.

  Vines Begin Work on New CD. 


01-05-03 antiGUY
.
Amid rumors of their breakup, the Vines want to assure fans that they are indeed still a group and are in fact beginning work on their second album. 

The rumors flew last week after an incident during a concert in Boston where lead vocalist Craig Nicholls and bassist Patrick Mathews came to blows on stage. The fight was sparked when Nicholls hit Mathews in the head with his microphone. Nicholls was reportedly upset that Mathews had broken a bass string during the performance of �Ain�t No Room�. Mathews went on the attack after being hit with the microphone and lunged at Nicholls and the two tangling musicians ended up falling off the stage and continuing their battle among the stunned audience. 

Contrary to reports by British music magazine NME, the band did go on to play two more scheduled U.S. concerts before returning home to Australia for the holidays. 

"Three members of the band are currently shacked up together at a residence in an undisclosed neighbourhood[sic] in Sydney" reads a statement from the band Posted on the Australian music site Undercover. "They're quietly kicking back - as opposed to kicking each other - before heading into a Sydney studio next week to commence recording of the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 'Highly Evolved' album".

The work on the new album apparently will keep the band from playing several upcoming concerts in the UK and Japan. The band�s publicist told Undercover, �the Japanese and U.K dates have been POSTPONED so the band can [complete work on their new album]. ALL U.K shows most DEFINITELY going ahead - they're just sorting out revised dates.�  

At press time the group�s appearance at this year�s Big Day Out festival in Australia will go ahead as planned. 

more on The Vines .