Due to personal reasons, guitarist Ross Ragusa has chosen to amicably part ways with Connecticut based metal band DEAD BY WEDNESDAY. Ross states, “I love my brothers in DBW, I wish them nothing but success, as they deserve it for the years of hard work they put into this project. This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. But the road has done serious damage to my back and neck, so I need to step away to get healthy, pursue an education in music, and come out strong to become the musician I was born to be.”
As hard as it was for the rest of the band to hear this, the show must go on, and the remaining band members wish him nothing but the best. “Although we will miss Ross on many different levels, we look forward to the excitement and possibilities of working with some new energy and flesh blood. We don’t care how long it takes for our search, but hopefully our ‘Randy Rhodes’ will walk through the door.” – Opus, drummer of DBW.
DBW will be holding national auditions for their replacement guitarist. All candidates must be pro and willing to tour. According to the band, “To be considered, you must be as good or better than Mr. Ross Ragusa. If you think you got what it takes, and are serious about your career, emailOmindsnap@aol.com.”
The band was planning on writing a full-length album with Ross, but because of his departure they will instead finish the seven songs that they’ve already written and recorded with him, and release it as an EP. It will also feature Charlie Bellmore (the guitarist of Kingdom of Sorrow/Jasta), who will be finishing off some of the guitar solo duties. They are currently in the studio with producer Nicholas T. Rage, who has recorded the likes of Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow, andToxic Holocaust. Their new EP, titled The Death of the Rockstar, will be released early 2014 through Mindsnap Music and distributed by Fake Four, Inc / Red Eye, followed by a nationwide tour. Their first single off the EP, “Left for Dead” is is also featured on the summer release of HATEWEAR’s “For The Headbanger’s/Brutal New Music Vol. # 4” comp CD out now! Sample & Download “Left For Dead” for FREE here:https://soundcloud.com/deadbywednesday/left-for-dead
Now on to some exciting news!! On September 17, 2013, at the Second Annual Connecticut Music Awards at The Bushnell in Hartford, CT, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY snagged the award for “Best Metal” band – for the second year in a row! They were also the only metal band to be nominated for “Best Overall” band.
“We are super happy to have won the best metal award two years in a row, and want to thank all of our family,friends, and fans who voted and believe in us, helping us to win again.” – Mike Modeste, bassist of DBW.
For more information on DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, please visit http://www.deadbywednesday.com and http://www.facebook.com/deadbywednesday.
The Rock Tribune 