Press Releases

Corrosion of Conformity to Screen DVD to Benefit Afghan Women

October 17, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Voice: 626-676-7884
E-mail: info_at_afghanwomensmission.org

Corrosion of Conformity, Raleigh’s Grammy Award-nominated rock band, will hold a special screening of its Live Volume DVD at the Rialto Theater, 1620 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh, on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. All box office and merchandise profits from the event – titled Live Volume: The Movie – will go to benefit the Afghan Women’s Mission.

Based in Pasadena, CA, the mission is the charitable arm of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. Originally formed to resist Soviet military occupation, RAWA today defies fundamentalist Islamic Taliban policies that prohibit women from participating in public life, earning a living or even seeking education. This organization of courageous, pro-democracy Afghan women has established schools for girls and boys, has founded a hospital for refugee Afghan women and children, conducts literacy education and provides information about the situation in the country to human rights and news organizations. Its members do so at great personal risk, as the penalty for undertaking these things is death.

“On Sept. 11, Americans experienced unspeakable terror,” said COC’s Pepper Keenan. “But it’s come to my attention since then that the women of Afghanistan have been living under terror day in and day out, for years. Mothers are responsible for teaching children. If the mothers of Afghanistan aren’t allowed to learn themselves, how can they teach?”

Added bassist Mike Dean, “Due to the overwhelming response that the relief efforts have received since the attacks, there are some causes that have slipped off the public’s radar screen. This is an important one.”

The Live Volume CD and DVD were recorded on April 20 at Harpo’s in Detroit, Mich. The CD – COC’s first official live recording – was released Aug. 7 by Raleigh-based Sanctuary Records, and the DVD is scheduled for release on Oct. 9. Sanctuary also put out America’s Volume Dealer, COC’s first studio effort for the company, on Oct 10, 2000. The band previously recorded for the Columbia, Relativity and Metal Blade labels.

Formed in 1982 by Raleigh drummer Reed Mullin, guitarist Woody Weatherman and bassist Mike Dean, COC was one of the first bands to combine the ferocity of hardcore punk with heavy metal. A longtime underground legend, COC gained mainstream recognition in 1994 after the release of its Deliverance album with the singles “Clean My Wounds” and “Albatross.” James Hetfield of Metallica contributed guest vocals to the song “Man or Ash” on Wiseblood, COC’s 1996 effort, and Metallica invited the band to join its nine-month tour of the U.S. and Europe. “Drowning in a Daydream,” Wiseblood’s first single, garnered a 1997 Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

After undergoing several personnel shifts through the decades, COC last year arrived at the current line-up showcased on Live Volume: Keenan, Weatherman, Dean, and Jimmy Bower of renowned New Orleans dirge rockers Eyehategod on drums. COC continues to honor its heavy roots, but it has branched out to cover a broader range of expression. Warren Haynes, formerly with the Allman Brothers Band and now with Gov’t Mule, contributed a soulful slide guitar part to “Stare Too Long” off AVD, which also includes tracks with Keenan on acoustic guitar and Dean on piano.

While COC’s studio work has won accolades, the band is especially well known for the energy and intensity of its live performances, effectively captured on the Live Volume DVD. The Rialto screening represents the 88-minute DVD’s first public showing. Tickets for the event are , with all profits going to the Afghan Women’s Mission. The DVD will be available at the event for .95, along with other COC merchandise. Doors open at 7 p.m., and band members will be available to sign autographs before the 8 p.m. screening.

Advance tickets will be available for sale at the Rialto box office starting Monday, Oct. 8.

For more information on RAWA and the Afghan Women’s Mission, visit www.rawa.org.

For more information on COC, visit www.corrosivecabaal.com.