I’m not really a regular comics reader anymore so I have no idea if they still do this, but DC use to have this thing called Elseworlds where they basically reimagined the lives of various heroes – e.g., What if Superman had been Russian?, What if Batman was a vampire?, What if Wonder Woman had a dick?, etc. And I always really enjoyed those.

That same interest in the “what if?” questions must be why I’m also so fascinated when a band has to do a one-off gig without a key member and replaces said member with some other all-star musician – e.g., Metallica with Dave Lombardo and Joey Jordison, Trivium with Doc Coyle, and now Lamb of God with Unearth’s Buz “Banned from Wal-Mart” McGrath.

Yes, the Buzster will handling lead duties for the last six shows of the Virginia outfit’s European tour, while Mark “I’m Too Hungover for this Interview” Morton heads home to Richmond to be present for the birth of his child. Selfish prick.

As much as I love Morton, I can’t wait to see/hear the bootlegs from these dates. What’s it like when McGrath plays the solo on “Walk With Me in Hell,” for example? If any of our international readers hit up one of these shows, please drop us a line and let us know how it goes. Hey, that rhymed!

No word yet on whether or not McGrath’s usual partner-in-crime, Ken Susi, will be on hand to spit into the air, catch said spit, and then rub it into his hair.

-AR