November 09, 2007

Influential Heavy Metal journalist BOB MULDOWNEY died Monday, November 5 after a long battle with cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease). He was 44 years old. Muldowney was best known for his fanzine / magazine Kick Ass Monthly which helped expose, support and feature such bands as RAVEN, MOTÖRHEAD, VENOM, THE RODS, TANK, EXCITER and RIOT as well as burgeoning underground Thrash scene, giving, in some instances, the first coverage to SLAYER, MEGADETH, MEDIEVAL, OVERKILL and ANTHRAX. Muldowney was also one of the first journalists to expose the Death Metal scene in its infancy, giving early press to SODOM, HELLHAMMER / CELTIC FROST, DESTRUCTION and BATHORY. It was Bob’s love of true, honest Metal, which drove him to deliver a demo tape of a then-unknown California band called METALLICA into the hands of then – Rock’n’Roll Heaven store owner (and future Megaforce Records head honcho) Jonny Z – who was advertising with Kick Ass Monthly at the time. Bob’s brutally honest approach in his coverage helped Kick Ass Monthly develop a deep, loyal following who viewed his writings as "the Metal bible". However, financial and distribution difficulties overtook the magazine and the final issue of Kick Ass Monthly appeared in the fall of 1986. Prior to his passing, Muldowney and fellow Kick Ass Monthly writer Mike Hannon had begun work on a DVD history of Kick Ass Monthly magazine in collaboration with former OVERKILL drummer-turned-director Rat Skates. Muldowney and Hannon have also re-exposed the Kick Ass Monthly history on the official MySpace site www.myspace.com/officialkickassmag.

Nuclear Blast Records have started a big fundraising campaign for the family of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who passed away on November 02, 2007. You will find all details at www.myspace.com/decapitated