CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist Henkka T. Blacksmith has issued the following road update:

"New York show was a disaster. Something that we have been always afraid of. And during the last two weeks of the No Fear Tour we were really afraid during every show, we had no idea if Alexi's (Laiho) ribs and shoulder would make it through the set.

Last hit in 'Hellhounds On My Trail' and I saw a guitar flying into the Jaska's (Raatikainen) drum riser. Alexi was gone. I knew that now it was too much, and then back of the stage I saw him, and crew said he can't go on. Its horrible feeling, when there's a couple of thousand fans in New York city waiting for next song. There was nothing we could do though... It sucks.

Two weeks of rest and we rehearsed again, and it seemed better. The shoulder is fully healed, but a broken rib is still hurting when singing. First show since 'NYC disaster' was to be in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Rock Hard -festival. Before the show we just had to hope for the best, that everything would go ok. During the show I saw that he was gonna make it, even though still not able to move normally, but the look in Alexi's face was totally different than during the last days of the tour. We pulled it off, and German crowd was good, as it always is in Rock Hard. Thanks everybody who was there! Next week, we go to Pohjanmaa, Seinäjoki where Provinssirock is held. Looking forward, crazy drunken Finns and almost nightless nights."

Children Of Bodom will embark on a South American tour this fall, also featuring fellow Finns AMORPHIS, who have just released their Skyforger album.

"It's been five long years since the last time COB made it all the way down there to play for some of their most enthusiastic and loyal fans!'

Children Of Bodom South American Tour 2009:

September

8 - Teatro Flores - Buenos Aires, Argentina
10 - Teatro Teleton - Santiago de Chile, Chile
12 - Via Funchal - Sao Paulo, Brazil
15 - Circo Volador - Mexico City, Mexico
16 - Arena Santa Lucia/Festival - Monterrey, Mexico