Now that all the smoke has cleared, we can now tell you that, quite remarkably, Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera has been chucked out of the band he formed 14 years ago by his bandmates - including his brother, Igor. No explanation for their action has been given but Max has released a handwritten six-page press release which reads as follows:
"I never thought the day would come where I'd be writing what I'm about to write right now!!! As I start this sad, painful, heartfull (sic) statement, my mind is spinning, I'm feeling torn in pieces inside but I need to get all this out of me and I want to share with my fans and all the people that have been down with me through all these 14 years of Sepultura.
"As I am the person who started (it) all, writing the name Sepultura in the back of my schoolbooks in Brazil, for me to go through what I'm going through right now is like watching my own son or myself being killed. Music is something that I cannot explain to people how I feel about, it's my religion, my food, my drug, my own world that only I know what's going on, and I can't live without it.
"That's why everything I write means so much to me and the people that it touches!!!
"I want to let people know that I'm feeling not different than them hearing that all of our work is being forced to end; I'm crying everyday, I'm hurt, I'm sad, I'm angry, I'm in complete shock, I'm feeling like half of me has died. Even my own mother has asked how the hell am I dealing with all this?!!
"I would like to thank every single person who helped us through the journey, maybe (it) was fate or destiny that split us apart, I don't know!!! I did not want that to happen but it did!!! Unfortunally (sic) that's how life is, like I wrote on the lyrics for "Clenched Fist," "Life is chaos, you got to deal with it."
"I'm dealing with the worst time of my entire life right now but I believe after all this suffering something good should arise!!! I intend to continue my mission, which is not about money, greed etc., etc. But about really believing in doing something that matters, that will stay for eternity, that helps people get through life, that tells them 'Do not be ashamed to look the way you look, refuse and resist against this f**cked up society,' non-conformity always gonna be on my innerself!!! For the people that believe in me, I promise I won't let you down, our mission continues, unfortunally (sic) without Sepultura. But I'll always remember Sepultura as a band that never compromised, never sold out, never put up with the bulls**t that goes on within the music industry, and for that I'm very proud of it and you should be too!!!
"It wasn't my decision to split the band, me and Gloria were pretty much forced out of Sepultura. I have to be honest, the feeling inside the band weren't (sic) like when we started, or the first time we ever play (sic) outside Brazil, but more like too many f**king "outsiders" telling everybody what to do, how to act and all this bulls**t!!!
"I got sick of it, I don't need this shit in my life. I want to enjoy being in a band again, to create, to play, to laugh, to cry, tofight, to go after that impossible dream; and I want all of those feelings back and I know I'll find because one thing I'm certain I'm not is a quitter, to quit music for me is the same as quitting myself, so I can never let that happen. One of the things that hurts me the most is the fact that we were such a united tribe at one point and sadly people started changing and actingdifferent, with envy, greed, etc., etc...
"All I can say, and that's from the deep of my heart; we were a perfect team, the four of us, Gloria, the roadies, the whole organization and like they say in Brazil, "In a team that's winning, you don't change players," and that's so fucking true!!!
"We could have replaced members or crew for more professional people, we stuck with each other; of course we could get a better bass player, or a superprofessional roadie, but that's not the way I believed things should be, we stay true to our tribe members, we help each other!!! And then, all of the sudden they gave Gloria letter saying she was no longer representing Andreas, Igor or Paulo, without a f**king reason, simply fired by the three other guys. This is not the tribe I believe in anymore. I'm sorry but I'm faithful and loyal to the people that have been good to me and I won't change my ways for nothing!!!
"I think that's why everything is like it is. No respect, no sympathy, I can't work this way. I just want everybody to know, I never quit Sepultura, I never destroyed Sepultura, and I try (sic) all I could to fix the problem, but it was far too deep, far too late and unfortunally (sic) people forget where they came from, how we got here?
