SOBER RICHARD PATRICK FINISHING UP FILTER ALBUM

Vocalist Richard Patrick is gearing up for the release of the first Filter album since 2002, and he talks about how sobriety is an eye opening experience

After a five year hiatus, Richard Patrick will look to reclaim his legacy with Filter as the band will release their eagerly anticipated album ‘Anthems for the Damned.’ The album, which will be released in May of 2008, was produced by Josh Abraham (Slayer, Velvet Revolver) and features a wide range of collaborations including John 5, Wes Borland and drummer extraordinaire Josh Freese. Patrick, who most recently was touring with Army of Anyone, has added all new musicians to Filter’s touring lineup and the band will look to showcase the new group in a short run of California tour dates in early March of 2008.

The last time Filter released a new album was 2002’s ‘The Amalgamut’ and it was definitely a different Richard Patrick than today. After battling his demons with alcohol, Richard is now sober and has a new outlook not only on touring and performing on stage, but also a new outlook on life as well.

“Well sobriety real quickly it’s an amazing eye opening experience for me. I used to drink when I was very young so by the time I was thirty four I was pretty wailed on and every single thing that I do now is something that I would’ve done drunk.”

Richard, who is seated next to former bassist of Army of Anyone and STP Robert Deleo, also talked about not being a drunken maniac on stage anymore.

“So everything I’m doing now is a brand new experience. So when I get on stage, I used to drink before I get on stage and now that whole experience is…” “(Deleo) Oh, I remember that.” “(Patrick) It’s clean and I don’t mean it’s clean because I’m sober. I mean it’s a clean experience. There’s nothing tainted. I get up on stage and i’m me and that’s what the music is about for me. I’m not this drunken maniac anymore.”

Filter will perform along with Stone Temple Pilots, Kid Rock, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed, Staind, Papa Roach, Seether, SerjTankian , Flyleaf, Shinedown and many more hard rock bands at Rock on the Range, whick will take place on May 17th and May 18th at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH. Filter and Patrick will be showcasing the new lineup beginning March 2nd at The Casbah in San Diego, California. Look for Filter to announce a more extensive run of 2008 tour dates in support of ‘Anthems for the Damned’ in the coming weeks.