Allow me to make a statement regarding all of this supposed "grim" news from the mega-merger.  This is not on behalf of the band, just me. I've sat back and watched and heard many people talking on-line, in the trades as well as the national newspapers about all of the blood that will flow from within the offices of the newly formed UniGram.  While I can't speak for every band and/or current employee of Island, Mercury, Geffen, Interscope or A & M, I can assure all people reading this email that GVSB could not be in better shape.  The new Interscope Group would undoubtedly provide a great place to be.  They've been quite successful in recent years in breaking artists with little radio play and GVSB could definitely benefit from their wisdom.  On the other hand, if for some reason GVSB do not, for lack of a better term, "make the cut", they are still an incredible band that will find a great home elsewhere.  The band is in great spirits having come off of the Garbage tour and have already begun to write new songs. 

The band will be traveling to Japan, Australia and New Zealand in early March for some dates where they will most likely be debuting some new songs.  This year will be a very big year for GVSB and regardless of what company the band will be recording for, they WILL be recording and THAT is the most important thing.  While most industry onlookers have historically hedged their bets that the "next" GVSB record was always going to be the one to break them, a lot of these people may be forgetting that since 1992 GVSB have been successfuly releasing records and performing for fans all around the world.  No one has deserted GVSB.  Soundscan cannot put a number on the faces of kids across the country that I saw screaming for GVSB at merch tables during the Garbage tour. Soundscan cannot provide the reason for why this band that has never "exploded" has had the will and the determination to tour Europe 8 times since 1992 and continue to build on that fan base.  And finally, Soundscan cannot explain why this GVSB page and others continue to get countless hits every day.  The point is, there's much more to GVSB than sales and in the proper environment this band, and you all know this to be true, will be massive in every sense of the word.   

The other thing to remember is that the talent pool that will suddenly become available for independent labels will be incredible.  Most of the artist's being released from the their contracts will be able to find a more personalized place to call home at an indy.  This year could and should  be a great comeback year for indy labels which is something that this business desperately needs.  Labels like Touch & Go, Quarterstick, Matador (rumored to severing ties with Capitol) and countless others could really benefit from this merger.

It will be sad to see anyone let go from their jobs since we've made friends with what seems like a never ending list of people at these record companies. I'm confident however that these people will all be okay.  

We've learned a great deal from the relationship with Geffen and we look forward to taking that knowledge to  what could be a new group of people that will help in releasing  GVSB records for years to come.   

We will let all of you know what is going on as soon as we find out ourselves but thanks for a great 1998 and GVSB will be rockin' like Dokken in 1999....or something like that.

Thanks!