Former BLIND GUARDIAN Drummer Issues Update

Former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch has issued an update on his SAVAGE CIRCUS project featuring PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson (vocals, guitar) and Emil Norberg (lead guitar) and the still-unnamed collaboration with SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid. Stauch's message reads as follows:

"First I would like to thank you for your positive response to the SAVAGE CIRCUS songs. This gave me hope to see you guys on our first tour again. This will be a fantastic party!!! I hope the whole album will meet your expectations, lets see.

"Your faithfulness left me very impressed and believe it or not after 20 fantastic years with BLIND GUARDIAN your mails nearly made me cry. In the meantime I got used to the new situation, which is not too surprising after all your massive support. You are the best ...

"Okay, back to my new plans for the next weeks and months.

"The next weeks will be filled with promotions for SAVAGE CIRCUS.

"In the middle of May Mi, Gonzalo, Torsten, Olli and I will be back in Karo's studio, which was named Hammer Studios not too long ago, to lay down the last drum tracks for our project with Björn. After this we record bass and guitar tracks, so Björn can put his vocal track down, after returning from the U.S. (SOILWORK are touring there at the moment). All of this will keep us busy until the end of June. Björn will manage to have a break from the festivals with SOILWORK. They will be absolute killer shows. This is simply party metal!! Our music will have for some of you some surprises in stall, because it will be different to what I have done with BLIND GUARDIAN or with SAVAGE CIRCUS.

"We opened ourselves to various influences, for instance some of the songs have an almost punk character. Some songs will remind you of bands such as COAL CHAMBER, RAMMSTEIN, LINKIN PARK or even KORN. This record will be very versatile and I can describe it like this to whet your appetite.

"The bottom line is that we have managed to create our very own style, which could only be described as nu/modern party metal. I truly hope that you find it as refreshing as us, although this selection of music might not be your usual thing. We have all different tastes, and that’s understandable, but for me this project is an absolute challenge because the style of drumming required is so different to the melodic power metal line. It is 90 percent groove and it broadens my spectrum again. Luckily no one ever stops learning ...

"The whole mix will be completed in August and we hope to catapult the album around February 2006 into the CD shelves; as long as everything runs smoothly.

"The album release of SAVAGE CIRCUS' 'Dreamland Manor' will be released by our new label Dockyard 1 and will be out hopefully by the end of August, beginning of September 2005.

"Other plans with SAVAGE CIRCUS include a worldwide tour starting around October/November 2005 continuing into the following year, with club shows, as well as festivals. Unfortunately I can’t be 100 percent certain right now, but we will do everything to get this rolling. I do promise that you that you will see us live in one form or another in 2006. I hope you can turn out in big numbers. I can't wait ..."