HAIL!, the supergroup featuring David Ellefson (MEGADETH) Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER), Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) and Tim Ripper Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), have issued the following statement in the wake of the news that journalist / G-Taranaki Guitar Festival founder Garry Sharpe-Young has passed away:

"It is with great sadness that we learned of the unexpected passing of G-Taranaki promoter, Garry Sharpe-Young. We have not yet announced our scheduled participation in New Zealand's G-Taranaki convention this coming August but we had worked closely with Garry since last year. Garry contacted us the morning after our very first HAIL! show in Santiago, Chile, last January and immediately offered us a spot to play at the convention. He has been a friend and supporter and we will miss him. Our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends at this time of terrible loss."

Go to this location for the news report of Sharpe-Young's passing.