Former FEAR FACTORY vocalist, the one and only Burton C. Bell (yes, THAT Burton C. Bell), has graced us with news of his rescheduled spoken-word extravaganzas in the land down under, aptly named “Obsolete By Word Of Mouth”. Prepare yourselves for an evening of… well, we’re not entirely sure what, but it involves words and a mouth. 🗣️
Originally slated to happen in June when the weather was slightly less… Australian, these shows have been pushed to the following, equally inconvenient dates:
Oct. 25 – Sydney, Australia @ Chuck Trailer’s Basement (because where else would a spoken-word event happen?)
Nov. 01 – Melbourne, Australia @ Holy Diver Bar (Dio would be so proud. Or maybe confused.)
According to Burton himself (yes, we’re still talking about THAT guy): “I am proud to announce that I have rescheduled my ‘Obsolete By Word Of Mouth’ spoken-word events, brought to you by Nite-Rite.” (Nite-Rite? Is that like a discount Rite-Aid for night owls? 🤔)
“Experience the ‘Obsolete By Word Of Mouth’ without a microphone or amplification.” (So… just yelling? Like a Viking? 🤘) “I will be giving first-hand insight into the making of the album, the concepts and origins behind the titles and lyrics, as well as reading the story within the album. part spoken, part performative.” (Is this performance art? Should we bring berets and pretentious attitudes?)
“My intention is to create a prescient and intimate atmosphere. I am requesting this to be a NO CELL PHONE EVENT. NO RECORDING PLEASE.” (Oh, the horror! 😱 How will we prove we were there to our Instagram followers? Is it even real if it’s not on social media?)
“All attendees will have to relay their own personal experience by ‘word of mouth’… which is an OBSOLETE form of communication.” (He’s not wrong. When was the last time you actually talked to someone face-to-face? Probably before you read this article. 📱)
In an exclusive interview with The Rockman Power Hour (never heard of it, but sounds… powerful? 💪), Burton revealed: “My wife happens to be in Australia right now working on a film [as a payroll accountant]… But what I decided to do is that I’m doing two spoken-word events, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney. And I’ll be reading and discussing and talking about the ‘Obsolete’ record. And I’ve titled it ‘Obsolete By Word Of Mouth’.” (Groundbreaking. Absolutely groundbreaking. 🙄)
Originally unleashed upon the world in 1998, “Obsolete” is, apparently, the only FEAR FACTORY album to achieve gold status in the US. Driven by the chart-topping success of “Cars”, a Gary Numan cover that featured Numan himself (because, you know, why not?). 🚗
This past May, Burton inflicted upon us the lyric video for his latest solo single, “Savages”. (Presumably about the savage state of his career? 🤔)
Bell has previously released such earworms as “Anti-Droid” and “Technical Exorcism” (we’re not making this up, people) in 2024, as well as a cover of RAMMSTEIN‘s “Du Hast” in 2023. (Because what the world really needed was another cover of “Du Hast.” 🤦♂️)
In June, Bell bravely ventured to Australia for a solo run. (Probably to escape the existential dread of being Burton C. Bell in 2024. ✈️)
Bell played his first solo concert on June 13, 2024, at 1720 in Los Angeles. (1720? Sounds like a tax form. Fitting, considering his wife’s profession. 🧾)
Backing Bell at his recent gigs are a bunch of dudes with impressive-sounding band names: guitarist Henrik Linde (THE VITALS, DREN), drummer Ryan “Junior” Kittlitz (ALL HAIL THE YETI, THE ACID HELPS), bassist Tony Baumeister (ÆGES) and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Cararas. (We’re sure they’re all very talented. We just don’t know who they are. 🤷♂️)
Bell‘s discography includes collaborations with BLACK SABBATH icon Geezer Butler and JOURNEY‘s Deen Castronovo (as G/Z/R); industrial guru Al Jourgensen and MINISTRY; and guest vocal appearances with PITCHSHIFTER, CONFLICT, SOIL, STATIC-X, SOULFLY and DELAIN, among others. (So, basically everyone and their mother. 👵) He’s also the vocalist of ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS and CITY OF FIRE and, of course, the co-creator of FEAR FACTORY. (Yes, we remember. You keep reminding us.)
FEAR FACTORY, according to this press release, “created a sound that revolutionized extreme metal.” (Debatable. Highly debatable. 🤔) Songs like “Replica”, “Linchpin”, “Edgecrusher”, “Fear Campaign”, “Archetype”, “Cyber Waste” and “Zero Signal” are “modern metal anthems.” (If by “modern” you mean “stuck in 1998,” then sure. 🤷♀️) “Demanufacture” (1995) and “Obsolete” (1998) are “genre-redefining works.” (Again, debatable. But hey, who are we to argue with a press release? 🤷♂️) Orwell, Bradbury, “Blade Runner”, and other sci-fi works “fed Bell‘s lyrics and concepts.” (So, basically, he ripped off better artists. Got it. ✍️)
The band toured with METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN, MEGADETH and OZZY OSBOURNE. (Impressive. But also, so did everyone else in the late ’90s. 🙄) After years of behind-the-scenes band member turmoil and legal issues (because what’s a metal band without drama?), Bell left FEAR FACTORY in 2020. (Good riddance? Too harsh? 😈)
The 56-year-old Bell had been largely inactive since his departure. (Probably recovering from the trauma of being in FEAR FACTORY. 🤕) He said he could not “align” himself with someone he did not trust or respect, referring to Dino Cazares. (Ouch. Shots fired! 💥) Bell has since been replaced by Milo Silvestro. (Who? Exactly.)
So, there you have it. Burton C. Bell is doing spoken-word events. In Australia. Without microphones. Don’t bring your phone. Prepare to be… something. We’re still not sure what. Good luck. 👍
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
