ELUVEITIE Part Ways With Guitarist & Announce Replacement - Official Statement Available!

This just in: ELUVEITIE has announced that they have parted ways with guitarist Simeon Koch after eight years.

Commented the band in a collective statement: "Sime was thinking about this since quite a long time already and finally decided to take this step. He will set about some new goals in his life — both vocational and familial — which will make it impossible for him to play in a touring band.

"Sime was part of ELUVEITIE for right years now, part of our little, crazy family — and we will dearly miss him. But at the same time we're thankful for the awesome time we spent together. We wish him and his family all the best for his personal and vocational future!

"We'd like to make you aware of two special shows: Sime will share the stage with us as special guest on the 20th of September in the Kofmehl (Solothurn, CH) and on the 29th of December in the Eulachhalle (Eluveitie & Friends festival, Winterthur, CH)! Don't miss it!

"At the same time it's about time to introduce you to the man who will follow in Sime's footsteps! His name is Rafael Salzmann [pictured above right] and he will play the upcoming tours with us as a live session guitarist.

"Rafael is a gifted musician and very skilled guitar player and he also already has been working together with Anna in the Soundfarm Studios. Now we're looking forward a lot to rock the stages together with him!

"On a related note, Päde [Kistler, flutes] will have to take a short leave for personal reasons as well and will rejoin our tour with SABATON in the beginning of October. In the meantime, there's still seven of us left to kick some ass all over Europe!"

Added Simeon Koch: "A couple of months ago, I informed my bandmates that I'll leave ELUVEITIE in September 2012 for familial reasons. It was a very tough call, it was difficult to make this decision — in a way the band is part of the family too, after all. I will dearly miss ELUVEITIE. But, fortunately, the world (or rather Switzerland) is small: I will still play the upcoming shows in Solothurn's Kofmehl and the Eluveitie & Friends festival with full commitment! I wish the band all the best and accident-free upcoming tours!"

As previously reported, Swiss Metallers ELUVEITIE and Finnish badasses WINTERSUN, will co-headline a North American tour this Winter along with German Pagan Metal band VARG! The highly anticipated tour will commemorate ELUVEITIE's 10th anniversary and will also be WINTERSUN’s introduction to the North American land.

ELUVEITIE, WINTERSUN, VARG North American tour:

11/28/12: 910 Live – Tempe, AZ
11/29/12: The Roxy Theater – Hollywood, CA
11/30/12: Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA
12/01/12: Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
12/02/12: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
12/03/12: Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC – CANADA
12/05/12: Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB – CANADA
12/06/12: Republik – Calgary, AB – CANADA
12/07/12: Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK – CANADA
12/08/12: West End Cultural Centre – Winnipeg, MB – CANADA
12/09/12: Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN
12/11/12: Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
12/12/12: Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
12/13/12: The Opera House – Toronto, ON – CANADA
12/14/12: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON – CANADA
12/15/12: Club Soda – Montreal, QC – CANADA
12/16/12: Imperial – Quebec City, QC – CANADA
12/18/12: Water Street Music Hall (at The Club) – Rochester, NY
12/19/12: Mr. Small’s Theatre – Millvale, PA
12/20/12: Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
12/21/12: Royale Boston – Boston, MA

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