METAL CHURCH: DON’T CALL IT QUITS… IT’S TOO SOON.
METAL CHURCH: Back on July 7, 2009, the home page for the official Metal Church website read:
“A message from the band..
July 7 , 2009
To all of our fans and friends…
We regretfully announce that Metal Church is calling it quits.
The performance at Rocklahoma will be our last show. We have had to cancel the shows scheduled for August and that, among other things, has led us to have to make this decision.
There has been far too much frustration and disappointment in trying to keep moving forward. The collapse of our record company, SPV, has made it next to impossible for us continue in any kind of professional manner due to lack of tour support. This decision was not made lightly.
We do have unfinished business in the studio, and with any luck we will have something that will be of interest to Metal Church fans in the near future.
We would like to thank all the fans that have stuck with Metal Church through all these years, the line-up changes and the ups and downs.
We can’t tell you how much your support has meant to us, we appreciate each and every one of you.
It’s been a great ride… thanks for being a part of it.
Metal Church”
I can understand that there are situations that are beyond any band’s control… yet this news has NOT set right with me since last July of 2009. Consistently, over the past year, I have tried to ignore this news of Metal Church calling it quits, thinking that one of these days I would visit their website, to read that they are coming back after all. Unfortunately, that has not been the Metal case.
Please, Kurdt Vanderhoof, reassess the might and magnitude that your Metal Church band still has to offer. Lineup changes are common place in Rock ‘N’ Roll across the board… each and every Metal Church lineup over the years has been extremely credible, from the song writing and lyrics to the Metal Music itself, Metal Church was and always will be an ultra quality Metal brand and band in the vast world of music. Sure, there will always be an opinion as to the best Metal Church lineup and album comparisons within the Metal Church catalog. Yet, I don’t want those debates or discussions to ever end!
If there ever was a time in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal history, where the excitement has been so high for these incredible genres, reunions of Old School Bands so numerous, credible new albums being released from veteran bands and the loyalty from a generation of 1980’s fans so rabid… it is NOW. Any record company with any comprehension of how popular Metal Church is, should be jumping at the chance to sign you. Please reconsider calling it quits Kurdt Vanderhoof and Metal Church… your not that old yet, your fans aren’t going away and I’m speaking for hopefully, most of them. A Heavy Metal world without Metal Church leaves a unique void.
At the end of the Metal day, I can still respect and accept the fact that Kurdt Vanderhoof needs to close the book on this Metal Church legacy. In no Metal way, shape or form, do I want to come across as a selfish fan. I believe in that old saying… when one Metal door shuts, another Metal door opens. It just doesn’t feel like it should be the end though…
LONG LIVE METAL CHURCH.
IT IS LIKE SAYING GOODBYE TO A METAL BUDDY, YET SAYING GOODBYE WAY TOO SOON.
To visit the official website for Metal Church, click here: METAL CHURCH – Official Website
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
May 7, 2010 at 11:14 pm
If Anvil can get a second chance and a rebirth…Maybe these Metal warriors can have that same fate?
May 7, 2010 at 11:28 pm
For Metal sakes, Metal Church was on a roll… in my Metal opinion. The demise of SPV shouldn’t have to be the “deciding factor” that puts an end to Metal Church. After so many years, the likes of Raven and Jackyl have put out unreal great albums this past month alone! (Just to name a couple of many Old School Heavy Bands that are rejuvenated).
Stone
May 7, 2010 at 11:26 pm
They are probably just exhausted!
They were out there touring all over the world and busting their butts
when the others were sitting on their butts at home.
Plus they had not stopped and or reaped the benefits of Metal coming back into fashion. So they essentially missed out both times.
It’s a shame cause their first LP is a Metal classic and the 2nd and 3rd are decent.
I did not follow them as much after that even though they were still a fine Power Metal band.
I contacted them last year to send them some pics and that is when I found out this same very news.
Keep the faith…thanks for all of the great Metal Church music guys!
Kinger
Demolish HQ
May 7, 2010 at 11:32 pm
I hope you are right… that they are just exhausted. I just feel so damn excited about Hard Rock & Heavy Metal right now… the last several years has seen so much momentum with the resurgence of “Old School” bands, the “wave” is still out there for Metal Church to ride… if they so choose.
Then again… I’m just a Stone in my own Metal world!
May 8, 2010 at 7:06 am
SPV is back now by the way with an Annihilator DVD out plus new releases from Axel Rudi Pell and Molly Hatchet coming soon. Digital promos are already out for those. So who knows if MC wants to come back they could probably get back on SPV right away.
May 8, 2010 at 10:42 am
Thanks Metal Mark for sharing that info… very good news to point out. Too many legendary bands were on SPV. You are right on with the point – Metal Church could probably get back on SPV right away. Let’s just hope that happens!
Molly Hatchet is a great example of “lineup changes” over the decades… and they still ROCK! It’s all about the “brand” and keeping that “sound” with integrity.
May 12, 2010 at 10:33 am
I liked David Wayne. I really liked the first 2 Metal Church albums. Even more, I liked Reverend. But, I LOVED Metal Church with the mighty Mike Howe. I was already a fan through Heretic, when he joined Metal Church for “Blessing in Disguise”. That is still one of my “GO-TO” albums to this day. When Metal Church “called it a day” the first time, I was really bummed. Upon news of the reformation, I thought they would be returning with Howe, but it was Wayne, and the album was so-so. When Munroe, took over for Wayne, I checked out. He is a talented Metal vocalist, buy it just did not sound like Metal Church to me. I admire Mike Howe for staying true to his family and not rejoining Metal Church, when he was asked. He has his priorities in the right order, even if it is to our musical detriment. Maybe one day they will be back. But maybe, just maybe, Kurt knows better than we, what is best for the Metal Church.
May 13, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for the response… you make a great point, only Kurdt Vanderhoof and Co. know the “behind the scenes” situations. There is a light at the end of the Metal tunnel too… maybe a bunch more Presto Ballet music will come out and I do like Ronny Munroe’s solo album too. At least the Metal Church legacy has been forged for us all to go back to… that’s for sure.
Stone