Feb.27,2003.> Well here we are. We are sorry for the delay in updates, but we have had some server problems as of late and have not been able to get to you, the anxious fans. Well, the new album's release date has been set for this Tuesday, March 4th, 2003. You will be able to purchase it where cd's are sold and from band members. The cd was released in Lithuania this past Tuesday, February 25th, and apparently the fans are eating it up! We and the band would like to thank 106 FM for taking the promotion and "word-spreading" of the album into their own hands during our lack of access to the web. "The New Prose" is an onslaught of rock and roll, 15 songs long. Over an hour of the band we've come to know, but more importantly love. Well, that's it for now, soon there will be more changes to the site, so stay tuned and keep it kickin'!
--The Kickaz Management Team

Jan.22,2003.> Some advances have taken place on the Kickaz front lately. No, we're not going to war you silly gooses! Moving on now, the song order has been confirmed for "The New Prose". Here's the fifteen song list:

1. Vector Cosine 9er
2. Pomegranate Love
3. The Vibe is There
4. Night Time's the Right Time
5. Introspective Perspective
6. Crazy Man's Talk
7. Kinesthetic Chaos
8. The Highway's My Home
9. Slippin' Away
10. Seagull Rhyme (B-side from 1999)
11. Dormitory Distractions (from demo sessions 2002)
12. Cryptic Questions ( " " )
13. Blue Collar Banquet ( " " )
14. Sheer Geniosity ( " " )
15. Green Skies, Blue Beaches ( " " )

The album has been mastered, again by Dean Stamler, but this time at The Location. It will be going into mass production as soon as the slight alterations to the artwork have been completed. A release date has not yet been confirmed, so stay tuned.
Also, a Kickaz critic-turned-fan by the name of Joseph Schwartz sent us his opinion of the new album:

"The New Prose" has set a new standard among rock bands. Ben Baxter, the band's infamous frontman seems to have done some serious soul-searching prior to the writing of this album, with lyrical topics more diverse than those of "Break the Mould". He comes off as a man frustrated by what he sees in the world around him, but yet also cherishing what is his for exactly that. The music is more experimental, blending more styles like hard rock, surf, disco, and the much loved, proven, true-to-life rock style of "Break the Mould". "The New Prose" proves that the Kickaz are a powerful force in today's rock music scene, and will be reckoned with for years to come." --Joseph Schwartz.

Ben just had some words for the fans this past week: "Thanks for all the support lately, we know the anticipation of the release of "The New Prose" has been hard to handle. It will be released as soon as possible, trust me. And, uh, rock on rednecks!"
We've also goes a few new quotes up as well. Keep checking back as the site is being updated all round. Well, that does it for today's update. Kick it!
--the Kickaz Management Team

Jan.7,2003.> Wow! The new year has certainly invaded out lives in double-quick time. With the new year comes new Kickaz news. The new album has officially been titled "The New Prose", and will have 9 completely brand new songs recorded in December, as well as some demo songs from the sessions earlier in the year and an old unreleased track that the band felt should finally see the light of day. A total of 15 tracks to tantalize your ear drums. The album is being mastered once again by Dean Stamler, and the artwork is complete. We will keep you all posted on a release. We have some new pictures, both from the photo shoot and various live performances on the site now. We will gradually be updating the band history, bios and merch pages as soon as that becomes possible, so continue to visit in the near future. Lastly, Ben has written for you the fans, a year in the perspective of the Kickaz frontman. Hope you all enjoy it:

