AUGUST 2008
Wow! This year is going fast! Seems like yesterday I was touring Europe with the band and that was ten months ago! All things are in preparation for the worldwide release of the "Live Humanitarian" double DVD set through Nuclear Blast Records. This project has turned out to be a real blessing. A bunch of guys over in Perth, Western Australia, put this package together for next to no charge. Considering this DVD production has a value of $50,000, it is amazing just how God's people worldwide help to keep this Mort mission alive. Due to this being done for us as a mission, I was able to present it to Nuclear Blast at no charge. So let us believe that the images and words presented will impact people's lives and sell well for the mighty NB! There is no way I could have presented such a great production to NB without the tireless work of Steve Mullen and all his team at Metal Mission Australia. Eternal gratefulness to all involved!
We have some new photos in the Photos gallery and one here featuring Mick and myself with Dave Kilgallon our new drummer. It is great to have a young man in the band again. Dave was just 7 when Mort started! We also have the poster for our Melbourne show here for you all to see. We are opening the night for Melbourne metal legends Medusa and a new band called Luthor. We are catching an early flight to Sydney on Friday October 3rd for our Mainstage appearance at the Black Stump festival on Saturday October 4th. We are on stage in Melbourne at 8:30pm and at Black Stump at 8:00pm.
For all those coming to the Melbourne show at Ruby's Lounge, please be early because we have some great giveaways including one copy of the "Live Humanitarian" DVD. I am hoping Nuclear Blast will have copies of the DVD to me by late September. I will also be giving away one copy of the DVD at Black Stump and two "Live Humanitarian" CDs will also be given away at both shows.
We will be recording a demo of a new song very soon at Penny Drop Studio, where we plan to record the new album next year. Penny Drop Studio is the old St Andrews Studio where we recorded EnVision EvAngelene and Bloodworld. The new songs are sounding very heavy with, once again, a fresh approach in the vein of Erasing The Goblin, but different! Ha, ha! Re-invention is the master of all art! Yes, there is plenty of fast stuff but expect the unexpected. The next album will be a very sudden, out of the blocks, in your face, aggressive thunder ball! We are not letting out album or song titles until next year.
Thank you once again to all the amazing people who have helped support this mission this past month. I see Mortification as a dying breed of metal, with most Christians in bands opting to have little or no message anymore. This is something that I find discouraging. That said, I do understand that tolerance for the Christian message is lessening and, thus, bands are simply singing about other stuff. Anyway, if you are on my wave-length and want to see the message continuing to go out through channels like Nuclear Blast Records, you can support through PayPal. Simply donate to info@roweproductions.com to save this mission.
Hope to catch some of you at the upcoming shows.
Blessings to all. Yeah, even to all you mockers out there!
Steve Rowe.
JULY 2008
...and a happy month of July for us all! Big announcements this month with some exciting news. The "Live Humanitarian" DVD is now finally finished in edit. It sounds and looks massive! The official release date for the DVD is September 26th through Nuclear Blast Records, Germany. Yes, you read it correctly, the biggest and best Mort live release will be soley released by the world's biggest and best heavy metal label. The DVD will be in Region 0 and thus playable worldwide.
I was speaking with Nuclear Blast owner Markus about the DVD last November when we were on tour in Europe and had dinner with him and production manager Michael. Michael and Markus have been a huge support for me since they had to let us go in late 2001. It has been a dream to work with Nuclear Blast once again. The release of "Live Humanitarian" is a foot back in the door with the world's best metal label. My main connection with Markus and Michael since 2002 has been one of friendship. There has always remained a strong bond between Mortification and Nuclear Blast. Markus and Michael have helped tremendously over the past 6 years with tour merchandise and support, even as an unsigned artist. They are truly just the best!
We are confirmed to play mainstage at this year's Black Stump Festival. We will hit stage at 8pm on Saturday, October 4th. This mainstage appearance will be the official Australian launch for the "Live Humanitarian" DVD. The DVD will be a double digipak release! Delux supremo!
In more huge Mort news, Dave Kilgallon has officially joined the band on drums. Firstly and most importantly, Mick and myself would like to thank Damien Percy for his amazing 3 year commitment to the band. Damien being involved with us for "Erasing The Goblin" and "Live Humaniatian", plus the related tours, was another great chapter in the Mortification history. Damien, your dedication and input to Mort has been truly tremendous. You have blessed many people with your skill and ideas. It is great to have a growing family of Mortification members and friends.
I recognised Dave Kilgallon's drumming prowess 2 years ago when hearing his band Scourged Flesh. Dave, along with Vaughan Gregory (Grave Forsaken), were a big part of the "Live Humanitarian" DVD concert even happening. Damien was playing Dave's kit on the night in Perth, Western Australia, when the DVD was filmed. Since the recording of "Live Humanitarian", I have been involved in personally supporting both Scourged Flesh and Grave Forsaken releases. Dave will remain living in Perth and continue his drumming commitments with Scourged Flesh and Grave Forsaken. Dave Kilgallon is an awesome young talent.
Dave was over here in Melbourne recently for an extensive time of rehearsing both the new set list and songs for next year's new studio album. Dave will return in September as we prepare for the Black Stump show and once again work on new material. The new songs are sounding massive!
...and so begins a new chapter in Mort history. I am planning a "warm up" show in Melbourne for October 1st. Watch this space for details. Dave will be back here once again in February as we prepare to spend the entire month of March next year recording the 14th Mortification opus.
Last, but absolutely not least, a huge "Thank You" to all who responded to last month's Update with financial support for my ongoing medical expenses and the Mortification mission. With cuts in government funding, under our newly elected Labor Party, for vital health products and equipment, my medical debt continues to rise. Plus, doctors have asked that I use more expensive, highly sterile medical products which, of course, are much more costly. I am continuing with my essential alternative health products due to the help from you, our most generous supporters.
Band expenses are high and sales much lower due to people stealing our music from the internet. In the 90's Mortification sold one quarter of a million units. Sales in this decade, from 4 studio albums and many CD and DVD re-issues, are around 10% of that. Like all metal bands big and small, by the end of this decade we will hopefully be at about 20% of last decade's sales. Considering that the "Live Planetarium" DVD re-issue has sold under 2000 copies worldwide and that over 140,000 people have watched the YouTube clip of "Scrolls of The Megilloth" - you do the math. The "Scrolls..." clip was a classic addition to the '93 "Live Planetarium" video package.
