Veteran Atheist guitarist Rand Burkey has been forced to bow out of the bands forthcoming festival performances due to legal troubles.

Filling in for Burkey will be veteran guitarist Chris Baker. Baker will be joining core Atheist members Kelly Shaefer, Tony Choy, and Steve Flynn as well as guitarist Sonny Carson (who will be playing Shaefer's guitar role due to Shaefer's long-running battles w/ tendonitis and carpal tunnel.) Baker and Carson are currently playing with Steve Flynn's new band Gnostic.

"In fine Atheist tradition we've been dealt another set of obstacles to overcome. These new problems have made these upcoming shows come very close to not happening but Chris is an extraordinary player, and has done a great job on the very difficult task of dissecting and learning Rand's guitar parts" says Shaefer. "Not having Rand be able to take part is a disappointment to us, but we have always honored our band commitments, even in the face of unbelievable odds, and this will be no exception. We've been playing these songs for months now, they are sounding great! We simply cannot wait to get it on!."

Source:	unheardonline.com
Band profile:	Atheist