Hi Tarrie,
Thanks for the e-mail. I know there are certain issues that have to be addressed, but I feel that by sending out such a letter you will be bringing the whole sorry mess up again and sinking down to his level. Between Chris Ingham , Phil Ascott and myself, Metal Hammer is clearly under new management and we don't want our names dragged through the mud for the sins of the former administration. By all means send out your fake Metal Hammer cover becuase I think it's a positive use of the negativity that has been going around and I would really like to print it alongside the feature in the magazine. I would also like to address the issues of why a strong female figure such as yourself becomes the victim of cheap insults in the feature.We're behind the band and believe in what you are doing - 'A Prayer Under Pressure...' came 13th in our critics Top 20, which believe me was no easy feat seeing as what didn't make it into the chart at all, and we're going to use your Bristol show as our lead live review (one and a half pages) in our next issue as well as running tour tour diary everyday on our website.
Send out your fake Metal Hammer front cover, but is there any chance you could tone down your letter and say that you are gonna take Metal Hammer on face to face in a feature about the shit women in rock are expected to take? Speak to you soon
Daniel Lane
(Online Editor Metal Hammer / Classic Rock

Dear Daniel and Chris,
I have to be honest with both of you at this point. I am really upset about all the crappy things which we (and the rest of the kids who read MH) have read lately. It really sucks. My band is very disturbed that this Darren Sadler has printed and encouraged such a huge barrage of abuse towards me simply because I chose to decline an interview by this Valerie Potter woman. I am really happy to hear that you (Chris) have now taken over as editor (it's about time for a good writer and journalist with some integrity to be in charge of things) but the fact remains that the nasty and degrading remarks which the former "acting" editor as well as the "letters" editor and another writer by the name of "James Holton" along with "Miss Potter" (and lets not forget "Robyn Dorien" who started this whole fucking "DOUGHNUT " thing in the first place) have made have really sunk to an all time low. While our fake cover is meant to be funny....this whole thing is really not and the negativity that is going around was started by some jerk who has now left the mag but will just end up doing and saying the same lame shit at his new home "ROCKSOUND" from what I hear? I have no problem with you guys and I want you both to know how much I sincerely appreciate all the support you have each shown me and the band,so on that note I will not post this to my entire list of names however, I will be sending a copy of this letter to all those people that MY RUIN work directly with (you'll see the names above-which you know) and posting my letter on our site (along with all the nasty letters and comments which Metal Hammer has printed) because I have a right to say what I think about the matter. Please understand that what I have written with my band in this letter is not directed at you (EITHER OF YOU) and I do thank you for the REAL support you are planning on giving us as you have stated below. I hope we can make things right because this is not fair to the fans of our band or your magazine....no one needs this bullshit and we would rather spend our time "ROCKING" than writing letters.
We cannot tone down our letter because that would be false and I am not a fake(as some people would like to believe) so please understand that after reading countless emails from fans, message boards and friends we wrote this response. It will now be up to you to print and promote the "TRUTH". To be honest I find the idea of a 'WOMEN IN ROCK" piece a bit horrifying after this whole incident but am willing to speak about it anyway.