I love YouTube and how it has exposed all of our clips to a new generation of metal fans, creating some strong discussion about Christianity and metal music. YouTube is not stealing. But with the viewers of our clips all giving 4.5 to 5 star ratings, imagine the stealing of our music that is going on. Return to math 1! Of course, I was never involved with putting our clips on YouTube - it was done by fans without my permission. I am not angry about this. However, I will personally place 1 or 2 clips on YouTube from the new "Live Humanitarian" release. Fans will be stopped very quickly if this DVD ends up on YouTube! I will also YouTube myself later in the year in an ad directing people to where they can purchase the high quality DVDs.
Mortification is NOT surviving financially and I wear the brunt of this. I will always continue in this mission because it is my calling to do so, but if the stealing does not stop - this mission may have to. I know how much Mort means to thousands of people. The emails that you, our great supporters, send me are the fuel that keeps us going. If you wish to continue in keeping Mortification and myself alive you can do so by sending a donation via PayPal to info@roweproductions.com
I have received many emails in the past month, some of financial support and many of prayer support and encouragement. All of these have been awesome! If you wish for me to respond personally to you email, please keep it down to a maximum of 1 or 2 short sentences. I love hearing your life stories but cannot attend to huge emails. My need to keep fit and active in sport and to attend countless medical appointments makes time very precious. You know I love you all but I just ask that you keep the emails short and simple. You are the reason Mort continues and for your support, in every way, I am very grateful.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
JUNE 2008
Welcome to the Rowe Productions and Mortification June Update. This is a very different update to usual, just seeing if some supporters out there, who have had their lives effected in a good way by this ministry, may be able to partner me in support. I have spent the past 22 years offering the best metal productions possible with a strong Christian message. As you are all well aware, it has been difficult to survive all these years in this ministry area that loses money every year.
On top of this, I went through cancer 12 years ago which killed Rowe Productions' real ability to continue and almost killed me physically. I was given just 2 hours to live twice. The backlash from that time has been serious health issues, including paraplegia, and the inability to keep Rowe Productions afloat. Somehow Mortification survives and I lend a hand to a select few Aussie Jesus metal bands. From now on it has come down to just keeping myself and Mortification alive.
The cost of my medical and natural therapies just gets higher and higher each year. As you all know, I still keep fit competing in Para sports and doing Mort shows and small tours as I am able. Every year there is some new health issue relating back to the hell I went through in '96, '97 and '98. I am at the point where I am going to have to stop vital medical visits, therapies and medications because the medical debts just keep rising. God has been good to my wife Kate and I but the pressure on Kate has become more difficult each year.
Mortification is not a profit system - it never has been. It is purely a vision to provide quality metal music with a strong Christian message. Next April I am planning to record a new Mortification album, followed by a 20th Anniversary album. The idea is to release the new Mort album mid 2009 and the 20th Anniversary album in 2010. The 20th Anniversary album will be quite special; we plan to re-record 8 classic Mort songs with bigger, brighter production and tons of new guitar solos. The songs will be vocally true to the original recordings. The album will also include 6 never before released live tracks, 3 from 2007 and 3 from 1990.
We have had a hard time trying to get the Live Humanitarian DVD finished in edit, not helped by the fact that the main editor was very ill throughout May. We are still planning to have the DVD available in the next 3 or 4 months and it will be worth the wait.
I am planning some shows and possible small tours for the 20th Anniversary but everything is just in the ideas stage right now. We may be playing at a Christian festival later this year.
Nothing happens in this ministry without money and nothing happens in this ministry if I cannot receive needed medical treatments due to financial debt. Playing music and being actively involved in metal ministry is part of why I have survived these past years. There are only 3 people from the hospital where I had the bone marrow transplant who have lived more than 10 years from the leukemia that I suffered, let alone the secondary spinal cancer. I am now over eleven and a half years out from the transplant.
There are many areas where I need your support. Medical bills, both phamacutical and natural medicines, the recording of the above Mortification projects, tour planning expenses and sporting costs. I was out training this morning - the sport keeps me healthier and walking better. If this seems to be a mission God lays on your heart to support, you can make a donation via PayPal to info@roweproductions.com
If you do decide to send some support, please email me at the same address so that I can thank you in person. I did not really want to write this update but after praying about it, I feel that some who feel they have gained from this ministry may be in a position to help in return.
In all Good Faith. Thanks and blessings.
Steve Rowe.
MAY 2008
Hello once again from chilly Melbourne, Australia. Yes, we are moving into winter here next month and will be keeping the gas companies in business with our heating costs. However, it is a nice day today so I have been out throwing discuss, shot and h-ball in a field nearby, which is one of my favourite things to do. It makes me feel alive! I will be competing once again at this year's National Transplant Games and will be working out and training towards the World Games in August 2009.
I have been busy as usual. Last week I did a 1 hour interview with an American radio station that broadcasts live to stations across the US and Canada. All their shows are podcast, so my interview is available for download, just CLICK THIS LINK.
I have almost completed my best new songs to be recorded for the next Mortification album. From 20 songs I have written in the past 2 years, I am currently presenting the best 8 to the other guys. Mick is still working on his best new tunes, too. We will colaborate on these and then I will put lyrics to Mick's 2 or 3 musical contributions. I have a title for the album but that is under lock and key until next year. We are looking at recording throughout next March and April for a mid 2009 release. Things are moving slowly because the edit of the "Live Humanitarian" DVD is taking much longer than first expected, but I can assure you that it will be worth the wait.
On a different note, I am wondering if anyone can hook me up with a copy of the classic thrash Tempest "Annihilation of the Wicked" demo from the mid 80's. I am not talking about the glam Tempest featuring Jamie Rowe of Guardian; this is the original Tempest. My copy was stolen from my house in the early 90's, so I wish to get hold of a copy of this classic release if someone has it available. Please click "Contact Us" (on the left side of this web page) and shoot me an email if you can help me out.
Be blessed,
Steve Rowe.
