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[pecsonpecs]

Defying Atmosphere drummer Krieg Bleier hospitalized after altercation with manager
by Steph Cage

The metal world is rocked once again by Defying Atmosphere. As of the morning of November 26th, reports from Sacred Saint Hospital state that Krieg Bleier was rushed to the emergency room with broken ribs, internal hemorrhaging, and a concussion, after instigating a physical instigation with Defying Atmosphere manager, Kimiko Fukui.

Although the latest reports say Krieg is in stable condition as of this afternoon, DMF has been unable to get a statement from Krieg or Ms. Fukui, leaving us only with speculation. It may be likely that this is the aftermath of the termination of mix artist Gaige, after which Krieg has cut back on much of his social media activity. The day of news coming out that bassist Weasel was also fired, Krieg broke character with his still-latest tweet:

KRIEG @kriegthepsycho Nov 25 this is bullshit.

We can only hope that this is only his reaction to the loss of his bandmates and not an indication of addiction rebound. Additionally, one can only wonder how a man of Krieg's stature could sustain such damage from a slight young woman like Ms. Fukui. I want whatever self-defense classes she's taking. \m/

Updates as they become available. If you have information, e-mail Steph Cage at cosmonaut@dailymetalfeed.net or tweet her at @misscage.

Comments

[panspermia]

They were coming down sort of hard on Weasel after that Bass Off last month. [ That bizarre sequestering in the basement sure had looked bad. It doesn't add up, though; the competition was too long ago, and too small really, to justify this sort of reaction.

Then again, here Krieg is in the hospital. Appropriate reactions are not Virgo's forte. Greg shakes his head, aggravated. ]

It can't just be about the music. I'd've been the one under fire for that.

[pecsonpecs]

He opted to be in that.

[Krieg looks away, and after a beat, he heaves out a sigh. Without remaking eye contact, he speaks lowly, as if their conversation risked being overheard:]

...I want us to go indie, Greg. Back before all this label bullshit.

[He knows that's not an option, even though he hasn't seen the contract with his own eyes.

...What contact?

Is there even a contract?

Without voicing his internal dialogue, Krieg's face pulls into something of grim realization. Where's the paper trail?]

[panspermia]

[ That statement catches Greg off guard. It shouldn't, somehow--he's already become tired of all the drama and red tape that comes with signing to Virgo--but to be so forward about it catches him entirely off guard. ]

Krieg--that's not...

[ His face screws up, and he speaks quietly as well. ]

That's not possible. You know that.

[ Because they signed. They did, and Virgo would never let them leave. Except Virgo just let two of their friends leave. But that's not the same. Is it? No, it's not. He tried going indie before, sure, but-- the reasoning spirals around in his head, before it catches onto a solid idea. ]

Even if we could, they--they'd never let us get anywhere. They'd find a way to crush us.

[ It may as well be solid fact. After coming this far, there's no possible chance Virgo would let them go without crushing any possible career they'd have. ]

[pecsonpecs]

Crush us? What the hell do you call what they're doing already? What they did to Gaige and Weasel? In fact, I can think of several more words for what happened to them that would be a hell of a lot more apt than crush.

[And not just because his violent vocabulary is lavish.]

At least--at least we'd go down with our pride intact. Get to make what we want without someone crawling up our ass.

[panspermia]

[ The more Krieg speaks, the more Greg shrinks in his chair. His eyes dart around, anxious, as if someone could be lurking to overhear this sort of talk. The dread is deep and gnawing, something more visceral than his usual nervousness about such matters. ]

Krieg... come on man... be serious, I mean...

[ The problem isn't the notion, but how reasonable and right it sounds, how they would be better off somewhere else.

But they can't, they couldn't, if they try, they'll... Greg can't make eye contact, anymore. ]

[pecsonpecs]

I am serious!

[Damn it, Greg. Krieg growls.]

I know you're the kind of person that hates putting people in bad positions, but I never thought you'd do it in the name of saving your own ass.

[Wow. Talk about inflammatory accusations. Krieg backs off, though, before he really goes down a path neither of them want.]

Just--draw a line in the sand somewhere. This can't keep happening. Because if all of us get pruned and you get to go solo under the label...[Krieg gives him a sharp glare.] You're gonna wish it was them that crushed you.

[ok, maybe "backing off" was an overstatement.]

[panspermia]

[ Boy. Hopefully, Krieg's intent wasn't to get Greg more on his side. Greg stares at Krieg, completely stunned by the accusation and threat. ]

Solo? [ His brow furrows, bewildered. Somehow, their musical career had completely slipped from his mind as a factor. ] Man, that's not... I don't care about...

[ He's too shocked to figure out what to say. It's distressing to realize Krieg thinks so little of him, but then again, he's not giving him a lot of reason to think any higher right now. He really is being a coward. ]

[pecsonpecs]

Really? You're just going to sit there and blubber?

[This is, after all, something important enough to Krieg to put himself in harm's way just to get answers. Not to get even, not to get justice, just answers.]

Say something, damn it.

[panspermia]

[ Greg sits back in his chair. He runs a hand through his hair, then cups it over his mouth, thinking. Why is this so hard? ]

Krieg, do you have any connections out there?

[ He's staring hard at his lap. ]

I'm not talking musical, I'm talking like... a place to live. Or a bank account Virgo doesn't own, or... anything.

[ Literally the only thing Greg can think of owning that didn't belong to Virgo was his car. And he doesn't know where even that is, anymore. ]

This isn't me saying no, man, I don't care about having a cushy life or whatever. But it's something we gotta do with a plan.

[pecsonpecs]

[Finally, something to work with. Plans aren't exactly Krieg's style, but...working towards a goal will make him feel a little bit better about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.]

I used to. Had to leave it all behind when we signed on. [A beat.] I'll see what I can do. Just...help me to keep on schedule so I don't fixate on it.

[The label wants them to make music, and they'll have to keep it up to keep them off his tail.]