist who loses his respect for the road, gets reckless and ends up decapitated on the freeway. Nope, I'm enjoying it all, but I am thankful. And that's something I never want to lose perspective on.

"So, yes, the tour with EPICA is now over and I find myself looking back all smiles. There wasn't a single moment that I thought, 'Oh, God, what have I gotten myself into?' And upon taking my luggage with me from the tour bus, I felt like I could go on for another month. The boys were all talking about post-tour dips and how it's hell when it sets in, but so far I'm just looking back with a glowing nostalgia and looking forward to the AVANTASIA tour that's coming up with school girl giddiness. Now, I definitely had pre-tour jitters for the EPICA tour because of the special situation of filling in for Simone and the potential pitfalls that could bring, because of the short notice and especially because we didn't get to rehearse (or even have a mother-loving SOUNDCHECK, for Pete's sake!) once before the tour began. But right now I just feel excited and am looking forward to experiencing the completely different type of tour that it's bound to be.

"I find it a little bizarre but totally exciting, all of this movement and stimulation and exposure to new things. The video blogs were 'so much fun' to make and I find it astounding that there are something like 55,000 views on them so far altogether. WOW! I would've just made them for myself as a kind of tour memoir that I could watch to re-live the experiences, but it's really cool that so many of you have so enjoyed watching what an extreme dork I am. See, my self-description of 'nutty musician' was not an exaggeration! Damn, I totally gave myself away"

Day 31:

Day 32:

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