APRIL 2008: Part 2
Hello everyone for the second time this month. Just released is the fantastic new Grave Forsaken CD "Destined For Ascension". "Destined.." is a huge step forward for the band and absolutely the most Jesus Metal CD that I have heard in recent years.
This is intense thrash extreme metal that requires the support of all the Jesus Metal supporters out there. Grave Forsaken have the world's most important message upfront in their agenda. So for any metal fan inside or outside the Christian faith this release is a must. It is one of those albums that will go on to challenge all of us as to where our life is at.
I had the privilege of adding some vocals to this release and know that Grave Forsaken are one of a kind in a world arena of music where the message is not so upfront. I thank God for such a great band that has blessed me personally in so many ways; young men of God standing and performing for that to which they behold.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
APRIL 2008
Again, thank you to all for your patience in waiting for this month's update. I have endeavoured to order a bulk quantity of the "Conquer The World" DVD re-issue from Metal Mind Productions in Europe but, between their bank and my bank, the transaction has not been completed. We have a new plan, so I should have more copies of the "Conquer The World" DVD in the next few weeks. Right now, we have just 17 copies available in the Soundmass.com store. Really, this is a great re-issue because it is in digipak format, has the classic Mortification logo on the cover, has been 24-bit remastered and is in 5.1 surround sound. The absolute best thing is that it is in Region 0, so can be viewed anywhere in the world on any DVD player or computer.
"Conquer The World" is a documentary of our 2001 World Tour featuring myself (Steve Rowe), Lincoln Bowen on guitar and Adam Zaffarese on drums. It was absolutely the biggest tour the band has ever done and was a great step-of-faith journey across the unknown. It also features 3 professional video clips, plus a ton of on the road, around the world footage. The undertaking of a tour of this size by an Aussie Christian metal band seemed impossible but, as you will see, with God all things are possible.I hope you enjoy watching the journey for yourselves. There are a lot of crazy things that happened along the way, so it is a fantastic documentary of a mid-sized metal band making this path happen with divine intervention.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
MARCH 2008
Welcome to a belated but very exciting March Update. Finally, all the digipak re-issues have arrived from Europe and are in the Soundmass.com store to cleanse your hungry ears and feed your hungry eyes. I was dreaming these past 2 years about the possibility of the entire Mort history being re-issued on delux digipaks. Finally that dream has come true and was, of course, kicked off last year by Soundmass with our '91 self-titled digi re-issue.
The new set of 8 digipaks go beyond all expectations with extended photos, media clippings and bonus tracks. Highlight layouts include EnVision EvAngelene, Primitive Rhythm Machine and The Silver Cord Is Severed/10 Years Live Not Dead double. That said, all 8 are outstanding in presentation and value. From the masters of digipak re-issues - Metal Mind Productions in Poland - it is an honour to see Mortification unleashed once again in such stellar fashion. Metal Mind are responsible for hundreds of re-issues from Sony BMG, Universal, Roadrunner, Music For Nations and now Nuclear Blast.
10 Mortification releases are amongst the 80 given the honour of these delux re-issues from the Nuclear Blast back-catalouge. The list available of these strictly limited edition releases is Scrolls Of The Megilloth, Post Momentary Affliction, Blood World, Primitive Rhythm Machine, EnVision EvAngelene, Triumph Of Mercy, Hammer Of God and The Silver Cord Is Severed/10 Years Live Not Dead double. The Silver Cord Is Severed now has the classic Mortification logo on the cover, as does the "Conquer The World" DVD which will be available in the coming weeks in Region 0 format. This means it will be viewable worldwide!
Here at Rowe Productions we can offer you an exceptional deal - all 8 digipaks for the price of 6. That is actually 9 CDs for the price of 6 (just find the "Metal Mind Productions 8 CD Pack" in the Soundmass.com store). Plus our individual CD prices are lower than the stores out there. In stores here The Silver Cord Is Severed/10 Years Live Not Dead double is $35 on it's own - here it is just $25, as are the other 7 re-issues if you buy them individually. But buy all 8 digipaks and save $50!
These limited edition digipaks will not last long. The pressing of 2000 numbered copies on gold discs are already in stores worldwide. I have 125 of each title and believe that from the enthusiasm of you, the supporters, I will soon be able to afford a second 125 of each. However, that will depend upon your direct support of the band and just how quickly I can place the re-order. Wholesalers and stores worldwide are onto all the Metal Mind digipaks fast because of their supreme quality, so I am believing that I will have the financial return quickly in order to keep these gems at Rowe Productions as long as possible.
So here's to a new old era revisited! It's like buying a classic car, pulling it to pieces and re-polishing, re- painting and re-building each tiny part. All releases are digitally remastered using 24-bit process. I encourage you to purchase the 8 CD Pack and listen and see how the band progressed over a 10 year period. Many of the mockers in the mainstream can now see the natural progression and are eating their words in review. The re-issues are creating a buzz in the European Metal mainstream with my vocals on the latter albums being compared with Volker from the legendary War Hammer and Paul Speckman from death metal pioneers Master.
A must for all collectors! Be first to own a set of these tasty treats on which to feed your healthy and hungry ears and eyes for all the metal years arriving upon us. Now here and soon to be gone, it would be great to be able to share the excitement of these re-issues with you all. It's a testimony to the fact that a band can stand strong for Jesus in the secular metal realms. Long live true Christian metal!!!!!!!
Blessings.
Steve Rowe.
FEBRUARY 2008: Part 2
Hello Rowe Productions supporters for the second time this month. Just a quick note that there are some cassettes from my private collection for sale in the Soundmass.com store. I was running out of space in my office so had to clear out a lot of stuff from years of collecting different metal related stuff. I have always kept at least 2 copies of all my releases dating back 22 years. The Mort cassettes are not huge collectors items, but the 3 Lightforce cassettes are. 1 copy of the original 1987 Battlezone pressing and 2 copies of the original 1990 Break The Curse pressing (from before we changed the band name to Mortification). These Lightforce cassettes will be snapped up by collectors, so be quick. All 3 Lightforce cassettes are signed.
There will be another update in a couple of weeks about the re-issue digipaks and the Live Humanitarian DVD. The DVD is a monster and will be way worth the wait! It is such a dream come true to finally have such a world-class visual production. I will chat with you all next month.
