Friday, January 10, 2014

Dan Lilker's Swan Song

I must admit, I was surprised to see the following post from my old buddy, Dan Lilker. When I think of metal lifers, he's one of the first I picture. And unlike many of his contemporaries, he's somehow maintained his passion for the scene without picking up any of the hardened embitterment so associated with pioneers who never quite hit it big. I'll definitely miss seeing him at various fests, but respect the hell out of him for getting out on his own terms.

It looks like Brutal Truth is a wrap, but Danny's and their legacy will continue.

"A Message From Dan Lilker

I regret to inform Brutal Truth fans that as of October 18th, 2014, I will be retiring from being a full time recording and touring musician. That date is my 50th birthday, so I chose it symbolically as a significant milestone to make such a weighty decision. As a lot of you know, I've been an active member of the metal scene since the early 80s with the thrash metal bands I've been in before the formation of Brutal Truth in 1990, and I'm simply just tired of the rigors of touring mostly. Unlike some of my peers from the 80's who went on to sell millions of records I have always been drawn to extreme underground metal. I don't care about staying in 5 star hotels and having a big cushy tour bus but I am getting tired of squeezing into a van for 8 hours after all these years on the road. I have always played what I believe in and that is been priority #1, but the time has come to have a little bit more stability in my life.

Brutal Truth will still be active on the touring front until mid-October and will aim to do as much as we can in the next 9 months or so. After that, I will still have creative output with my 2 local bands in Rochester NY, Nokturnal Hellstorm and Blurring and do the occasional project tour, but yes, as of mid-October, Brutal Truth will no longer exist. I do realize that will be an extreme disappointment to all the grind freaks out there that have supported this band so rabidly all these years, and your enthusiasm will always have a special place in my heart, but I've made my decision, and I hope everyone can respect that.

Thanks, Dan Lilker"