Guitarist Georg Laakso from the 'Battle' Folk Metal band Turisas has decided he will leave the band. Nine months ago (October 2005) Laakso was involved in a car accident that left him severely injured, and without full mobility from the chest down. He has been slowly recovering, but he will never recover to the point of being able to walk or play guitar anymore. So he has decided to officially leave Turisas.

Here is a statement by Laakso taken from the band's official website: "Nearly nine months has passed since the accident took place, and after six years in the band, I have now come to the point where I am forced to leave Turisas.

I have been diagnosed with spinal cord injury which has an effect on all the functions in my body. In practice it means that nothing from my chest and below is working properly or at all, and I am now tied to a wheelchair - most likely for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my fingers are not working either and it is very unlikely that I will be able to play the guitar - or any instrument for that matter - ever again. To avoid sounding too gloomy I would like to point out that considering the circumstances I should have been dead many times already."

Turisas has been playing for the last nine months with only one guitarist, and they've decided to leave it that way and not replace Laakso.

In other Turisas news, the band is currently working on a new album, that they hope to release early next year.

Source:	turisas.com
Band profile:	Turisas