Jesus Metal!
Steve Rowe.
FEBRUARY 2008
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. Apologies for no January Update. It is summer over here so I had somewhat of a break last month. It is nice warm weather here in Melbourne. A quite warm 30 degress celcius today. I also had the privilege of adding some vocals to the upcoming Grave Forsaken album last month. Stay tuned for details on that release.
As you will see in the Soundmass.com store, there are now signed Mortification: Live Humanitarian Tour posters for sale. There are less than 100 left so be sure to place your order today. Please note that the self-titled 1991 album is also now available to purchase through iTunes and a dozen other legal download sites. Relentless and Brain Cleaner should also be available to buy from iTunes in the coming months.
The big news this month is that everything ever released by Nuclear Blast from 1992 to 2002 is being re-issued by Polish label Metal Mind Productions. Under license from Nuclear Blast, 8 CDs will be re-issued in delux digipak format packed full of extras like bonus songs, photos, media clippings, linear notes and complete new layouts. I have been completely involved with the art direction with each CD. We will have these available through the Soundmass.com store within the next weeks. The re-issues include Scrolls Of The Megilloth, Post Momentary Affliction, Bloodworld, Primitive Rhythm Machine, EnVision EvAngelene, Triumph Of Mercy, Hammer Of God and The Silver Cord Is Severed. For all you avid collectors, I will be making a very special price for all the people who order the entire set of 8 CDs. No one is more excited about these re-issues than myself. Metal Mind have been around for 20 years and have been really great to work with these past weeks in getting all these digipaks just perfect!
The Conquer The World DVD is also in the process of being re-issued through Metal Mind in Region 0 format, which means it can be watched anywhere in the world. The artwork has been redone with the classic logo replacing the not-so-popular sword logo. The Silver Cord Is Severed will also feature the classic logo. The re-issue of the Conquer The World DVD will also contain bonus footage from the 2002 Black Stump Festival, with classic songs "Grind Planetarium" and "Brutal Warfare" included.
Talking of DVDs, the Live Humanitarian DVD will finally be finished in edit by early next month. No fixed release date just as yet, though. I have seen some of the final edits and the Live Humanitarian DVD will be the finest Mortification live release to date. With a 7 digital camera shoot and 5.1 Dolby surround sound, this is a MASSIVE production, 18 months in the making. It out-does Live Planetarium hands down for sound and picture quality. It will also have some bonus footage including classic songs and on-tour antics from last year's Live Humanitarian European Tour.
Please also check out the latest additions to the Photo Gallery, with some classic shots from the European Tour. Thank you to all our friends and fans who captured us in the moment on the highly successful trek through middle Western Europe. Do not forget to pick up the remaining tour shirts and merchandise from the Soundmass.com store while it lasts. I will keep you well posted as to when the Metal Mind re-issues will be available for purchase.
Blessings and Metal!
Steve Rowe.
DECEMBER 2007 A Mortification story made front page news in one of Norway's biggest newspapers. It is so amazing that 10 to 13 years ago news, both in Norway and around the world, relating to metal music in Norway told of the infamous black metal scene there, with church burnings, murders and, more recently, rapes at the hands of some of Norway's black metal artists. Yet just three weeks ago one of their daily street newspapers ran a story on an Australian Christian metal band playing at a Christian metal festival in Oslo called NordicFest. It just never ceases to amaze me how God turns things around. The members of Nuclear Blast band Benediction told me backstage in Germany in September 1995 that my name was #1 on Norway's black metal mafia's death list. Following are some pictures from the article and links to PDF pages of the article (in Norwegian).
Yes! Finally the remaining Mortification European Tour 2007 merchandise has arrived at Soundmass. Please see the Soundmass.com store for all the items pictured here in the December Update. Be quick because the larger shirt sizes are already going and the prices are excellent for the quality you will purchase.
The tour merchandise includes:
*Awesome old-school Mortification logo jacket patch
*Classic Mortification logo sticker
*Plus still coming are the big full-color Tour posters (we must sign them all first - they should be in the store by Christmas).
A huge extra special Thank You to our awesome tour manager Peter Gerber who ate so many vegetables that he was able to pack the merchandise left at the end of the Tour and get it to Australia in 3 weeks! The man is a machine! Thanks also to Nuclear Blast for tremendous quality merchandise as always, plus the Reusch's for the poster prints.
God is good all the time!!
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
NOVEMBER 2007
Yes, here I am once again. I realise that I stated there would not be a November Update due to the European Tour but I just need to ask some things from you, our supporters, and thank some very important people.
Firstly, the European Tour went way beyond our expectations. There were great turnouts at all of the shows and surprisingly a ton of new young fans under the age of 21. There were also some great young bands coming through delivering some brutal Jesus Metal. From the supports we had across the shows, Fallen Walls from Germany and Docile from Holland were stand-out young bands for me. We were all really well on the tour thanks to much prayer and support. I personally handled this tour better physically than I did the similar '99 tour of Europe. Miracles continue!
NordicFest ruled! I was just disappointed that we could not stay around to meet the fans because our shedule was sooo tight. A huge thank you to Soundmass.com, Corey Shotter our roadie back here in Australia, Peter Gerber who ran the Bern show and did an amazing job of tour managing. Peter, you are the greatest. Without you the tour would have been way to hard. You are the tour manager of the century for sure! Let us do it again.
A massive Thank You to Toni Kaelin, Daniel and Daniel Krakenpfleger for the Zurich show and Atomic Cripples and Wedgies; Marc, Johannes and the crew in Eschwege; Jonathan and Hans in Bielefeld and mortification.de; Roeland in Holland; Paal and all the crew at NordicFest; and Andrea and Stephen Reusch in Stuttgart. You all did a stellar job. A very special huge Thank You also to Markus, Michael and Katarina at Nuclear Blast Records for the awesome merchandise and hospitality. Left over tour shirts and other merchandise will be on the www.soundmass.com store here in a few weeks. It is currently being shipped to Australia via Surface Mail, which usually takes 2 months. Stay tuned and get in quick when it arrives.
