J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here.
Boy, a lot has happened since our last newsletter! Late last Saturday night, ApX guitarist Wayne Bartley called to inform me that he had a severe case of gout, which was causing agonizing pain in his foot. He’s had it before, so he knows what it entails.
Wayne was able to make it to the prescheduled practice Sunday for our upcoming appearance at the Immortal II festival, but the prospects of him being able to play lead guitar for an entire concert live on stage that day (at a concert almost 285 miles away from Pittsburgh) looked uncertain at best.
Thankfully, ApX guitarist Tom Tincha was willing and able to step in and take Wayne’s place. Tinch was our lead guitarist when we played at Immortal II last year. He often has had to work on weekends lately, but, it just so happened that he had next weekend off. Praise the Lord!
And here’s another piece of providence: Tinch actually was the one who played on the studio versions of the vast majority of the parodies we'd been planning to perform this year. That made for a much smoother transition and easier learning curve for him. We just had to swap out a couple songs.
Our other guitarist that day will still be Tom Milnes, who served side by side on stage with Tinch at Immortal II last year and for three years of concerts with us from January 2009 through December 2011. Those guys were both roommates on the road with ApX back then, too, so they’re close.
Although all of us have been practicing hard on our own as well, the two Toms are planning to get together tomorrow morning along with ApX bassist Keith Haynie.
One of the reasons Tinch was originally staying home was because of some health issues his wife, Deborah, has been facing this year, but they both talked and prayed about it, and she felt he should do it. We are so thankful for both of them. Please keep her in your prayers.
Please also pray for Wayne’s foot. I’ve seen a photo of it, and it’s not a pretty sight. Thank you.
