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FEAR FACTORY recruits LIONS AT THE GATE bassist STEPHEN BREWER for Australian, Japanese shows

01-11-2024

FEAR FACTORY has recruited LIONS AT THE GATE‘s Stephen Brewer to play bass on the veteran Los Angeles-based act’s upcoming shows in Australia and Japan.

Brewer, who also previously played guitar for WESTFIELD MASSACRE, will fill in for FEAR FACTORY‘s longtime bassist Tony Campos, who is currently on the road with STATIC-X.

Brewer posted the following statement on his social media: “I’m excited to announce I’ll be playing Bass with my friends @fearfactory next month in Australia and Japan, filling in for the legendary Tony Campos.

“Thank you DinoPete and Milo for having me on board, let’s go!”

Brewer will play bass for FEAR FACTORY for the following shows:

Nov. 09 – Adelaide, Australia @ Froth & Fury
Nov. 12 – Tokyo, Japan @ Akabane Reny Alpha

In a recent interview with Germany’s MoreCore.TVFEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares was asked what the response has been to the live performances so far with the band’s new lead singer, Milo Silvestro. He said: “Well, the funny thing is we missed what was supposed to be our first show with Milo in February 2023. Because in California we got some really bad snow weather, so we got stuck in the snow. So we missed our first show. And it was really unfortunate because a lot of people from other parts of the world flew in to see him at his first show — people from Holland, people from Germany. So they were very upset. But luckily, we went back and made it up. But we missed our first show. But the reaction has been 100 percent positive ever since.”

Milo concurred, saying: “We were all very thankful to the fans that they accepted this new era, because you don’t take such thing for granted, because you’re replacing a member, a singer in a such iconic band. It’s always almost like a Russian roulette. Dino was, like, when we were doing the audition, ‘Get ready for some backlash,’ and stuff like that. Fortunately, the majority of the fans were, and still are, super happy about it. And I’m so thankful to them.”

Added Dino: “I think people are happy just in general for us to be back. And because of Milo, to get these opportunities, and, of course, the legendary status of FEAR FACTORY that we’re able to come back and do these well-established, legendary festivals.”

Asked about what fans can expect from FEAR FACTORY in the future, Dino said: “Classic FEAR FACTORY record. Next year. For sure. We’ve been touring since February of 2023. We’ve been touring non-stop. And I think we’re very lucky that a lot of the promoters and a lot of fans are happy to have us back, and we’re excited to get out there and play for them.”

FEAR FACTORY played its first headlining concert with Silvestro and touring drummer Pete Webber on May 5, 2023 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

Earlier last year, FEAR FACTORY completed the “Rise Of The Machine” U.S. tour as the support act for STATIC-X marked the Cazares-led outfit’s first run of shows with Silvestro and Webber.

Webber had been filling in for FEAR FACTORY‘s longtime drummer Mike Heller who was unable to play with the band due to “scheduling conflicts.”

Pressed about whether there is any chance of a reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton said: “I’m done. I haven’t spoken to Dino in three years. I haven’t spoken to Raymond (Herrera, drums) and Christian (Olde Wolbers, bass) in longer than that, and I have no intention to. I’m just moving forward with my life.”

Cazares recently confirmed that he and the new FEAR FACTORY vocalist have begun work on material for the follow-up to 2021’s “Aggression Continuum” album.

In February 2022,  former NIGHTRAGE singer Antony Hämäläinen, who unsuccessfully auditioned for the vocalist slot in FEAR FACTORY, revealed in an interview that the new FF frontman was “a person from Italy.”

“Aggression Continuum” was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP, which was recorded primarily in 2017, features Cazares and Bell alongside drummer Mike Heller.

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