"Well, it’s pretty hard to believe that a year has already gone by since the recording of ‘Break the Mould’. It has been so incredibly busy: Brian tragically going through a tremendous amount of trauma in a traumatic motor-vehicle accident, Keith working on ‘A Geography of Mullets,’ and I touring with a mime troupe called ‘Ergonomically Inclined’. Although it has been a year of ups-and-downs, it was all worth it for the Kickaz when we entered the studio and recorded our sophomore collaboration which will be known as ‘The New Prose’. We hope you, the fans, appreciate the excitement of these new, kickish tunes.
As I’m sure you’ve been staying up-to-date on our whereabouts with the help of the Kickaz web team, you must be wondering what it was like from the perspective of a member of the Kickaz. That is to where I will now turn my full attention. The release of Break the Mould in February came with a lot of anxiety and inner turmoil. Despite opinion polls taken mid- 2001 that suggested the populace was more than ready for some kickin’ tunes, we as a band were filled with no less than our share of what could be called ‘anxiety.’ Wow! That pretty much is a sufficient summary of my reaction to that poured upon us by the populace that was privileged enough to hear ‘Break the Mould.’
Immediately after the release of ‘Break the Mould,’ we found ourselves on a world-wide tour that encompassed both the wigwams of New Delhi and the igloos of Tuktuyuktuk. Our final show was a sold-out, 3-hour epic spectacle of the Kickaz in the parking lot of Young’s General Store in the metropolis of Wawa, Ontario. Thanks to all the fans who made this whirlwind tour possible.
After a short hiatus from the public’s eye, I auditioned simultaneously for Cirque de Soleil, and Ergonomically Inclined, two artsy phenomenons that had previously caught my eye. Initially I accepted the role of a clown with Cirque de Soleil, but after a less-than-pleasant situation with one of the acrobat girls (the story is contained in the vernacular of Cryptic Questions), I did not feel comfortable continuing within the closed society of the Soleil. Fortunately for me, one of the members of ‘Ergonomically Inclined’ felt it necessary to enter the wonderful world of yodelling school, which left a gap in the troupe that I was more than willing to fill. It was a wonderful time, one which I will not forget. However, after only a short time, I was once again itching for some time with the Kickaz.
It was now early-June and after rescuing Keith and Brian from their respective duties in their involvements, we began to collaborate on some new material for a brand new Kickaz album. At the time we were considering ‘Fastidious Fascinations’ as a title for the new album, but it never did come to fruition, so the album title was left aside as a tribute to the dream of a new album that never happened. The album was never recorded because, in mid August, Brian was involved in a motor-vehicle accident that claimed the usage of his lower body on the way to ref a bowling championship in the western province known as Saskatchewan. I will spare you the details of Brian’s grisly adventure (as I am positive you all know by now), but rest assured that he received and appreciated your best wishes. In time, Brian will respond to all of your letters.
The following 3 months flew by in a daze. I spent many hours at Brian’s bed-side (among other business propositions), helping him through the turmoil, and playing new Kickaz songs to him as he felt fit, to keep his mind on happy thoughts and keep his brain stimulated so he would be prepared to play some more bass on a sophomore album that we feared may never have been recorded. To our relief, however, November and December saw the recovery of Brian and the beginning of the collaborations for the new album. It was during this month that all the demos for the new album were recorded. Over the next month or so we hashed out the 9 songs that we felt deserved to be preserved for the masses on ‘The New Prose,’ and on one fine day in December when the musical genius was flowing at its peak, we began laying down some phat beats and some succulent sounds that you will soon be able to hear on our sophomore release.
Well, that pretty much sums up the last year from my perspective. We are currently enjoying the fun biz of mastering and producing ‘The New Prose.’ It should be completed soon and ready for the masses early in the new year. Keep your ear to the ground and we’ll keep you posted on a world-wide release date. Lithuania will probably have an earlier release date as a thank you for the overwhelming fan-support we always receive there. But not to worry for the rest of you kickin’ fanz. The disc will be available to all in time for you to pick it up as a gift for your babe on that special day just around the corner- Valentine’s Day. Until then, keep it clean and green, and ‘Rock on, Red Necks!"
--Ben Baxter, co-founder of The Kickaz, Inc.

Dec.25,2002.> Merry Christmas from Kickaz-land. We hope you are enjoying the festivities with your friends and families. We are.
Well, just yesterday the boys wrapped up the recording of their sophomore release. They were able to secure the expertise of engineer Simon Samuel again, who worked on "Break the Mould" with Stuart Thomas. Stuart Thomas was preoccupied with the recording of the much anticipated third album from "Redlease", the glamrockers from Edinburgh. Ben had this to say about the unfortunate absence of Mr. Thomas: "We did miss his professional touch during this recording session, but we are big fans of Redlease and we know their new record will be incredible because of Stuart. Simon worked extra hard to make this album great for us and we wouldn't have done this album any other way."
The boys did not specify how many songs they recorded, although they did say this session was a very rewarding time for all three of them. "This was a sort of rebuilding time in our careers," Brian said,"with my accident not far in the past, the absence of Stuart Thomas, and a slightly shortened recording period, we were forced to draw from our deepest creative and productive wells, and I think what has come of this is some of our best work ever." The new album saw Ben explore new topical territory, and musically seems more diverse. All in all, a much more mature album than "Break the Mould". "Working with the fellas this time by myself, I noticed myself being more affected at a deeper level by the music and lyrical content,"Simon Samuel said after last night's closing session,"I would be hard-pressed to argue with the notion that this is their best work."
The album goes to be mixed tomorrow by Samuel and then off to be mastered. Artwork and layout are being overlooked by The Kickaz management team and the band. The band underwent a photoshoot, so be on the lookout for new photos here on the site. We will also have some live photos from various concerts earlier in the year for your visual stimulation.
That's it for now. The album title and release date will be made available to you all soon. Don't go eatin' too much turkey now ya hear.
--the Kickaz Management Team

