"I've had it!", were the words that Witchazel guitarist Dave Ryles stated as he left negotiations between Witchazel and PukeGut Records yesterday. In the band's latest attempt to get its cd project back on track, various members of the band and its management met with record executives from the Cleveland based company, PukeGut Records. What was said behind the meeting's closed doors has yet to be surfaced. What was apparent was that both parties left without making any headway.

PukeGut now joins the other labels that Witchazel has left. They include such names as Broken Records, Very Angry Records, Really Really Pissed Off Records (for at least an hour), Shoot Em Where It Counts Records, and a few more that will remain unnamed for this article.

In an official press release, Dave Ryles, states that Witchazel will now focus its efforts on forming its own label. No name was given to this project yet, but we are assured that it is forthcoming. Mr. Ryles further states that the new label hopes to sign a few acts that Witchazel has met on the road in 1999. "We have definately met up with some killer acts that have not been recongnized by major labels. We hope to be able correct this situation while building our roster at the same time."

No name or timeframe have been officialy released. Fans continue to grow anxious for the cd promised them. To this Lath Motley repiles, "soon....very soon.....". Until then, I guess we will have to be satisfied with the single "Bonescraper", due to be released in mp3 format in the first week of May, and debuted publicly on WXZZ's Starlight Lounge sometime the following month.

~Butch Magillicutty~

Paco Getting A Trim?!?

While working the news desk here at the Times, it is not very often that we get news urgent enough to append the current issue of the paper. Well Stop The Presses....

In late breaking news, it appears that Witchazel has secured a film crew from Banyan Productions and Cable Television's "The Learning Channel" to follow the band in its day to day events. The filming will climax at a live show sometime on the weekend of May 19. This show will be broadcast on The Learning Channel on an undetermined date soon after.

A venue has not been secured for this show, but I am sure a place and date will be released to the public quickly. All Witchazel fans are encouraged to come out and show their support for the Lexington hard rockers. There will most likely be a need for fans to interview.

Of course there is a catch. The shows producers seem to be leaning towards giving Paco a major haircut! Paco, hasn't seen the inside of a barber shop since he left the ranks of the profesional business world back in May 1996 to pursue his musical aspirations with the original rock outfit "Underdosed". Underdosed ended up morphing into present day Witchazel. Besides a few bar brawls Paco hasn't lost a hair during this time. Some fans speculate that Paco will refuse the producers demands and continue on in true "O fashion" while others say "Just feed him a few beers and he'll never know what hit him".

This column will remain here over the next few issues of the Times leading up to the faithful weekend May to keep you updated. As of this writing the news is less than an hour old, and the details are still sketchy at best.

~Perry Finkleweather~

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