CHEMIKILL, ATTAXE, FOOSE (featuring SPUDMONSTERS front man Don Foose) and SOULLESS have been added to the Auburn Records 25th Anniversary Concert, taking place December 12, 2009 at the Beachland Ballroom (www.beachlandballroom.com) in Cleveland, Ohio. Admission is free. No advance tickets are needed. The doors open at 3:30 p.m. Cameras and video are permitted. The line-up also includes performances by DESTRUCTOR, BREAKER, SHOK PARIS, MANIMALS, WRETCH, H.A.T.E. and ALTERNATE REALITY (featuring WCSB DJ Bob Delchin). Auburn Records is an independent heavy metal label based in Cleveland, Ohio.

"I sent invitations out to all the bands and musicians I have worked with on the label over the years to perform at this special 25th anniversary concert", says Auburn Records president Bill Peters. "Bands like JAG PANZER, The Spudmonsters, PURGATORY, AFTERSHOK, NIGHTCRAWLER, REAL STEEL and even TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS to name a few. Everyone was very positive and supportive, responding back they would love to play. Unfortunately some bands were not available due to prior commitments or travel obstacles. If everyone would have responded back with a yes, we would have had to make it a 3-day festival! I did not realize there were so many artists I had worked with until actually sitting down and drawing up a list. 25 years is a very long time. The label has had an extensive history."

One of Auburn's most popular bands and a personal favorite of Peters' for example, Purgatory, is not able to perform due to a prior commitment of lead singer Jeff Hatrix, who is also the lead vocalist in Mushroomhead. Hatrix states, "Due to circumstances beyond my control, I, along with Purgatory, cannot participate in this celebration of metal and friendship. Without Bill (Peters) and the camaraderie of bands like Destructor and others I wouldn't be where I am today. Although I'll be in Columbus on tour with Mushroomhead, I'll be in Cleveland with all of you, in spirit! Auburn for life!". Purgatory did reunite to perform at Auburn's 20th Anniversary Concert in 2004.

Others, like Spudmonsters frontman Don Foose, were available. "Growing up in Cleveland I was introduced to the music scene through many of the bands on Auburn Records", says Foose. "Bill Peters was very instrumental in putting Cleveland Metal on the map. It's an honor to be part of the show celebrating the 25th anniversary of Auburn Records". FOOSE have just released their debut album, Sacrifice, and were featured on the cover of the November 18, 2009 issue of Cleveland Scene Magazine (here) by writer D.X. Ferris.

BLACK DEATH A.D. dropped off the bill and are retooling their lineup for a headlining performance to support the BLACK DEATH reissue in early 2010.

The final running order and set times are as follows:

ALTERNATE REALITY - 4:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.

H.A.T.E. - 4:50 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

ATTAXE - 5:40 p.m. - 6:20 p.m.

CHEMIKILL - 6:30 p.m .- 7:10 p.m.

WRETCH - 7:20 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

FOOSE - 8:10 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.

MANIMALS - 8:55 p.m. - 9:35 p.m.

SHOK PARIS - 9:50 p.m. - 10:45 p.m.

BREAKER - 11:00 p.m. - 11:55 p.m.

DESTRUCTOR - 12:10 a.m. - 1:05 a.m.

SOULLESS - 1:15 a.m. - 1:55 a.m.

Germany's Iron Ingo Stührenberg (Metal-Rules.de) and Chris E. (Cellbound) will guest MC. Metal-Rules.de and The Exchange are co-sponsors. Spectrum Sound will be doing a multi-track recording.

Fans are encouraged to bring cans of food to the concert. A donation will be made to charity to help those in need this holiday season from the Cleveland metal community. The food drive is being sponsored by WJCU 88.7 FM and Auburn Records. Peters hosts his long-running Friday night "Metal On Metal" radio show on WJCU.

Musical highlights include:

- Destructor's special first time performance of their classic 1985 "Maximum Destruction" debut vinyl album in its entirety from start-to-finish.
- A Shok Paris reunion, with the songwriting team of guitarist Ken Erb and vocalist Vic Hix taking the stage together for the first time since 2004's Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany. Auburn Records' very first release was Shok Paris' "Go For The Throat" album in 1984. They were Auburn's first major label signing to the I.R.S./MCA label in 1986.
"I wanted to make this a free show for the fans so I am covering all the production costs and the bands are donating their time to perform," says Auburn Records president Bill Peters. "I know it is crazy and quite expensive for me to be doing this in today's economy, but it is something I really wanted to do for the Cleveland metal fans. There will be fans traveling in from different parts of North America and overseas as well. I appreciate all of their support over the years. This concert is dedicated to them and all the musicians who created this great music. We've got 10 hours of Cleveland metal mayhem assembled to celebrate the history of our local scene. Cleveland has always had an excellent reputation in the heavy metal underground and I am proud to be part of it."
"Auburn Records has always been a label for the fans, from the fans. I operate the label on a part-time basis, with a limited budget, out of my love for the music and run it more like a family than a business. I always try to look at the long-term forecast, as opposed to the short-term one that is sadly so prevalent in today's business environment. The dedicated and talented people around me are the ones that have helped keep the label going all these years and allowed me to overcome many obstacles and challenges."
"Some industry peers have said I am too generous with my bands but I am still here after 25 years so I must be doing something right! I've been working with the same group of bands, production people and recording engineers from when I first started the label back in 1984. That's unusual in this industry and a true testament to our Team Auburn concept and family bond. It's a unique and positive way to doing business."

Peters takes his Auburn bands to Germany each year to perform at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Bang Your Head!!!, Headbangers Open Air and Keep It True. The label enjoys a very strong underground following in Europe, especially in Germany. This past summer, Auburn presented a special 25th anniversary performance for their German fans at the sold-out Headbangers Open Air festival. Following LICK THE BLADE's set, members of Destructor and Breaker made a surprise appearance on stage to play some of their early classic songs.

"Germany is my second home," says Peters. "I have a very special connection with the German metal fans. They have always made me feel so welcome when I visit and I have been able to make many long term personal friendships over the years. It is nice to return the favor when my German friends are able to visit us in Cleveland. I always roll out the red carpet."

Auburn has a full schedule of releases coming after taking a brief hiatus due to the troubled economic conditions that started last fall.

"The entire music industry was hurting from the recession so I decided to hold off releasing product and work in the studio recording more projects until things started to turn around," says Peters. "The economy is better now in Europe where I do a large percentage of my business and hopefully will be improving soon here in the States. I will be announcing some exciting new developments I have been working on to help expand my label presence in the German and European markets."

The label just released Lick The Blade's Graveyard Of Empires and ETERNAL LEGACY's Lifeless Alive. Early next year will see releases from H.A.T.E., VENOMIN JAMES, CHEMIKILL and the BLACK DEATH reissue. Later in 2010 will be new releases from the MANIMALS, WRETCH, AFTERSHOK, Destructor and Shok Paris.