Former HELIX guitarist Brent Doerner has issued the following update regarding his new DECIBEL project:

"Well now, we are really excited about going ahead with our second CD - The Ashtray Sonatas. We are going through a learning curve - high tech wise - to get started. We start this week. Shane (Schedler - guitar/vocals), Chick (Schumilas - guitar) and I have 17 songs ready to go - but we'll probably only record 10 or 12 tunes.

New titles include 'A Fabulous Tangle', 'Alone Again, Face To Face', 'Get Your Game On', 'The Sting I Need', 'All the Time, All The Action' and 'Decibel City Hall'.

Also - I had entered Decibel in The Bodog Battle Of The Bands Contest with $1,000,000.00 up for grabs, and we were picked to audition!! Unfortunately, my twin brother - Brian, suffered a heart attack on October 5th and we had to decline - as I thought it was wrong to go into an important gig without my bro on drums. Next year I guess? Brian Doerner had heart surgery to repair a blocked artery. He was home from the hospital a few days later is now doing OK. A dietary change is in order for him, and me too I guess. We were picked on the strength of one song - 'Alone Again, Face To Face' - as all participating bands are only allowed to post one song for this contest. It was very encouraging all the same.

Lastly - and not so important - I've included a photo of my new killin' machine (photo left) - a Gretsch Sparkle Jet - a guitar I've wanted for years. It's actually a hollow body guitar. It has a mahogany body and neck, a maple top, and an ebony finger board. And it's beautiful. It is a remake of the 1957 they made back then. Gretsch has been building guitars since 1888! That's about 80 years before Fender or Gibson. Listen for it on our next CD."