Nov.28,2002.> It's been almost a month since you last heard from us. Some excellent news has just come our way. Brian is heading back to the Bay for the holiday season to be with friends, family, band members and of course all you fans. He is almost fully recovered which is amazing considering the time that has gone by (which is not much). Brian had this to say from the rehab centre in Saskatchewan: "It has been a strenuous few months for not only me but all who are connected to me. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for all you gracious fans out there. It was you who made it worth pushing forward each day. I will see you all again soon, and hopefully will once again rock out for you all."
Tentative plans for the re-release of "Break The Mould" have gone under. The fellas have decided to "...put all our efforts into the production of the new release..." as Ben put it. That's what we all want anyway isn't it.
On a completely different topic, Keith has just begun work on his new book titled "Geography and The Mullet: A Redneck takes a comprehensive look at Mullets and their various habitats". Should be a good read. Well, that's all for now. Check back soon for news on the recording of the sophomore release.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Oct.31,2002.> Well hello there you crazed candy gorgers. Well, it's been a month and a half since the last update, and a busy month and a half at that. According to some undetermined sources, the song "Dreaming Together" from Break the Mould, has been seeing a nice amount of air play in Japan no doubt. This is not qualified yet, but we're hoping so. Ben has been back in Southern Ontario picking up some random credits at school to fill time. He has also been re-working songs for the tentative future sophomore release.
Brian is doing great for all of you interested. He has actually been spending his time in a rehab centre for accident victims. It's location has not been disclosed, again for obvious reasons. He has been able to exercise his upper body regularly, as he recovers, as well as doing some interviews over the internet with some interested music web-zines. He still appreciates emails, and he is trying to reply to them all.
Keith has been demoing some drum tracks in his spare time. He and Ben are working long distance on the re-working process. They have together written a couple of new tracks and are continuing to do so as this update is being written. A hint of bad news. He was laid off from his job at the prosthetic limb lab, but says he has had more time to do music and enjoys driving a street cleaner very much.
Great news as well. Keith and Ben are planning to get together sometime soon to discuss the possible re-release of "Break The Mould" with new artwork and maybe a previously unreleased track. Sounds exciting. Keep your ears tuned. Out.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Sep.13,2002.> Just some points forgotten in the last update. The benefit concert was held to raise money so that lactose intolerant children can enjoy the same dairy benefits as other children, such as ice cream. Remember, "Break the Mould" is almost gone...for good. Hurry, and peace out.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Sep.10,2002.> Alot has happened in the early days of the fall of 2002, on the Kickaz front. Ben did an acoustic benefit concert in Southern Ontario this weekend, playing a few Kickaz hits as well as songs from his now completed solo project "Songs for the Masses". It went over well and fans can't wait for the new album to be released.
Speaking of albums, "Break the Mould" is almost completely sold out. Honestly, we're talking the last couple of copies here. Ask your local record store if they can order in a copy before they're gone for good.
Brian is still doing well, but has toned down his replies to fans due to light-headedness as of late. When he is ready and able he'll be back to replying to those of you that are gracious enough to send condolences his way. He thanks your hearts dearly.
Big news now. It seems somehow that Enrigué Iglesias' manager got a hold of the Kickaz demos for the new album and loved them. He passed them on to the pop prince and it seems Enrigué himself loved the music. He said it reminded him of jamming with his friends back in his homeland, and he looks forward to hopefully working with the band on some level in the future. Who'd a thought, eh?
That's it for now. Keep it real and keep it Kickin'.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Aug.31,2002.> Well, well, well. What have we here? ...some Kickaz news of course! Brian is doing well in his broken state in the hospital in Saskatchewan. He is in an almost full body cast (his arms are free and working fine), and has been visiting with friends and family. His location has not been disclosed to the public due to his situation and the fact that fans seem to follow him wherever he goes. He just needs some time to recuperate out of the spotlight. Sorry ladies. He did have this to say to his fans though: "It's been encouraging the last week and a half, to hear from fans all over the country. To know that people I haven't even met are thinking of me, just warms my heart. Reading encouraging words everyday on my laptop gives me a reason to go on. Thanks, and the Kickaz will rock for you all once again."
On another note, the recording of the new album has been delayed, but Ben and Keith have gone ahead with pre-production. They have recorded some demos at The Academy Room. Brian has heard the demos and the boys have already begun to shape the songs to their finished form. Word on the street is that Ben and Keith will be travelling to Europe (namely Finland) to search out a touring bassist while Brian gets better. Well, that's all for now. Peace out.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Aug.21,2002.> BAD NEWS! This past week while Brian was on his way to referee a bowling championship in Saskatoon, he was sideswiped by a tractor-trailer carrying snowmachines. Brian is conscious and coherent, but has sustained injuries to his legs and upper body, which have not been released to the public as of yet. Fans can email the band with condolences which will be forwarded to the bass player.
In all of this, internet anti-kickaz activists have dared to suggest that Brian was no longer committed to the band. I hope all who spread such senseless rumours are ashamed of themselves, especially at this time.
The recording of the new album which was originally scheduled to start today at "The Balcony" with Simon Samuel (studio and engineer of "Break the Mould")has been postponed til a date when Brian is able to. Also, all planned live shows have been cancelled. News on Brian's condition will be updated as they are known.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Aug.11,2002.> Well, the time is fast approaching when the Kickaz will grace a local stage and play to the fans' heart's content. That's right The Kickaz will be playing live at the end of August, details on venue and other acts will be posted as they arrive.
In other Kickaz news, after much internal debate and countless fan suggestions, the fellas have decided that The Kickaz name must stay, for there is no such thing as an alternative. Seeing as how the fan base was already developed nation-wide, the Kickaz management team thought it best to keep the name and continue the legacy with which the name goes.
Also, potentially bad news has arrived as of late. It has been rumoured that Brian has been auditioning for someone to fill his position in the Kickaz. Ladies, we hope this is simply a ruthless rumour and nothing more.
And finally, on a bright note, the title for the new album has been solidified, but will be revealed in a press release later in the month. The band has also nailed down a studio and recording time, but has yet to decide on an engineer. Again, the band has decided they will produce the new album on their own. That's it for now. Kick it.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Jul.14,2002.> More Kickaz news! "Break The Mould" has experienced phenomenal sales. We're down to the last few copies and it looks as though they'll be going fast. Needless to say the band members are stoked beyond words at their current successes. Ben had this to say about the cd sales: "This first album has exceeded any expectations that I or my bandmates have or had of it, and the future only looks bright in my opinion." Be sure to get your copy of "Break The Mould" today from the site here, or any band member.
Also, rumour has it that The Kickaz are going metal on the next album and looking at possible band names such as "Darkness" and "Morbid End". Seems pretty far out, but you never can tell. Anyway, keep it real.
--The Kickaz Management Team

