Germany's THE NEW BLACK have issued the following update:

"Dear Blackies and Blackettes!

We have news for you, friends. Good and bad. How do you want to start? OK, let's get it over with... We have to cancel our gig in Passau this Saturday (Feb 7th). Bummer. :-(

That's because Fludid has caught some kind of 'satanic bronchitis' known in our van as 'Grippe666'. We played with the mighty VOLBEAT last weekend (more on that later), and especially in Bremen Fabs had high fever (and we mean high, almost 40 degrees high). But it's different for guitarist to play sick compared to a singer: No voice, no show. And of course of all people Fludid had to catch it. Maybe because the virus didn't dare to go anywhere near Günt, because he's too big and too Metal!

Anyway, we're bummed out and want to apologize to all people that wanted to see us at the Zeughaus and to Alex, the promoter, who took us on the bill on short notice. Sorry, but we obviously can't do anything about this. The show with Volbeat the next day is still on, though.

Talking about Volbeat, the gigs in Bremen, Leipzig and Wörgl were amazing. Packed (no surprise), loud, fun! Thanks to all for showing us some love! We want more of this! And we even ran out of shirts! How cool is that? We'll bring some to Graz, though, especially for the ladies, and we of course have the CD! There'll be pics on the site soon, as well as a tour blog over at www.metal-hammer.de.

Now to the good news: The New Black will play Summer Breeze and a couple of other festivals in the south and the east! And that will not be all for 2009. Promise."

Cough'n'Roll!

Flu, Fabs, Leim, Günt, Chris

The band's schedule is now as follows:

February

8 - Graz, Austria - Orpheum (supporting Volbeat)
27 - Arnsberg, Germany - Winternachtstraum Festival

April

17 - Paderborn, Germany - Metal Inferno Festival

August

13-15 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze Festival

21 - Dettelbach/Würzburg, Germany - Rock Mania Festival