BEST WISHES ALWAYS,
MISS B
the girl they love to hate

Dear Mr. SADler,

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I started to write this letter last week when it was brought to my attention that you had written something quite disturbing in your column as the acting Editor of "METAL HAMMER" in the now past November 2000 issue of the magazine. Although no names were mentioned, it was very obvious who your intended target was. It was me. Since then I have been directed by the kids on our message board to check out "METAL HAMMER'S message board to see what has been going on. Firstly, let me start by saying that when I leave a message on a board I always sign because I have no need to be anonymous. So please stop with that shit right now. We were happy to find out that other people were as concerned enough about this issue as we are to actually post something as it is pretty fucked up in my opinion. To quote you"I DUNNO SOME PEOPLE ARE NEVER HAPPY?". That's good for a laugh! Last year your "EX" editor (who claimed to be a friend of mine) had the audacity to slag me off by writing an insulting column complete with a made up story (an obvious attempt on her part to be- little me with slanderous remarks) and now you have decided to take the same route. I don't really need to point out what a complete fool Robyn Dorien made of herself with her silly little column or what a fool you are now making of yourself in her footsteps. It's interesting that you find this all so funny because I for one do not. It is amazing that an editor would even stoop so low as to make up lies just to provoke a year's worth of shit talking. I think the lyrics of our new record pretty much sum up how we feel on this particular subject but since you seem to be under the impression that my lyrical content (which is not for people like you but about people like you) is "RATHER SHALLOW"(as you recently posted on the "METAL HAMMER" site) maybe you are just not intelligent enough to get it? For the record both my band and myself were actually surprised and pleased to receive a review of 8 out of 10 on our new album in your magazine considering .? In fact, I do not recall complaining about this review to anyone. Where exactly did this complaint come from if I may be so bold as to ask? I do however recall thanking the woman who wrote it. Do I need to mention who I am talking about? "ME THINKS NOT". You know her and her name is "Valerie Potter". I believe "Miss Potter" also writes for many other UK magazines if I am correct? Once again for the record, I am not a fan of "Miss Potter" just as I am not a fan of "Robyn Dorian". In my book when someone has repeatedly taken personal shots and "SLAGGED ME OFF" at every opportunity and then requests a one on one interview I have the right to decline. I could only imagine the outcome of such a set up. I'm glad that you finally had the balls to print this letter but for those who have not seen it (as I plan on emailing this to many people) here it is once again and for the record. As you can see I did in fact sincerely thank her for the review but at the same time I pointed out the reasons why I was not interested in doing an interview with this woman. I thought it might be nice to use some of her own comments about me in quotations from various past reviews she has written to explain my position.

Dated: September 19,2000

Dear Miss Potter,
Let me start by saying I will try not to be "WEARISOME" as I write this. First offa sincere "THANK YOU" for the review of our new album in this months "METAL HAMMER". I have been informed that you would like to do an interview with me for 'METAL-IS" the online website of which you are the editor. I think it is great that more women are out there kicking ass in the metal world and doing their thing. I totally support women I respect and would never think of turning down an interview.until now. I must tell you that after weighing the options between telling you what I think about some of the shitty and derogatory comments that you have made about me in both the review of 'A PRAYER UNDER PRESSURE ."as well as another review I read of 'SPEAK & DESTROY" last year I have come to the decision that due to the fact that "I AM NO POET" and have somehow just recently "REDISCOVERED MY BALLS" as you have so sweetly suggested, I might have a serious problem being nice to you. On a Scale of "1 to 10".my anger towards the nasty little references to my relationship with a past boyfriend is at about an "8" on my personal "FUCK YOU" chart. I think that I have written two songs on our new album which sum up how I feel about writers such as yourself ("STICK IT TO ME" and the ever so long overdue "LETTER TO THE EDITOR") and as for my SO-CALLED past "POOR LITTLE ME REFERENCES" about that "CERTAIN" ex boyfriend, all I can say ismaybe you'd better go back and listen to the LYRICS of "BLASPHEMOUS GIRL" one more time and look up the definition for 'POOR LITTLE ME" in the "AMERICAN VERSION" of your "ENGLISH DICTIONARY" darling. So as the fact remains that "MY CAREER ISN'T QUITE OVER YET" as you once stated and god knows "I STILL HAVE A HEALTHY PAIR OF LUNGS", I would like to once again "THANK YOU" from the bottom of my "SWEET LITTLE MASOCISTIC VICTIM OF A HEART" as I "respectfully decline" this interview with you on the grounds that "I MIGHT INCRIMINATE MYSELF" or better yet you might "TAKE A STAB" at writing something "HONEST & REAL" but it will probably just get all "FUCKED UP, DISTORTED and TWISTED AROUND" due to the fact that you really have "NO IDEA WHATSOEVER WHO THE HELL I AM" or for that matter "WHAT THE HELL I AM TALKING ABOUT!" Now you've got something to write about sweetheart!
BEST WISHES ALWAYS,
MISS B of MY RUIN
"the elderly metal pin up queen and recovering TURA SATANA frontwoman"