Jul.12,2002.> Well, it's been a while since there was a news update and, boy, is there ever news for you! So here we go:

Well, to start things off, Brian has had a packed schedule of instructing both banjo and bowling classes, and says he finds it rewarding. "...seeing the kids faces light up when they hit that note dead on, or when a student gets their first strike, you get that feeling that you're a part of something bigger and better, and that you are at the centre of it. I wouldn't trade my jobs for any others." Brian has also been doing some international promo for the new Kickaz album, and it looks as though The Kickaz may have a slot on an upcoming Weezer tour. More on that to come.

Ben has taken a small trip to Venice to check up on his beloved gallery. While he's there he will take in the sights, and meet with friends, as well as tend to some pressing business issues. When he returns to Canada later this month, he'll begin to focus more on The Kickaz upcoming album. He has begun to narrow down a producer for the record, and has looked into the availability of numerous recording studios all over North America.

Keith has received his degree. He will be working for a firm that produces prosthetic limbs when the new-year rolls around. Keith has been playing drums more than ever and jamming with countless musicians over the last few months, to hone his skills to perfection in anticipation of the new recording. Prior to Ben's trip to Venice, the two collaborated and have written some apparently incredible music. It seems fans will have much to look forward to on the new album. In other news, Danica's trip to Canada earlier in the summer was cancelled when, through various conversations, it was dicovered (by Keith) that she had been involved in a few bank heists and various other criminal offences, and so the seemingly perfect relationship has been terminated. Keith had this to say about the ordeal: "Danica was the wrong girl. I wouldn't have been able to have that sort of a person be associated so closely with me, and so I saw it best to cut all ties. Seeing as how quite possibly the greatest point of my musical career is on the horizon, I couldn't have those kinds of distractions anyway."