For all the fans and supporters who came out to the shows we salute you. Without your attendance and buying the merchandise we would not be able to do this. We love you all and thank you for your support. PLEASE, if anyone has any photos or digital video footage they could send us on DVD, that would be really awesome. We will use some small select cuts as bonus footage on the still being edited, still arriving "Live Humanitarian" DVD. Please send it to us as soon as possible because the edit will be finished mid-December. Send to:
Rowe Productions
Blessings to all our fans and supporters worldwide.
Steve Rowe (A Happy Man!!!!!!!)
NEW INFO FOR MORTIFICATION TOUR: Details of Wednesday November 7th show
Elfenbein Entertainment (www.elfenbein-entertainment.de)
Pre-orders available from http://en.mortification.de/concert
Doors open at 6:15pm
Support: Fallen Walls (Germany) at 6:45pm and Admonish (Sweden) at 7:45pm. Mortification on stage at 9pm.
Refer to September Update for all other tour dates and venue information.
OCTOBER 2007
Hello all and welcome to the very late October update from myself in Morty-land. Everything is finalised and going ahead for our European Tour. We are really looking forward to playing once again for our supporters in Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Norway. We leave from Australia on October 30th to begin the tour on November 2nd in Bern. Please see last month's update for all the details relating to the shows. We hope to see all our European fans come out once again and hopefully a few American fans at Nordic Fest.
We have the most KILLER merchandise for the tour put together for us by the mighty Nuclear Blast, so you know the quality is going to be top notch! At each show we will have full-color tour long-sleeves with sleeve prints, full-color t-shirts, jacket patches, buttons, stickers and posters. It will be a feast for all you collectors out there! There will be a very special offer for people who purchase both a long-sleeve and a t-shirt.
Please note that there will not be a November Update due to the tour commitments, but be sure to visit us here in December for the low-down on all the tour news. Thank you to our Aussie fans who came out and supported us at the Black Stump festival and also The Pelly Bar show down here in suburban Melbourne. A great time was had by all. A special thank you to Grave Forsaken, Scourged Flesh and Fearscape for a great show in Frankston. Also a huge thank you to Matt Brown from Fearscape for organising the Black Stump Metal/Hardcore night.
Check out all the following killer new Aussie metal releases: "Scent of Divine Blood" by Fearscape, "Horror and Sadness" by Grave Forsaken, "Bury the Lies" by Scourged Flesh, the Horde "Alive in Oslo" DVD and Jayson Sherlock's progressive rock project Soundscape. Great to see all the Aussie bands kicking hard! May we all unite in the cause for which we stand!
See you on tour or back here in December. Please note, I will not be answering emails from October 29th through to November 19th.
Metal blessings,
Steve Rowe.
SEPTEMBER 2007
G'day international Mortification friends. It's good to be back with a new update. Thank you to all our supporters who have purchased a copy of our new "Live Humanitarian" CD. Let us keep the metal underground alive by committing ourselves to NEVER steal metal from the internet. It is not worth the possibility of going to hell for stealing just from being greedy! Support the bands that support you.
Everything is firing on 12 cylinders for our Live Humanitarian Tour. Following is as much detail for the tour as I have right now:
1) Saturday Sept. 29: -Venue- Black Stump Festival, Appin, NSW, Australia. Mort on stage at 9pm (Metal/Hardcore Stage). www.blackstump.org.au
2) Friday Oct. 5: -Venue- The Pelly Bar, Frankston, Vic., Australia. See poster above for details
3) Friday Nov. 2: Bern, Switzerland. -Venue- The Rock, Burgstrasse 6, 3600 Thun (20km from Bern). Doors 8pm. Mort on stage at 10pm. Support: Pesticide on stage at 9pm. Tickets from The Rock (www.therock.ch or 033 221 66 06) or contact Peter Gerber (mr.event@bluewin.ch)
4) Saturday Nov. 3: Zurich, Switzerland. -Venue- Faegtory Duernten, Edikerstrasse 16, 8635 Duernten. Doors 6:30pm. Mort on stage at 9pm + support. Ticket info from late September at www.mortification-live.ch.vu. Contact: mortification.live@gmail.com and tonikaelin@gmx.de
5) Sunday Nov. 4: Eschwege, Germany (near Kassel). -Venue- Jugendzentrum Eschwege (JUZ), Schlossmuehle 37269, Eschwege.
Mort on stage at 9pm + support. Contact: dobat@gmx.de
6) Monday Nov. 5: Steve Rowe doing Spoken Word at YMCA House, Leuchtbergstr. 10 b, 37269 Eschwege. Contact: dobat@gmx.de
7) Wednesday Nov. 7: Bielefeld, Germany (near Dortmund). Contact: jonathan.schluessler@gmx.de and stormtroopersoflight@web.de
8) Thursday Nov. 8: Amersfoort, Holland. -Venue- Podium De Kelder, Eemlaan 1, 3812 ED Amersfoort. Mort on stage at 9pm + support. Contact: r.oudejans2@chello.nl
9) Friday Nov. 9: Nordic Fest, Oslo, Norway. -Venue- Sub Scene, Kirkegata 34, Oslo. Doors 7pm. Mort on stage at 9:30pm. www.nordicfest.no (also appearing on the same night is ONCE DEAD (ex-Vengeance Rising) from the USA. Any serious American metalhead needs to jump on a plane for this one! The ultimate thrash metal onslaught night of the year!)
10) Saturday Nov. 10: Rock Without Limits, Stuttgart, Germany. -Venue- 72116 Moessingen (South of Stuttgart). Mort on stage at 11pm. Also performing: Crushead (DE), October Light (HR), The Spirit That Guides Us (NL), D:Projekt (DE), Line Of Vision (DE), Antz Of Glory (DE). Special tickets can be purchased just to see Mort but these "Mortification Only" ticket holders will not be allowed into the venue until 10:30pm. Tickets: 10 Euro pre-sales, 12 Euro Doors, 8 Euro "Mortification Only Ticket". www.rockwithoutlimits.de. Contact: info@rockwithoutlimits.de, webmaster@musicfreaks.de and andreareusch73@aol.com
See you all on tour.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe
AUGUST 2007
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. Things are hotting up as we get closer to the Live Humanitarian Tour. Please see last months update for the European Tour dates. Next month I will have all the info on venues, door times, etc. for the 7 European shows. What I can tell you now is that we are putting together some killer merchandise with the help of Nuclear Blast Records. We are planning full-color long-sleeve tour shirts with sleeve prints, full-color Erasing The Goblin t-shirts with the Aussie release album design on the front, Grind Planets full-color jacket back patches, Mort logo jacket arm patches, badges, stickers and posters. These will all be available at the European shows and online right here following the Tour.