SO WHAT'S THE FUCKING PROBLEM? I thanked her and I declined the interview based on the points in my letter. Maybe I should have sent her a box of "DOUGHNUTS" instead? Speaking of which, your column titled "HELLS DOUGHNUTS" (which really isn't very clever but is a bit redundant) just makes you sound like a snobbish little prick who hates Americans. Maybe someone needs to remind you that we are not in High School anymore Mr SADler. This is the adult world. In the adult world an artist reserves the right to respond to something written about them in the press and what I find so funny is why if it is "Miss Potter" with the real problem, hasn't she responded? I SENT MY EMAIL ADDRESS RIGHT ALONG WITH MY LETTER.WHICH I ALSO SIGNED! Could it be "Darren SADler" is "Valerie Potter"? Oh no, journalists never use more than one name do they? It's also quite funny to see how you feel the need to keep responding to everyone on that board who has a problem with you or as you believe misrepresents you and in the process and yet you question why I would want to do the same. Strange huh? We have been told that you received a call from one of our US publicists upon which you called up our UK publicist who said, "you had a bit of a fit although you also thought it was quite funny". Once again may I remind you that I do not find any humor in you making derogatory remarks about me or for that matter any other woman/artist in your magazine. I am not about to apologize for the message which was left on your voice mail because I had nothing to do with it but I will once again say that she had every right to be concerned and she has every right to her opinion on the matter. You are entitled to yours "IN PRINT" and although the rest of us do not have that forum, we do have the freedom to voice ours never the less. There are a few publicists who still have the balls to care about the artist they represent as well as a few artists who still have the balls to stand behind what they say. While it is common knowledge in the UK that "A DIS IS A DIS IN THE EYES OF THE BRITISH PRESS" (as it was recently so eloquently put to me) I would like to also remind you that just as we artists need the support of magazines to help us sell records, you need artists to help sell magazines. It is a two way street. While I realize it must be easy to write about me by making snide remarks and creating unfounded drama instead of focusing on the actual music of our record, my lyrics and the other members of my band, it must be hard to look at yourself in the mirror after sinking so low as to resort to tabloid journalism. As for the "FEATURE" your magazine did on "MY RUIN" a few issues back titled "LIVIN ON A PRAYER" yes it would have been a good platform for the band if you hadn't completely edited my guitarist "MICK MURPHY"(who by the way wrote the whole record) out of the feature. Neil Kulkarni is a real journalist (since you fail to remember what that is) and we realize he had no control over the final outcome. That would have been up to the editor.wasn't that you that week? Oh that's right you're not really an editor you just play one in magazines. We were told by various sources that your magazine had no interest in the band and your readers did not want to know about them. That comment seems funny to us considering it is "YOUR READERS" who keep emailing us and the message boards of many websites asking why the other band members are not being included in more press? It seems you just can't win with some magazines. You spend 5 years doing as much as you humanly can trying to accommodate certain people, build a decent relationship and show them respect but what you get in return is a whole bunch of insults based on misinformation, nasty rumors and bruised egos. As for the horrible letters which have been printed and maybe some which have been perhaps "INVENTED" in the December issue of the magazine, lets start with a letter titled "OUT OF EATING DISORDER" in which a reader said "SO WHAT IF TALENA FROM KITTIE HAS PUT ON SOME WEIGHT? IS EVERY GIRL IN EVERY MAGAZINE SUPPOSED TO BE THIN AS A RAKE? IT IS UNHEALTHY AND I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE. MOST OF THESE SKINNY MODELS HAVE TO STARVE THEMSELVES TO GET THE SHAPE THEY HAVE, BECOMING ANOREXIC IN THE PROCESS AND I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE THE SIZE THE ARE AND NOT BE DISCRIMINATED FOR IT". This was a great letter and should have been responded to properly. I take personal offense to the editors comment which said "I AGREE RICHARD. IT'S NOT BIG OR CLEVER TO MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY LOOK.THAT'S WHY I THINK TAIRRIE B IS SUCH A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR PEOPLE. THE WOMAN IS CLEARLY AESTHETICALLY CHALLENGED AND OBVIOUSLY ENJOYS HER FOOD-DONUTS ESPECIALLY SO I'M TOLD'YET SHE STILL KEEPS COMING BACK FOR MORE PUNISHMENT, ERM, I MEAN NEW ALBUMS!" This is disgraceful for starters that METAL HAMMER would print something such as this. In my opinion it seems that your letters editor might be too "JOURNALISTICALLY CHALLENGED" to decently answer a real letter. Or was that you again? In response to the other two letters titled "TAIRRIE ON REGARDLESS" although they sound about as fake as everything else you've printed about me in the past 2 issues, let me just respond by saying " OUR BAND WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR FABRICATING AN ENTIRE STORY FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT", as far as me being referred to as a "DUMB BITCH" well, I am actually a 'SMART WOMAN" who does know what the hell I am talking about, thank you very much, and not some glorified whiney rock chick which is what you have made me out to look like. I truly hope that someone eventually gets the message that "YOU CANNOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ" just because it is printed in a magazine! With that in mind, I think it's really funny how certain people seem to think I should be so grateful for all that "METAL HAMMER" has done for me when everytime I open the magazine all I see are shitty little comments about how I should somehow feel threatened by every up and coming "FEMALE" vocalist and band ie: "DIE SO FLUID are a new three piece fronted by one time Feline singer Grog. They're dark twisted and they bite with just the right amount of nu-metal heaviness. Tairrie B would kill to be fronting Grog's band .Die So Fluid are laced with a certain demanding dramatic mystery that mixes a Korn-esque sense of heavy musical adventure with Skunk Anansie's melody and power". First of all, I am perfectly happy fronting the band I started 'MY RUIN" and although I am not into dissing other women who are up there rocking, I must ask what is the big "DRAMATIC MYSTERY" about trying to sound like "KORN"a band everyone is trying to sound like nowadays except "MY RUIN"? Thank god we have not been compared to any band and at least we can stand on our own "8 FEET". As the music industry is being inundated with the next hippest, coolest and newest fad I am secure enough with myself not to feel the need to conform to what has now become the norm. Instead of trying to pit women against each other because we have the same hairstyle (WHAT'S NEXT TAIRRIE VS TOBEY?) why don't you just concentrate on promoting all of us in our own light and stop holding me as the "STANDARD OF COMPARISON" for every female fronted band reviewed? It just proves my point, which in the end is that your magazine seems to have a personal problem with me period.

