Former Blind Guardian drummer Thomas \"Thomen\" Stauch will be unable to perform any shows this year with his new band, Savage Circus, due to an unspecified medical and/or psychological condition. The following is Stauch\'s official statement on the matter:\"Due to ongoing serious private problems in the past months my psychological and physical constitution is completely broken and makes me unable to play the upcoming shows planned for this year! I know you all have been waiting a long time already to see Savage Circus live for the first time and I have been really curious to meet you all again as well, but there is just nothing I can do to change this situation.\"
According to Stauch\'s press release, his doctors are convinced that a long-term rest along with several psychological and physical treatments for the next months is the only way to make him feel better. Continues the drummer:
\"After fighting this reality for a longer time I am ready now to take this road. It is the only way to get back on my feet. My entire body is totally power-drained and I am almost unable to concentrate on anything. Furthermore I am suffering from a chronic tonsillitis for almost 10 weeks by now which even with antibiotics is not getting better. According to the docs it seems that all is based on my stressed body and mind, which do not get a recovery if I go on like this. So I will take this advice and will give my body and soul a break to regain my powers and charge up my battery for the upcoming Savage Circus production in 2007 (...) It breaks my heart to post this message, but I see no alternative.\"
Drummer Thomas Nack, of Angra, Gamma Ray, Iron Savior, and Running Wild fame, has been recruited once more as Stauch\'s replacement for the group\'s upcoming gigs.
In a separate statement, the other members of Savage Circus, Jens Carlsson (lead vocals), Emil Norberg (guitar), and Piet Sielck (guitars, backing vocals), had the following to say regarding the matter:
\"As you can imagine we are quite shocked by this truly bad news, though it does not take us by surprise completely. We have been aware, that Thomen was having a real hard time in the past but it seemed as if he would be strong enough to deal with all his strokes of fate. Unfortunately, we overestimated his powers just as he did himself, too. (...) Of course, Thomen gets all the support we can give. The band is behind him as one!\"
