Guitarists Given Their P45s...

The last seven days haven't been particularly good for guitarists in mega-selling US rock bands. Well, two of 'em at least.

First up, Alien Ant Farm's founding guitarist Terry Corso called it quits with the nu-metal Jacko fans, apparently because of "irreconcilable differences". Whatever; I say he wasn't quite fat enough to fit in with the tubbies. Or maybe he ate all the pies on the rider in an attept to bulk up, leaving their fatty bassist with nowt but crumbs. Casting such wishful speculation to one side, the band's offical website carried this statement:

"Mindful of not wanting to miss a date of their current tour with 311, the AAF parties orchestrated this rock divorce to fall between shows. Corso departed after a show in Columbus, Ohio, (October 27) and [replacement Victor] Camacho, an old friend of the band, was imported on the off days so he could rehearse and be ready to rock by the date in Birmingham."

Lucky, lucky Birmingham.

Whilst Alien Ant Farm have found replacing their wayward axeman surprisingly easy, the same probably can't be said for faux-goth frock-rockers Evanescence, whose guitarist Ben Moody lived up to his surname by leaving midway through the band's European tour. Moody co-founded the band alongside vocalist Amy Lee, and was responsible for the writing of much of their massive-selling album 'Fallen'. His departure, if permanent, casts serious doubts over the band's long term future. They plan to continue their tour with second guitarist John LeCompt filling in for Moody