Recently before your column was brought to my attention, I had been asked if I would participate in a feature while on our upcoming tour with the bands "SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY" and "SUGARCOMA". The title of the piece was to be "WOMEN IN ROCK". Which would have obviously once again excluded my guitarist. The worst part of it was that it was also to exclude the other two musicians in my band who happen to both be WOMEN! I was told as usual that your magazine was and I quote "NOT INTERESTED IN THE BAND". I am sorry we are not nine musicians in scary masks (which I guess after reading your rant on the Metal Hammer website) makes us too boring and uninteresting to be worthy of a real "HONEST" feature nowadays. The reason you would never "PERSONALLY" disrespect or attack a band like "SLIPKNOT" is because to be perfectly blunt "THEY WOULD BEAT YOUR FUCKING ASS". Obviously you are under the impression that I wouldn't? I must say i've never been asked to do a "WOMEN IN ROCK" piece before? Hmmm, check out the current US edition of "METAL EDGE"! Wow with such a cool and original concept in the year 2000 it was ultimately very tempting not to once again push myself into the limelight and ignore my band being that I am such the "NARCISSISTIC MEDIA WHORE" as you like to make me out to be. Are you Mr. SADler planning on breaking the news to the western world that there are actually "WOMEN IN ROCK?" I think your readers might possibly already know this but they would know better if maybe you would put a "WOMAN IN ROCK" on your cover once! Your readers voted me "WOMAN OF THE YEAR" twice (sorry it wasn't "MAN OF THE YEAR", I guess then I would have got the cover) but then again as you pointed out I am not a big enough "STAR" or maybe we haven't bought big enough "AD SPACE" or maybe I'm just not that "HONEST"! For someone who is on her way down (as you so politely insinuated) I guess I should feel honored that you take time out of your 24/7 to dis me every 5 minutes on a message board. Come to think of it, it seems that I have out lasted most of the editors at "METAL HAMMER" and wasn't it just earlier this year that the rumor was that "METAL HAMMER" was on it's way down? It's a good thing that nobody really pays much attention to those god-awful rumors now isn't it? I must say that I am glad to hear that the interview concept of "WOMEN IN ROCK" has at least been altered and "METAL HAMMER" has since asked a man in each of the three bands to participate in the upcoming feature. We were told that under no circumstances would the idea be changed to include other members so we had to decline at the time but thank you for revamping the idea because we are now looking forward to it for many reasons as you can imagine. On that note: if someone feels the need to pull it or exclude us after reading this letter we understand perfectly."A DIS IS A DIS!" As for your recent inquiry on line about my record sales let me say that any sale is a compliment but sales figures are statistics just like those statistics which men have always judged women by "36-24-36"and my worth should not be based on my statistics. Should I only grant interviews to magazines based on how many they sell? Hmmm, can't find many copies of "METAL HAMMER" in the states can I? In fact that's why it took me so long to replyI had no idea this was going on. I am in this business for the right reasons and they have nothing to do with being on the radio, MTV or on the next "FAMILY FALUES TOUR". Like "HENRY ROLLINS"(who is someone I do respect) once said."JEALOUS COWARDS TRY TO CONTROL, RISE ABOVE, WE'RE GONNA RISE ABOVE, THEY DISTORT WHAT WE SAY, RISE ABOVE, WE'RE GONNA RISE ABOVE, TRY AND STOP WHAT WE DO, RISE ABOVE, WE'RE GONNA RISE ABOVE, WHEN THEY CAN'T DO IT THEMSELVES!" As for "TRYING TO GET A PIECE OF THE ROCK PIE" if rock music has been reduced to red baseball caps, second generation contact lens wearing guitar players and pay-per view magazines then I'm glad I don't have my slice. I'd much rather stick a fork in it then fall through the flaky crust!(I only hope this won't lead to pie comments now?)

