LEGION OF THE DAMNED have posted the following news:

"After swallowing the departure of guitarist Richard Ebisch a few weeks ago, Legion Of The Damned got yet another sad news delivered to their camp: ex-bassist and friend Twan Fleuren commited suicide.

Twan joined the band OCCULT in 1998 where he directly joined them on a tour with MORBID ANGEL, AMON AMARTH and GORGOROTH in 1999, after the recording of Occult's Rage To Revenge in 2001 and two great tours with DARK FUNERAL in 2001 and EXODUS, NUCLEAR ASSAULT and ANGENT STEEL in 2003.

Twan Fleuren was also at the beginning of the succes of Legion Of The Damned and recorded with the band the legendary Elegy For The Weak with Andy Classen in 2003, that was later re-released under the name Feel The Blade in 2007, as well as the recording of Malevolent Rapture"in 2004, which was released in 2006, the album that brought Legion Of The Damned to a level where they are in right now.

Twan Fleuren was also part of the first Legion Of The Damned tour that took place in 2006 with no one less than KATAKLYSM and CANNIBAL CORPSE, however, Twan left the band halfway through the tour because his, at that time, newborn baby son was hospitalized, the band then agreed that it would be better for Twan to leave the band because doing the band and having his family was too complicated at that point, he was then replaced by bass player Harold Gielen in 2006.

About Twan's loss, singer Maurice states: "Another very sad day in the Legion camp, Twan has been a great friend and we lost contact for several years because he was in some difficult times, only a few weeks back we were all back in contact again and it felt like these great old times were about to return, even Erik and me joined him on a terrace for a beer or two a few weeks ago, he even wanted to join us to With Full Force in July, where I was really looking forward to, he even showed alot of intrest in our new guitar player and the departure of Richard Ebisch. The bad news that came in today struck as a bomb, not for me only personally but also for the band Legion Of The Damned. Of course we wish his family and kids all the strength they need in this process. We will miss you brother and of course all of the upcoming Legion Of The Damned shows will be dedicated in his name!"

Drummer Erik announced following: "Yet another sad day in the history of Legion Of The Damned. We knew that Twan had to face some extreme difficult times, but we certainly did not expect this, he was about to join us at some upcoming festivals and we were really looking forward to that. Maurice and I are happy that we still had a nice chat and drink with him at a terrace not so long ago after a really long time of not seeing each other, rest in peace my friend and my sincere condolences to his family"

Andy Siry / Boomer Entertainment (management) states: "When Maurice informed me this afternoon that Twan commited suicide I was totally shocked and speechless. I remember when I met Twan at the first Legion Of The Damned tour in 2006 (with Cannibal Corpse, Kataklysm). Twan was a very kind and nice man and a good bass player. Our 'beer talks' were always funny. Twan made the decision to leave the band during this tour to take care of his wife and his two kids… and now this terrible news… and the big open question is of course, why??? What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we cannot understand why Twan left this earth so soon, but little by little, we will begin to remember not just that Twan died, but that he lived. And that his life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. Twan will always stay a member of the Legion Of The Damned! RIP – brother , see you on the other side, and my condolances to Cristel, Nina & Joep and his family."