" The days of sleeping under the stage in Brazil, touring for the Morbid Visions L.P., the days of total sacrifice in the name of the band, to do anything to get us somewhere, to come to the States with a free ticket from a friend without a f**king dollar in my pocket, yet with the goal in my mind to get us a deal, through blood and sweat, come back with a contract or something. When we couldn't afford a hotel so the band and the crew were fed and housed by Gloria at her place in Phoenix.
"What happened to the respect we felt for her, because she work (sic) with us for a year with no pay and no contract, simply because she believed in this group so much!!! "I'm sure I (sic) never forget any of that, and that's why I know I'll continue!!!
" Fuck, it's finally off my chest, still hurts a lot but it makes me feel better that you get to hear from me instead of the bullshitt gossip and lies that are going around! Again, I'll continue our mission and I'm gonna keep writing and fighting for me and the people that believes (sic) it like me!!! Thanks for all the people that never let me down!!!
Under a pale grey sky, we shall arise again!!!"
-Max
Newest rumors/info from MTV Brazil Feb 19 - last year :
I have some news about MAX taken from an interview to MTV Brazil (FEB 19):
MAX is really out! No chance to come back to SEPULTURA.
The history about GLORIA is not true. SEPULTURA members was fighting a lot in the last times.
ANDREAS was singing too much and MAX didn't like that.
He don't want to work with ANDREAS and PAULO anymore.
He wants to work with IGOR in the future.
He thinks that the other 3 must change the name of the band.
He said that now he's more free to compose what he want.
He want to write something weird and heavier than SEPULTURA.
He wrote a lot of things after quit with SEPULTURA.
He was writing a new song with a brazilian musician (Chico Science), but he died this month and they didn't completed the song. It will be called Alma Sebosa or Tallowy Soul.
And now he want to find the right guys to start again!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Igor Cavalera! (Sep 4th)
18 August 97: Rumor: At the benefit concert for Dana Wells, Max and his new band played 4 news songs, Attitude, and then Dino and Christian from FF came up and did a FF song. Max called the new band "Soul Fly" (which might not be really correct). 15 August 97: MTV Brazil Awards: Andreas said: 'it was a big surprise to win this shit, thank you very much'. Paulo said: 'it's Carlinhos Brown's too...'. Igor said: 'Thanks, most of people think that Sepultura is in the end, but it is not true, this is just the beginning and we will fuck everything up! This goes out to Joanna!' (thanks to ERS for posting this on the board) 15 August 97: in further MTV Awards news: Pavilhao Nove won best Rap Video (video features Max and Igor Cavalera) 15 August 97: Max' interview with a Brazilian newspaper (thanks to Tatu for translating) 15 August 97: Max Cavalera will be doing his spoken words session at the "Crossing Border" festival in Holland September 12th (not 13th as reported earlier). According to the festival organization he is bringing "at least" his guitar. 14 August 97: CONFIRMATION thanks to the ***** dude who started the "Max is back in Sep" rumor: IT'S NOT TRUE! MAX IS NOT BACK IN SEPULTURA! HE'LL BE DOING HIS OWN THING AND THERE'S NO WAY AT THE MOMENT THAT HE'LL BE BACK. (and I'd say that's it's NOT Andreas, Igor or Paulo's fault!). I can't tell how mad I get at so-called "fans" prentending they're Sepultura fans and still trying to start such stupid rumors. Go ask Max if he is allowed to go back next time! 13 August 97: "On August 16, in Tempe, there is a benefit for Max Cavalera's late son, Dana. Dana was killed last year on the same day, I believe.. if not it's around the same time.. but it's a benefit concert.. some names I have heard are SNOT, FAR, and Max himself. I strongly urge you people who live in this Arizona area to go and check out some great bands for a good cause." (thanks for Mike for forwarding this) 13 August 97: Max has recruited Lucio Maia (former Chico Science e Nacao Zumbi guitarist) to play on the upcoming album which might bear the name Rhythm Of Revolt or Dance Of The Revolt. Lucio Maia will only record the album and will not become an official member in Max's band.