"IN THE CUTTHROAT, FICKLE WORLD OF MUSIC" it seems that certain editors/writers expect to have their asses kissed, licked and wiped by bands in order to get any coverage whatsoever in their magazines but as you pointed out "SOME AMERICANS THINK DIFFERENLY". I have no reason to jerk off anyone for 300 words or less and a photo of my band in which the other members will all be left out of. I do not need your approval to know that we have just made a great record (or ANY review to validate it for that matter), nor do I appreciate the negative image that your magazine has created, fueled and perpetuated of me through various scenarios. It's so sad that the fans of bands who read this garbage don't know the real story behind the scenes but hopefully some will work it out and see that most magazines simply want to make a buck and are full of shit! I am an artist who writes lyrics with substance and yes "HONESTY" and I have no need to hide behind a mask (NO, I'M NOT DISSING SLIPKNOT WITH THIS COMMENT )my agenda is to make something meaningful, it is not to solicit pre-fabricated, generic crap in the form of a radio friendly fake orgasm or rap/rock anthem "ROLLIN" over the masses It's such a shame that some writers have to resort to personal attacks because there is nothing bad to say about the music so you'd rather pick apart the artist. The worst thing is that what we read most of the time is not even an intelligent criticism but instead a bunch of cheap shots that are meant to be hurtful. I would rather have someone attempt to analyze and ask about my lyrical content instead of my make up, weight and eating habits. WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME AS A VOCALIST? Nothing- but it sure does make for a good headline. Take a stab at my heart (which is my art) for once and not my back. It's pretty fucking lame that there is still such a double standard in music. As far as I'm concerned I chose to stand in the truth of who I am, I do not let the accolades define nor the insults diminish me. At the end of the day, I am who I am and whether I am 120lbs or 140lbs, it's not about my weight up there, it's about the weight of my fucking voice !Our heavy rock has got nothing to do with my ass! One would think that an editor of a prominent magazine would at least himself exorcise "RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM" wouldn't they? Dignity is not something a magazine can take away from you. It is something you as a person choose to keep or give up all on your own. As an artist, I do not plan on pigeonholing myself by doing one thing only and then beating people over the head with it. I speak from my heart and that's what makes what I do genuine. Furthermore I don't need to gage my success by record sales (most true artists don't) all I have to do is look in the face of my audience to see why I continue to do what I do. If I intimidate those who cannot grasp the concept of a woman who is unafraid to tell the truth, then you can continue talking and writing shit about me until you get that erection you so desperately and obviously seek. Then you can wrap a "DOUGHNUT" around it but honey; I still won't eat it! I am truly sorry that you took my opinion of this writer so personally but that is your problem, not mine. Thanks again for letting me know you were thinking of me. I wanted to return the favor but you aren't worth a song so you'll just have to settle for this "LETTER TO THE EDITOR". By the way, since you feel the need to pass on your philosophy of being brought up right, I thought you might like to hear mine."ONE THING IN LIFE I WAS TAUGHT IS TO NEVER LET YOUR MOUTH WRITE A CHECK YOUR ASS CAN'T CASH BECAUSE THERE WILL COME A TIME THAT WE WILL MEET FACE TO FACE!"

Save your prayer sugar, you might very well need it later!
BEST WISHES
MISS B
MI RUINA

A SHORT NOTE: As I finish this letter I have been informed that you no longer work for METAL HAMMER. Well "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST" hello MR INGHAM.IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR A REAL EDITOR!!!!!!!