Eyehategod definitely have an all-star cast of friends and supporters. Last month, Eyehategod frontman Mike IX Williams noted that due to some serious health issues he is not able to tour at the moment, and for the one gig they had last month, Phil Anselmo was to fill in. Anselmo did a pretty solid job, so much so that Jesus even got up on stage with the band.
Eyehategod being a working class band, did not want to cancel their upcoming North American run of dates, so they enlisted another big name in the metal world… Lamb of God's Randy Blythe to fill in on vocals. Mike Williams released a statement to explain:
“Once again, rather than cancel an amazing tour, we have chosen for EYEHATEGOD to continue on and give one-thousand-percent. This 2016 Discharge tour is super important to me as that band has been a huge influence on my life, but my health situation right now dictates that I am not able to take the stage and perform to the best of my abilities every single night. This is where our good friend Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God comes into the picture. We’ve known Randall since the early ‘90s when EYEHATEGOD would pass through Virginia and he’d offer for us to crash at his crib after our gigs. Great times and we became great friends. To have Mr. Blythe on board as a fill in for me on vocals for this run is a true ‘circle-stays-unbroken’ turn of events! Coming off the heels of Philip Anselmo doing vocals for EYEHATEGOD on two high profile shows [last month’s performances at Southport Music Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana and the 2016 edition of Gwar BQ in Richmond, Virginia respectively], both of these men are at the top of their game. I am getting the medical help I need and will return to the band as soon as possible. Thank you, everybody… ”
Blythe was surely more than happy to do it as he cites EHG as one of his favorite bands of all time. In fact, he even said as much in a statement released with the announcement:
“Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a massive EYEHATEGOD fan. I’ve seen them play more times than I can remember, my old side project covered ‘Dixie Whiskey’ for an EYEHATEGOD tribute album, I wear their merch, I even have a freaking EYEHATEGOD tattoo that I got in New Orleans. They are one of my favorite bands of all time, period. I’ve also been friends with the guys in the band since the ‘90s… actually, I knew them before I knew the dudes in my own band, and EYEHATEGOD would often crash at my crib when they came through Richmond. So it’s a bit difficult for me to say, ‘I’m super-happy that I’ve been asked to fill in for Mike IX Williams on this upcoming tour with Discharge and Toxic Holocaust.’ In fact, I can’t honestly say that at all because, once again as a fan and, more importantly, a friend, no one would rather see Mike do this tour more than myself. Mike IX is THE voice of EYEHATEGOD, and I respect him as a friend, musician, and writer way too much to ever think otherwise. What I can say is that I am beyond honored to be serving a brief tour of duty on vocals with EYEHATEGOD for this upcoming run.
When I was asked to fill in for Mike IX due to his health issues, I immediately said, ‘I’ll do it, as long as all of the guys in the band are cool with it, especially Mike; it can’t be any other way.’ I know from talking to him that Mike is very, very bummed to not be on this tour, especially given the fact that the legendary Discharge is one of his all-time favorite bands. In light of that fact alone, it’s a huge testament to the man’s character that he’s being gracious enough to let the band continue to work while he concentrates on his medical issues, which are entirely legitimate and prevent him from taking the stage night after night. The other guys need to keep the band alive while IX gets better. As anyone who has ever seen the band can attest, the stage of an EYEHATEGOD show isn’t exactly the ideal place to rest and recuperate from an illness, and that is the most important thing here: that Mike IX gets better. In order to both give him the time to take care of his health while simultaneously keeping EYEHATEGOD an active working unit, I’ll be proud to do my bit on this tour and take the stage with what is undeniably one of the heaviest bands on earth. It will be a savage experience; I can promise you that. Let the down-to-earth-motherfuckin’-post-amplification-blues begin! Hail Mike IX.”
This tour, with Discharge and Toxic Holocaust, has become super must-see. Here are the dates:
10/06/2016 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
10/07/2016 Dantes – Portland, OR
10/08/2016 Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
10/09/2016 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
10/10/2016 The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2016 Glass House – Pomona, CA
10/12/2016 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
10/13/2016 Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
10/14/2016 Webster Hall/Marlin Room – New York, NY
10/15/2016 Reggies – Chicago, IL
10/16/2016 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Negative Approach, Svlphvrvs
