BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE

Former BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Tour Manager Wins "Sex Act" Case

BBC News has issued the following report:

A heavy metal band tour manager has been awarded £40,000 libel damages by the High Court over a claim he was caught masturbating at work.

Mark Stickland said he was portrayed as a "sexual deviant" in the January 2006 edition of music magazine Kerrang!

Publisher Emap Metro had argued the claim, made in an interview with the band BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, was true.

Mr Stickland, 36, denied the incident, adding the article made him feel "angry, humiliated, hurt and upset".

The article in which the allegation was made warned readers to "prepare to be disgusted" by the "sickest interview ever" with Bullet For My Valentine.

It included a comment from the band's drummer Moose - real name Michael Thomas - in which he claimed the band's tour manager in Germany in December 2005 was found masturbating at his desk.

Although Mr Stickland was not named directly, he was the band's tour manager at the time.

William McCormic, counsel for Mr Stickland, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that the incident never happened.

He said that Mr Stickland, who lives in Nottingham, was a "fairly ordinary guy" who took a quiet pride in doing his job well and enjoyed the respect of friends and acquaintances.

"What's being said is that when he should have been at work, he engaged in activity which was lewd, sexual and, effectively, he could not control his sexual impulses," Mr McCormic said.

Emap Metro said it was an allegation of clandestine and ordinary sexual behaviour which was not defamatory, and was also true.

Mr Stickland, who has worked for bands in Europe, the US and in Australia, said: "I felt very awkward picking up the phone and asking people for work. The bands I work with are all heavy metal bands and, in the heavy metal business, everyone reads Kerrang!"

After the hearing, Mr Stickland said: "All I ever wanted to do was clear my name and I believe that is what's happened.

"I'm very relieved it's all over - it's been a year to get where we are."

Emap Metro had earlier refused Mr Stickland's offer of £4,999 plus an apology to settle the case.

The publisher was refused permission to appeal after the unanimous jury verdict, although it can apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Announce Brighton Institute Of Modern Music Scholarship Winner

The following update has been issued by BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE:

In September last year Total Guitar teamed up with Welsh metallers Bullet For My Valentine and the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) to offer one lucky reader the chance of a lifetime…the opportunity to have their fees paid by the band for a years study at the UK’s leading school of rock. That lucky man is guitarist Chris Homes from Somerset.

Chris was recently invited to meet the band VIP style backstage at their sold out show at the Hammersmith Apollo London. Chris said:

“I couldn’t believe it when I won the scholarship, it blew me away. I have learnt so much already about playing techniques, scales, chords and the music business. I get to study music everyday and meet amazing players like Tommy Emmanuel. Meeting Bullet has been awesome, the show was incredible and the band took me along to the after-show party where we had a few drinks with FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND!"

Bullet guitarist Michael (‘Padge’) Padget comments:

“I wish there were more music courses back home when we were starting out, to be a successful player you need to learn everything from theory to strong down-picking. You need to persevere and be totally dedicated.”

We asked Padge for his top tips for Total Guitar readers:

“Learn to play tight and then get tight in your rehearsals Write what you like and enjoy and if it sounds good, go with the flow.”

The Brighton Institute of Modern Music is running a Metal Summer School from August 13th to 16th this summer. For information about the Summer School and all of the courses available at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music Call ++44 (0) 1273 626666 or visit www.bimm.co.uk.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - Drum Recordings For New Album Complete

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE are currently in the studio with producer Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD) working on their new studio album. They have issued the following update:

"So, the drums are now FINISHED and sounding amazing!

Padge is currently in the studio getting guitar tones for the album with Colin. Matt is away in LA in meetings for a couple days, when he gets back he will be recording all his rhythm guitar tracks.

We've been writing new songs in between tracking, we've also found a couple other ways of passing the time when we're not recording: see the pictures!

So, it's onto guitars now for a few days, then out to LA for our show on February 15th. We'll see some of you there!"

Update by - Jay

All studio diary entries can be found at this location.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE To Perform At Extreme Playgrounds 2007

According to a press release, UK bashers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will perform at the Extreme Playgrounds 2007 Skateboard World Cup & International BMX Contest. The event takes place on October 12th and 13th in Berlin, Germany. Prize money for contenders is $100,000.

Go to this location for event information