NEW line-up announced

STONER KINGS 2007 (left to right) - StarBuck, Hirvanen, Rude, Grandy)

Stoner Kings in 2007 looks mighty different than Stoner Kings from 2006 and the Fuck The World era. Yes, it's true ladies and gentlemen - there is a totally new line-up now, and this was out of pure necessity.

The band at the end of 2006 had become complacent, to the point of the old players themselves showing a considerable lack of motivation and seemingly zero interest in upping the ante in working towards a higher level of excellence in regards to a third album. I simply cannot understand all of the reasons why or the personal issues of the ex-players themselves, as my own efforts to interact were met with glaring indifference. Without proactive communication nothing is obviously going to happen, and as a one-horse unit pulling a mighty heavy sleigh behind me, it simply came time to draw the line and reach absolution at the start of 2007 back in January, if for nothing else then for the sake of the future of this band and my own internal well-being. I bid adieu to my former line-up, and wished them well in their future endeavors, whatever they may be.

Let me state for the record that there was no greater drama in this split, only a matter of sheer necessity and a lack of desire in regards to communication. Over the years I had been the driving force and key operator behind the scenes in Stoner Kings, and towards the end in the latter half of 2006 I simply ran out of gas. I was giving out and no one was pouring back in. Everyone had their own agendas and their lives were taking a turn towards differing interests. To quote Bobby Blitz from one of my favorite thrash bands Overkill, "They wanted to be somewhere else, they didn't want to be here", and if that was the case then it was obviously time to move on.

It took me many a month to find the right players and a suitable, professional, driven line-up for Stoner Kings. Now, over the summer of 2007 I believe I have found the players who will take this band to the next level. All of these guys are excellent musicians, great people, and above all interested in being here. The internal motivation to produce within the band is through the roof, with every guy putting in their best effort. We hope to have some new material out shortly and we will be hunting for a new deal over the course of the upcoming months. We have also signed on with a gig office in Finland, whose main purpose will be to set up some live events for us within the near future.

The new Stoner Kings line-up consists of my old comrade from the southern rock band Monsterbore, axe wiz and legendary guitarist Petteri Hirvanen, bassist Rude and drummer Grandy. Petteri has been the guitar instructor of several of today's top Finnish metal six-stringers, from the globally-acclaimed Amorphis to Finn alternative metal pioneers Kyyria to gritty metalists Godsplague to melodic metallers Lullacry to pop rock outfits like Nylon Beat and tons in between. Petteri is known in the Finnish scene as one of the most highly respected musicians around today, and I am proud to call him a brother and have him onboard. Grandy has been a drumming teacher for many years, instructor of countless drummers in Finland today. In addition, he is one hell of a nice guy and sober to boot! Rude has played in the Finn hard rock band Lost Madison from Jyväskylä, and his skills are undaunted on bass. He is precise, sharp and one groovin' motherfucker on top of that!

So for all of you who have sent emails asking what's happening with the band, here you have it, straight from the horse's mouth! Thanks for hanging in there with us, and we look forward to breaking new ice with y'all in the very near future...

StarBuck / Stoner Kings

Stoner Kings new promo single

Stoner Kings release their new promo single for 2007 entitled DAMNATIONS OWN. Click here to listen to the song!