Exclusive new guest columns for 2008

Last year, following the successful relaunch of Jukebox in February, we introduced our new Guest Columns section, offering exclusive writings by people from both inside and outside the music World instead of conventional interviews.

We are pleased to continue this section both on Jukebox and here on our new website, Jukebox:Metal. We are also proud to be able to announce the first columnists of 2008.

Firstly, two of last year’s columnists will be returning this year and the coming weeks/months will see new work from English singer/songwriter Emma Rugg as she delivers a series of pieces around the trials and tribulations of being an unsigned songwriter in England, and US rock singer Sheldon Tarsha, who tackled the issues of unsigned artists surviving in the current music industry.

As well as the welcome return of Emma and Sheldon we are very pleased to announce three new columnists joining us for the first time. The first of these is current Therion and former Candlemass singer Thomas Vikstrom, who’s first article, “The Touring Disease”, will be published in the next few days.

Then in February American movie and television actress Meredith Salenger will join us, as will multi-instrumentalist and world-renowned musician Arjen Lucassen following the release and general media circus around his much anticipated new Ayreon album 01011001.

Some columns will appear here on Jukebox:Metal, some will be on Jukebox, and some will appear on both. Check back soon to find out who has contributed what to where!