Alrosa Villa Sued For Inadequate Security

Attorney Gerald Leeseberg, who represents "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's brother/bandmate, DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul, and by DAMAGEPLAN tour manager Chris Paluska and drum tech John Brooks, has confirmed to MTV.com that the trio have filed a lawsuit against the Columbus, Ohio, club where Dimebag was killed.

"The central allegation of the lawsuit is that there was inadequate security provided at the music venue given the nature and size of the crowd and previous incidents at the club involving criminal activity," Leeseberg told MTV.com cited police and media reports about earlier incidents at the metal club Alrosa Villa involving criminal activity, fighting, handguns and the firing of weapons.

On December 8, 2004 ex-Marine Nathan Gale rushed the stage at the club and opened fire with a 9mm gun, killing Dimebag, DAMAGEPLAN bodyguard Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, fan Nathan Bray and club worker Erin Halk, and injuring two — Paluska and Brooks.

Leeseberg said one of the other claims in the suit is that the security that was provided performed "horribly" in that they were aware of Gale's suspicious behavior prior to the shooting. "They watched him scale the security fence and gain access to the club and for reasons to be determined, he was allowed to go through the crowd and begin firing a weapon," Leeseberg said. "He was carrying a weapon and 50 rounds of ammunition, all of this with the knowledge of security that this individual was behaving strangely and they did nothing to stop him."

Leeseberg said the suit cites an incident eight months earlier in nearby Cincinnati in which security at a venue where DAMAGEPLAN were playing identified Gale as a suspicious person and subdued him. In that incident, at the venue Bogart's, Gale was dragged off the stage during a DAMAGEPLAN show on April 8, 2004 after he caused nearly $2,000 in damage to stage lights and other equipment during a struggle with police.

At the Alrosa Villa, eyewitnesses said Gale had been acting strangely before the show, first blocking the club's parking lot exit with his car, then pacing back and forth on the Villa's front lawn as the opening act played.

Leeseberg said the suit argues that steps could have been taken to intervene and stop Gale and that a metal detector at the front door would have deterred people with guns from coming into the venue. "If you have a gun, you wouldn't go through a metal detector," he told MTV.com. "And if you are mentally ill and don't appreciate that if you have a gun it will go off, you will get caught."

However, Gale, who had a history of mental illness, did not enter the club through the front door, where a metal detector might have been placed. He jumped a low wall near the back and entered through a stage door after rushing by security guards. Leeseberg said that in allowing Gale to illegally enter the club, security failed to do its job. "They are supposed to stop that because security guards saw him do that [climb the fence]," he said. "One of the security guards said that he didn't want to mess with him [Gale] because he was a big dude."

Because of Ohio laws governing civil damages, the lawsuit seeks more than $25,000 in damages, though Leeseberg speculated that the actual amount of compensatory damages a jury could award the Abbott family and Paluska and Brooks for economic losses and pain and suffering would likely be "substantially" higher. In addition to waiting for the final, 600-page police report on the incident, Leeseberg said December 8 was also chosen as a date to file the suit for symbolic reasons.

Read the full article at MTV.com.

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Darkthrone Special Box Set Of "Preparing For War"

Peaceville is celebrating the return of DARKTHRONE by issuing a Special Box Set Edition of "PREPARING FOR WAR" - the anthology of early live and rare material. This set has been enhanced and comes in a clam-box including a poster and booklet containing an exclusive, in-depth interview by James Hinchliffe.

Between now and April you can purchase this set ONLY from Peaceville's ONLINE STORE. It will be shipped commencing December 13th. This is a limited edition and will be deleted in due course.

HEre is the full list of contents: More...

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Nothingface Announce More Upcoming Tour Dates

NOTHINGFACE have announced a few more upcoming tour dates. They are as follows:

February 11 Towson, MD - Recher Theatre w/ Catatonik
February 19 Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues w/ Disturbed
February 21 Norfolk, VA - The NorVa w/ Disturbed

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Drowningman Frontman Forming New Band

Since Drowningman are taking some time off this winter (they will return next spring), frontman Simon Brody is forming a new band in New York. Here's what he's looking for:

"I am looking for a guitarist, bass player and either another guitarist or preferably a keyboard player. Main inspirations would be the Clash but no one could ever sound like them so it's pointless. Int. Noise conspiracy mixed with Hot Snakes? Hot Hot Heat mixed with Drive Like Jehu? The Shins meet Red Sparowes? Happy Mondays meet Motorhead? Shotmaker meets The Swing Kids? I just want it to be gritty and dirty, but ass-shake-able. If you have samples of your work please send them. Previous band experience is preferred. I would possibly consider joining an area band in a similar vein. Reply to simonbyronbrody@hotmail.com."

