DOWN — the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), bassist Rex Brown (ex-PANTERA), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) — has released the following statement:

"This past week Philip Anselmo did an interview with the Boston Herald to promote DOWN's show at the House of Blues in Boston. We wanted to clear up some things before the rumor mill starts turning.

"First off, the band will be writing and recording an album for release in 2010.

"Secondly, regarding the statement, 'Rex Brown, who also played in PANTERA, has left the band for personal reasons' — Rex did not join this tour due to imminent health concerns; the sabbatical is not permanent. As Philip states on stage every night, Rex is the bass player in DOWN and will continue to be.

"Lastly, the band HAARP, currently touring with DOWN and signed to Philip's Housecore Records label, hail from New Orleans, not North Carolina.

"We hope this clears up the questions that have been flooding in"

Video footage of DOWN performing the VAN HALEN classic "Ain't Talking About Love" on September 11, 2009 at the Nokia Theatre in New York City can be viewed below.

As previously reported, former PANTERA and current DOWN bassist Rex Brown had his gallbladder and polyps on his pancreas removed earlier in the month in a surgical procedure.

Brown, who is suffering from acute pancreatitis (a sudden inflammation of the pancreas which can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment), will likely be sidelined for approximately five weeks following the operation. A full and healthy recovery is expected.

DOWN tapped Danny Theriot of Metairie, Louisiana to fill in on bass for the group's North American trek, which kicked off on August 3 at Beaumont Club in Kansas City, Kansas.

Theriot was in a band called VICTORIAN BLITZ in the mid-to-late '80s with DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein. Although the group reportedly started out by playing original material, they eventually began including more covers in their set from such acts as IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and METALLICA.

DOWN has been confirmed for the 11th annual Voodoo Experience music festival, taking place Halloween weekend in New Orleans.

More than 150 acts will play on eight stages in three separate areas — named Le Ritual, Le Flambeau and Le Carnival — around the city.

Other major acts on the Voodoo Experience bill include KISS, JANE'S ADDICTION, WOLFMOTHER, EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, MEAT PUPPETS and DOWN.

Fuse will provide on-air and online coverage of the Voodoo Experience and will broadcast a one-hour special on Nov. 7.

For more information, visit www.thevoodooexperience.com.



(Thanks: www.downontour.com)