We have 2 shows here in Australia leading up to the European outing:
Sept. 29th - Black Stump Festival, Appin, NSW. On stage at 8:30.
Oct. 5th - Pelly Bar/Pier Hotel, 1 Davey St., Frankston, VIC. $12 entry at the door. Doors @ 7:30
Catch the train from Melbourne Central, take the Frankston line all the way to Frankston. Venue is 5 minutes walk from Frankston Station. Last train returning to Melbourne Central is at 12:30.
This is the first Mini-Metal-Fest in Frankston ever! People with mullet haircuts get in for the special price of $13. People wearing black moccys get in for the special price of $14. If you wear moccys and have a mullet you are a legend! (especially if you are a female). All jokes aside it will be a great night of positive metal intensity!
See you here next month.
Metal Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
JULY 2007
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. Yes! They are finally here! The new Mortification "Live Humanitarian" CD and the re-issue of Mortification's '91 self-titled album are both in the Soundmass.com store ready for you to order. We are very pleased with the production that we achieved on "Live Humanitarian" - very big and very REAL sounding. It
was great to self-produce this release along with Mick Jelinic. Recorded live at the Imax Theatre in Perth, Australia, the venue was perfect for capturing a huge live sound. This is not an automatic festival crowd, either, but a true Mortification concert. Just us, on the level, with our true metal brothers and sisters. Special thanks goes to our
awesome support network in Perth, especially Vaughan Gregory from Grave Forsaken, Steve Mullen and Dave Kilgallon from Scourged Flesh (make sure you pick up the debut Grave Forsaken and Scourged Flesh CDs from the store if you have not already done so).
The re-issue of '91s self-titled album is a ripper too! Remastered, it is a special limited edition digipak release (1000 copies) with killer artwork. The front cover is faithfully restored from the original "gory" artwork by Jayson Sherlock. So do yourself and your neighbours a favour and jump into the Soundmass.com store to pick up "Live
Humanitarian" and the self-titled by Mortification (pictured in the June update below), as well as both the Grave Forsaken and Scourged Flesh CDs (at new special prices). Special thanks to all the people who pre-ordered - your orders are on their way to your hungry ears. The "Live Humanitarian" DVD is not too far away either - stay tuned for further news in coming updates.
On a lower note, the US section of our proposed Tour has been postponed at this stage due to time restraints in securing Performance Visas. We hope to be back in the US as soon as it becomes feasable. All good things come to those that wait. The European Tour is 100% going ahead with these 7 shows:
Nov 2 - Bern, Switzerland
We hope to catch up with all our European fans in these countries and from beyond. Keep watching this space for venue and time details.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
JUNE 2007: Part 2
1- Erasing The Goblin
Please pray for us as we prepare for the US and European Tours in October/November. We need to secure P1 Performance Visas for the US. These are very difficult to obtain. Thankfully my US attorney who got my P1 Visas in the 90's has taken on the challenge to secure these for me once again. The cost for this type of visa is huge and there is a lot of legal ground for us to cover in the next 3 months.
People interested in booking shows for Mortification in the US can contact Doug Kirchner at End Of Silence Booking Agency:
endofsilence1@yahoo.com
On a sad note, original Lightforce guitarist Chris Miller, who was in Lightforce in '86 through early '87, died suddenly of a heart attack 3 weeks ago. Chris played on the '86 Lightforce demos. I saw Chris just a month ago at a Christian rock concert. He was full of smiles as always, talking about Jesus, church and Christian rock. We were at a Barlow Girl concert (Barlow Girl are a US all-female, all-sisters true Jesus rock band). Chris was really into evangelistic Jesus rock and we both shared a passion for souls.
Chris, like myself, was writing Christian literature and recording Christian music. Chris and I grew up in the same neighbourhood and his sudden promotion to glory happened on a road I walked and ran up almost daily in my first 24 years of life. Chris was the youngest and healthiest looking 41 year old you could ever meet. None of us know our time. Here is me still alive after being given 2 hours to live exactly 10 years ago. God's work for Chris was done and now he is home forever. May we all stop and consider where our heart is with God.
See you on Tour and in Heaven.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
JUNE 2007
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. I have some great news for you all this month. Coming next month is the "Live Humanitarian" CD release. The DVD will be released early next year, delayed by upcoming tour costs and the fact that the live 7 cameras film edit is still in progress. I have bought all the lattest Christian metal and hard rock DVDs and I know that when this DVD is finished it will be a world class release. This is something that is difficult to achieve in today's music environment. That said, I decided to put the CD out now so that we have them available for your hungry ears and to actually raise money for the October/November tour. They will be available in early July from the Soundmass.com store, along with the re-issue of the self-titled Mortification CD.
Everything is going ahead as planned for the US Tour in October and European Tour in November. Please see dates below. Please pray for my continued health. My biggest concern right now is for my kidney function and eyesight. From now on I will be wearing glasses on stage, but that is OK because it is all the better to see you with! Please also pray for continued unity in the band, tour preparations and successful visa applications.
Proposed US Tour dates:
OCTOBER
12th- L.A., CA
Proposed European Tour dates:
NOVEMBER
2nd- Bern, Switzerland
See you at a show near you!
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
MAY 2007
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. With the upcoming release of our new live DVD/CD package "Live Humanitarian", we have decided to offer the "Live Planetarium" re-issue DVD at half price. This is a special promotion to keep your eager ears and eyes hungry for the unleashing of "Live Humanitarian".
As it stands today, it looks quite definite that we will tour in the US and Europe in October and November. However, nothing is 100% just yet. Keep watching this space each month for updates. Tour costs may push the release of "Live Humanitarian" into early next year. This is why we are presenting the special half price offer on the re-issue DVD. For those who supported "Live Planetarium" at full price we thank you. This may be your chance to pick up a second copy to give away as a gift.
Also, check out the Rowe Productions website in the coming week for our updated Photo Gallery with pictures from the "Live Humanitarian" recording late last year.
