After 18 years, guitarist Ed Mundell has left MONSTER MAGNET for "personal reasons." The band's mainman, Dave Wyndorf, states, "What can I say? (Ed) told me this two months ago and I gave him some time for him to perhaps reconsider but no go. It's a bummer, yeah but we've been through this kind of thing before. Make no mistake, MAGNET goes on. We start the 'Mastermind' tour tonight (Wednesday, November 3) in Cologne, Germany with Phil Caivano and Garrett Sweeny handling dual guitar chores." He adds, "I'd like to thank Ed for the immense talent he's brought to the band over the years and wish him good luck in whatever he decides to do next. Good luck, Ed, we'll miss you!"

"Mastermind", the long-awaited new album from MONSTER MAGNET, sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 165 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous effort, "4-Way Diablo", opened with 1,800 units back in November 2007.

Source: www.BlabberMouth.Net