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Headline News

Man Killed at Donnybrook, Shattered Realm Show

One man was shot to death and several others injured (one individual was hit in the head with a hammer) after a fight broke out during a show on The Street Brutality Tour featuring Shattered Realm, Donnybrook and Hoods in Tucson, Arizona last night. The incident occured at Skrappy's, which bills itself as an alcohol- and drug-free club for people under 21. Police said they have had few calls for problems there.

The man fatally shot at a music club last night as Ray Darrin Pierson, 27, of Mesa. Pierson was in Tucson to see Shattered Realm. He was shot outside the club after a fight involving at least 20 people inside the venue, said Sgt. Ramon Batista, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. Pierson died at a hospital. Several other people were injured according to Batista, but he declined to discuss details.

Homicide detectives are trying to interview everyone who was at the Shattered Realm show - up to 200 people. Detectives found a handgun outside the club, but won't say who was carrying it. No one has been arrested so far. Police are asking anyone who was at the show and anyone who may have information about the fight and shooting to call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line of the Pima County Attorney's Office.

Several emails to Lambgoat.com owners suggest that the fight was between local hardcore kids and FSU members.

Skrappy's doors were locked this morning, and no one appeared to be inside.

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Hypocrisy Announce U.K. Dates

Sweden's HYPOCRISY have announced the following dates for 2006:

Jan. 10 - London, UK @ The Electric Ballroom
Feb. 15 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Feb. 16 - Manchester, UK @ Satans Hollow
Feb. 17 - Dublin, IRE @ Temple Bar
Feb. 18 - Glasgow, SCO @ Cathouse

HYPOCRISY are continuing to tour in support of their latest album, "Virus", which came out in September via Nuclear Blast Records.

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Wolverine Split With Earache Records

Sweden's WOLVERINE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"It's with mixed feelings we have to announce that WOLVERINE is no longer a part of Earache Records.

"We released 'Cold Light of Monday' through Earache and we also re-released 'The Window Purpose' through them, two albums that we are very proud of. However, during the last months it became obvious that Earache wasn't the right label for us and that they wouldn't do 'Still', our upcoming album, justice.

"Being without a label is of course not the most ideal of situations for a band but at the same time we are confident that we'll find a label that suits us much better than Earache did.

"We would like to appologize to the fans that have been expecting 'Still' to be released soon. We hope you find comfort in the fact that the entire band feels that parting ways with Earache was the only right decision to make. With a little luck the album will be out in a not too distant future. Hopefully you'll feel when you listen to it that it was worth the wait.

"The hunt for a new label is on. Wish us luck! We'll keep you posted!"

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Death Before Dishonor and Ramallah Tour Routing

Death Before Dishonor and Ramallah will be touring together for several weeks this winter. The bands will be joined by Embrace The End, Pride Kills, and Suffocate Faster at various intervals. Venues have yet to be confirmed, but here's the routing:

1/13 Louisville KY
1/14 Springfield MO
1/15 Lawrence MO
1/16 Denver CO
1/17 Salt Lake City UT
1/18 Boise ID
1/19 Spokane WA
1/20 Seattle WA
1/21 Portland OR
1/22 San Francisco CA
1/23 Reno NV
1/24 Sacramento CA
1/25 Bakersfield/Fresno CA
1/26 Las Vegas/San Diego CA
1/27 Tijuana MEX
1/28 Corona CA
1/29 Mission Viejo CA
1/30 Phoenix AZ
1/31 Albuquerque NM
2/1 Tulsa OK
2/2 Oklahoma City OK
2/3 Dallas TX
2/4 San Antonio TX
2/5 Corpus Christi TX
2/6 Houston TX
2/7 Baton Rouge LA
2/8 Memphis TN
2/9 Birmingham AL
2/10 Nashville TN
2/11 Cincinatti OH
2/12 Detroit MI

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