Arena vocalist leaving

[catherine]

From the Arena MySpace page:

Arena Statement...
We are sad to announce that singer Rob Sowden has decided to part ways with the band. The explanation given so many times at moments like this is 'musical differences', usually as a veil for somewhat darker reasons; but actually, in this case, it is precisely the reason.
Arena thank Rob for his involvement and support for the last ten years and wish him all the best for the future.
In the meantime Arena WILL be performing their shows in November where they will be presenting their new vocalist, as well as material from their next album.

:?   :shock:     :roll:   :cry:

Wonder who the new vocalist will be?

[JamesA]

Spreading doom and gloom all over the interweb, Catherine...

[ChrisX]

Well, there is a certain former Pallas vocalist that Clive Nolan happens to know quite well and has worked with in the past.

[catherine]

Richard Hammond?  

[Pedro]

Seems a shame but I look forward to what comes next.  I'm glad I got to see them with Rob.

[Jamyu]

Arena.... I've always wanted to hear some but have failed to ;_:

Can anyone recommend me a 'best' album? I'm strapped for cash, but they've always been 'forwarded' to me by others

[owen]

My favourite is "the visitor" but their last one pepper pig ( that can't be right, pepper something ) is quite catchy

[JamesA]

Richard Hammond?  

[MarkOneMusic]

I think Immortal? is my favourite

[ChrisX]

Arena.... I've always wanted to hear some but have failed to ;_:

Can anyone recommend me a 'best' album? I'm strapped for cash, but they've always been 'forwarded' to me by others

Well, I have seen them once with Rob Sowden and I thought he was a good vocalist but lacked seriously in the stage persona department. Probably due to his length he seemed to feel pretty awkward up there and judging upon comments I have read since then, that has never changed...

Ooh recommendations: you can't go wrong with the first 3 albums i.e. Songs From The Lions Cage, Pride and The Visitor. The latter one sees Arena with one current and one former J from Frost in the band and it is my particular favourite. Tried some of the post Visitor albums but a certain spark seemed to be missing.

[Pedro]

Probably due to his length he seemed to feel pretty awkward up there and judging upon comments I have read since then, that has never changed...

One for the innuendo-meter there....  

The one time I saw them was at a small-ish place with a low ceiling and when Rob walked out and spread his arms it was like the fire curtain had come down and closed off the stage!

[johninblack]

I absolutely adore Arena, on one hand I'm really sad that Rob is leaving but on the other hand it's the start of a new chapter. Onwards and upwards as they say.

Contagion has to be my favourite of theirs however my favourite Arena songs are The Butterfly Man and Friday's Dream.

[L33VEY]

Can anyone recommend me a 'best' album? I'm strapped for cash, but they've always been 'forwarded' to me by others

I started off with Ten Years On (a kind of best of) and then worked backwards from there

[Jamyu]

Thx for all the recommendations ^_^

[L33VEY]

And the new vocalist is Paul Manzi - singer with Oliver Wakeman.

I'll let you know how he gets on over the weekend after the Peel gig -

Anyone else going to be there?