Metal blessings,
Steve Rowe.
APRIL 2007
Hello all Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters who are not April fools because it is April 11th! Sorry for my lateness once again. I have been very busy working on booking shows for our proposed European tour. The exciting development is that we may be doing some October shows in the USA before heading to Europe in November. For those who pray for us, please pray for wisdom, good communication and positive guidance towards confirming these possible shows. If the US leg of the tour comes through we will be touring with one of the major young bands. Very exciting! More information next month.
The promised "Majestic Infiltration Of Order" t-shirt will be available from the Soundmass.com store within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Thank you to all the supporters who have purchased "The Destroyer Beholds" and the "Lake Of Fire" re- issue shirts already. I have not yet decided whether I will go on to re-issue all 7 designs. For the time being we will keep presenting the 3 originally promised. I need to put money aside for the upcoming "Live Humanitarian" DVD/CD release and for the tour, so I may wait until early next year to continue with the other re-issue shirts from the self-titled 1991 CD. The self-titled re-issue CD is almost available on special digipak through Soundmass.
Thank you once again to Soundmass for their ongoing support and may we all in Christian Metal stay united for the cause by which we live. To reach the world with the Gospel of salvation through Jesus.
Metal blessings,
Steve Rowe.
MARCH 2007
Hello once again Mortification and Rowe Productions supporters. It has been a good past month as the band is back together rehearsing again. We may even start working on some new material soon, but don't expect a new studio album until at least late next year. We are of course looking forward to the "Live Humanitarian" DVD/CD release later in the year.
I have been busy organising the "Live Humanitarian European Tour" for later in the year. Hopefully this will happen for us. I am in communication with promoters, merchandise people, a flight arrangement company, etc. I will give you more information as it comes to hand but - yes - the tour will be the current solid line-up of Mick Jelinic, Damien Percy and myself.
Please pick up "Erasing The Goblin", "The Destroyer Beholds" and "The Lake Of Fire" t-shirts from the Soundmass.com store. "The Majestic Infiltration Of Order" re-issue t-shirt will be available next month.
For those who pray for us, please pray that the Euro tour comes together well. There are huge costs and arrangements involved. Continue to pray for my health, especially my fading eyesight, spiritual unity in the band to keep getting stronger, and wisdom concerning all the difficult financial stuff.
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
FEBRUARY 2007
Hello Rowe Productions and Mortification supporters. I am sorry that I did not post a January update. It is summer-time over here and, besides being on vacation with my wife and son, I have been busy with Mick Jelinic mixing the audio for our upcoming DVD release "Live Humanitarian". Yes, you heard it here first! "Live Humanitarian" will be out in the second half of this year. The audio sounds MASSIVE! It was recorded live at the delux but intimate Imax Theatre in Perth, Australia, late last year. It is a Mortification 17 Year Celebration featuring 24 track digital live recording and a 7 digital camera shoot. It will be coming out in Dolby 5.1 surround sound. This is the first full-length Mortification show ever to be done this well. "Live Planetarium" (1993) had only half the show on video (now re-issued and available on DVD) and the full show was only on the CD. We may be doing "Live Humanitarian" on CD also. We are very excited about this release so stay posted. I will send the audio and bonus material over to Perth this week for the visual cut to be completed in the coming months. This is a huge undertaking but with 7 cameras and surround sound, it will surpass any past official Mortification releases.
I pray that you are all very healthy and praise God that this past Saturday was my 10th Anniversary out of bone marrow transplant for leukaemia. 10 years and one month ago I was given a maximum of 10 years to live. I still struggle with health issue but we plan to do some more touring this year if all things go to plan. So it is great to be alive and still working with the music and message that is so strong in my heart. I will be around for many years to come making metal for Jesus. It will be great to arrive at 25 Years Mortification in 2015.
Metal Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
P.S. I have just been given a pile of rare vinyl Christian metal and rock releases from the 70's and 80's. An old friend of mine involved in Christian missions gave them to me to sell as a fund raiser. He and his family are going to Thailand this year for a 9 month missions trip. Through his church, he also supports much needed Christian missionary work. All money coming to Rowe Productions from the sale of these records will be going directly to Christian missions work. Included in the records, which are all mint condition, is the Barren Cross "Rock For The King" original Star Song pressing, the very first 1976 Jerusalem album (extremly rare), Resurrection Band "Rainbow's End" (with a magnificent double cover) and a gatefold of Ressurection Band "Mommy Don't Love Daddy Anymore", plus many more. These will be in the Soundmass.com store within the next few days. I already own all these releases from back in the day so can offer them to you guys. Prices are high but not over the top considering how great these records are and the cause for which the money is being raised. Thanks again for your support.
DECEMBER 2006
Don't forget to pick yourself up a copy of Scourged Flesh "Released from Damnation" and Grave Forsaken "Beside the River of Blood". Both bands are playing live here in Australia and are building a strong fan base. Both bands did a Metal Worship service in Perth last Sunday. How Jesus Metal is that?! So get hold of some of the good stuff!
Congratulations to Paramaecium and Horde on their successful trip to Norway for Nordic Fest. 2007 looks like a stellar year for Aussie Christian Metal. Mortification have a big surprise announcement coming soon which will make many of you very excited. So stay tuned, stay Jesus Metal and go to the store and purchase yourself a "The Destroyer Beholds" t-shirt!
Blessings, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Steve Rowe.
NOVEMBER 2006
An interesting development just up and running is the availability of all Nuclear Blast's Mort releases on iTunes. You can buy individual songs or complete albums. "Scrolls Of The Megilloth" and "Post Momentary Affliction" are sold together as a double-pak, so if you just want the "Scrolls..." release you can purchase the re-issue right here. 60% of the money from the iTunes sales comes back to the band, so please stop stealing Mort albums from the net and start buying them legally. This is much needed in our mission to continue presenting Jesus Metal to the world.
See you here same bat time, same bat channel next month. Holy Metal, Batman these guys really do shout out about Jesus!
Blessings,
Steve Rowe.
OCTOBER 2006 For several reasons out of our hands, the proposed Central, Latin and South America tour is not going ahead as planned for this November but has been postponed for now. We hope our supporters down in this great part of the world are understanding that we make every effort to get over to your countries to play.
