Changes & Cancellations – 3/30/2011

Doin’ The Axeman Shuffle

Playing guitar in metal thrash band Slayer has become somewhat of a revolving door since founding member Jeff Hanneman underwent surgery for an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite. Although Exodus’ Gary Holt has been filling in for Hanneman on the band’s current tour, he’ll be needed in Chile next month when his own band opens for Iron Maiden in Santiago.

Enter Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien who will join Slayer April 6 in Croatia and stay with the band all the way through April 14 when the European tour wraps up in Holland. Holt’s last day with Slayer will be April 4 in Padova, Italy.

And Hanneman? He’s undergoing therapy and practicing guitar as he travels the road back to wellness.

NEARfest 2011 Canceled

The North East Art Rock Festival scheduled for June 24-26 in Bethlehem, Pa., at the Zoellner Arts Center has been scrubbed.

Scheduled to appear at this year’s NEARfest were several bands from throughout the world, including Finland’s Jeavestone, Italy’s New Trolls and England’s Curved Air.

Organizers are blaming lackluster ticket sales, saying the festival’s cancellation is “likely the product of lower-than-expected interest in a transitional lineup of talented international acts combined with a slow-to-rebound U.S. economy.”

But fan comments posted on the festival’s website blamed ticket prices and the lineup more than the economy. NEARfest tickets are sold in two and three-day bundles and the only single day ticket is for Friday, the first day of the festival. The lowest price listed on NEARfest’s website is $30 for Friday only and the top price is $195 for a three-day bundled ticket in the venue’s “Lift” section.

NEARfest organizers also said “no decisions have been made regarding the long-term future of the festival.” For more information, click here for the festival’s website.