Ludicra’s “De-Cancellation Tour” — waged in the face of Mayhem dropping off the bill and guitarist John Cobbett’s hospitalization — may have ended, but Cobbett’s (also of Hammers of Misfortune) outrageous medical bills certainly haven’t been forgotten. Neither has Ludicra’s excellent release The Tenant. And since we know all too well how hospital stays can cost a small fortune here in America  – and since it’s the least we can do to help pay back Cobbett for giving us such great music — we’d like to draw attention to a fundraiser organized by Umlaut and Sensory Abuse.

Umlaut and Sensory Abuse are offering a limited edition Ludicra print with the proceeds going to help John Cobbett with his existing medical expenses. Sensory Abuse’s iconic live shot was taken at the final show of Ludicra’s U.S. Tour at Cafe du Nord in San Francisco on May 8th. This is a limited edition of 66 hand-numbered prints, each of which measures 19″x13″ and is printed on heavy, canvas-like paper stock. For delivery within the U.S. the print will cost $20 (shipping included). For International Orders please add an additional $5. The prints will be appropriately sent in a black mailing tube. Every little bit helps, and with only 66 copies available they’re sure to go fast; order here.

-VN

Poor John Cobbett. Ludicra just put out an excellent new album, The Tenant, but the guy has still suffered from some crummy luck, to put it mildly. First, Mayhem canceled the tour Ludicra was supposed to play support on; then they decided “Fuck Mayhem, let’s do it on our own,” and announced a “De-Cancellation” tour.

And then Cobbett’s appendix burst.

And then the doctors at San Francisco General Hospital misdiagnosed Cobbett, gave him a clean bill of health, and sent him home.

Which is how he ended up in the Olympia ER, which is where he remains as of this writing (see photo above). And because this is America, where decent health insurance is unafuckingffordable, John needs help paying all the medical bills.

According to a statement from the band, there are multiple ways you can help John out:

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Last week I solicited suggestions for awesome bands with female members that we don’t routinely write about here at MS, and a bunch of you obliged. So now I’m gonna try and actually listen to some of these bands over the next few days.

Ludicra was the very first band suggested, but the reader known as “lo;” Arthur von Nagel of Cormorant and sometimes MetalSucks and then Ziltoid chimed in with their seal of approval, too. Then last night the band came up again when we got a press release announcing that Ludicra are “putting the finishing touches” on their fourth full-length album, The Tenant, which will be out on Profound Lore in March 2010.

So, yeah. Let’s start with Ludicra.

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