As much as I totally respect and aplaud the impact that many of the new heavy Christian bands are having, it is so great to hear some young guys still presenting such a strong Christian message. This is the 46th Rowe Productions release, Grave Forsaken being one band that I am compelled to support strongly.
*Live Humanitarian European Tour 2007 long-sleeve with color sleeve prints and tour dates on the back
*Full Aussie limited edition release cover Erasing The Goblin t-shirt with the warrior throwing the dagger through the heart of the goblin
*Set of 4 old-school badges -set includes (1) "Scrolls.." cover, (2) "Primitive Rhythm Machine" cover, (3) "Mort" nickname logo 
(my favorite little item) and (4) "Live Humanitarian" cross image
P.O. Box 2222
Carrum Downs
VIC. 3201
Australia
Bielefelder Straße 57
32051 Herford
Germany
*Please be VERY early as this venue only has a 120 person capacity!*
Presenting:
Scourged Flesh (Perth, featuring Dave Killsatan) - 8:00 to 8:30
Fearscape (Woollongong, featuring Matt Bloodbath) - 8:45 to 9:30
Mortification (that's us from Melbourne! Metal!!) - 10:00 to 11:10
Grave Forsaken (Perth, featuring Foghorn Gravery) - 11:30 to 12:15)
Nov 3 - Zurich, Switzerland
Nov 4 - Eschwege, Germany
Nov 7 - Bielefeld, Germany
Nov 8 - Amsterdam, Holland
Nov 9 - Oslo, Norway
Nov 10 - Stuttgart, Germany
Hello for the second time this month. I am just interupting your day to let you know that our new live Mortification CD "Live Humanitarian" (Pictured) is now avialable for pre-order from the Soundmass.com store. Be the first in your city to own this brutal new release! Pre-order copies will be shipped around July 6th and will be given first priority. This CD will satisfy your hungry ears until the DVD of the same show is released late '07/early '08. While you're at it, you can also pre-order the Soundmass re-issue of Mortification's self-titled '91 album, presented as a limited edition (1000x) digipak.
"Live Humanitarian" features songs not on "Live Planetarium". The classic era was well covered on "Live Planetarium". When playing live on the US and European Tour later this year we will be bringing more of the classic era than is featured on the "Live Humanitarian" CD and DVD. Here is the the full concert track list:
2- I'm Not Your Commodity
3- Hammer Of God
4- Purest Intent
5- Medley: Lymphosarcoma/The Destroyer Beholds/Distarnish Priest/Love Song
6- Priests Of The Underground
7- The Dead Shall Be Judged
8- Spoken Word Part 1
9- Humanitarian
10- Spoken Word Part 2
11- Dead Man Walking
12- Standing At The Door Of Death
13- Spoken Word Part 3
14- Escape The Blasphemous Tabernacle
15- Spoken Word Part 4
16- Chapel Of Hope
www.myspace.com/endofsilence
www.endofsilence.org
216 288 6773
13th- San Diego, CA
14th- Las Vega, NV
15th- Phoenix, AZ
16th- New Mexico
17th- Texas
18th- Texas
19th- Oklahoma
20th- Kansas
21st- Missouri
22nd- Tennessee
23rd- North Carolina
24th- Virginia
25th- Maryland
26th- Cleveland, OH
27th- Indiana
28th- Chicago, IL
3rd- Zurich, Switzerland
7th- Bielefeld (near Dortmund), Germany
8th- Holland
9th- Oslo, Norway (Nordic Fest)
10th- Stuttgart, Germany
"The Majestic Infiltration of Order" t-shirt is now available from the Soundmass.com store. Be quick to grab one because we have a very limited pressing at this stage. I have had a number of e-mails from people eager to snatch up one or two. At this point, the re-issues of the '91 classic shirts will stop until we get into next year because, again, we have potential tour costs in mind. So please support us the best way you can by purchasing a t-shirt and half price "Live Planetarium" DVD today.
The Soundmass digipak re-issue of the '91 self-titled album has now been put forward to early July. However, their re-print of the classic "gory" cover Mortification t-shirt is now available at the Soundmass.com store.
Pictured is the latest re-issue t-shirt from 1991. The self-titled album re-issue will be available from Soundmass.com soon. "The Lake Of Fire For The Dying Soul" shirt is available now from the Soundmass.com store. Thank you to the keen supporters who bought "The Destroyer Beholds" shirt. I am planning to re-issue all of them if the interest stays strong.
Welcome to Rowe Productions Christmas Update. Sorry it is so late in the month. I have been somewhat unwell for the past 3 weeks. Anyway, still lots of Jesus Metal action going on here. In support of the Soundmass re-issue of the self-titled album, I will be re-issuing all, or at least most of, the classic '91 t-shirts, one at a time, over the coming months. First design off the press is the classic "The Destroyer Beholds" design (pictured). Please note that these are extremly limited re-issues, so be sure to get in quickly. Keep watching this space each month for the next available design. They will be printed 1 to 2 months apart depending on demand. Many of you missed getting these classic designs because of the dodgy US supplier that ripped many people off at the time. This included myself as I had to send out different shirts when these classics were not supplied. So now is the time to forget all that bad stuff and start wearing these brutal designs today!
It has been a big couple of months here at Rowe Productions. Along with fellow Western Australian band Grave Forsaken, we are excited to announce that Scourged Flesh's "Released From Damnation" is now available from the Soundmass.com store. Both bands are full-on thrash/death metal in the vein of early Mort and are also full-on Jesus Revolution Evangelistic Metal! The way it should be!!! Scourged Flesh are a brutal young band. Dave Kilgallon's drumming reminds me of a young Jayson Sherlock. Brilliance in the making! Make sure you pick up some copies of Scourged Flesh and Grave Forsaken along with the reprinted "Scrolls Of The Megilloth" shirts and the "Live Planetarium" DVD re-issue. They are all now available at the Soundmass.com store in time for Christmas. Soundmass will also be re-issuing the '91 self-titled Mortification album in December, so make sure you look out for that one as well.
Rowe Productions has just signed 2 new bands and we are building the record company side of things up again. I welcome Grave Forsaken and Scourged Flesh, bot