Upstate NY industrial band, Bitter Flesh Thing, was chosen as the winning regional band in the 2nd Ernie Ball / Music Man International Battle Of The Bands Contest. Hundreds of entries were narrowed down to 13 finalists, who competed live at the House Of Guitars this past Saturday (July 18, 1998) for the Grand Prize privilege of playing in front of over 10,000 anticipated fans at the Vans Warped Tour 1998 Concert when it rolls though Buffalo's LaSalle Park on Tuesday July 28, 1998. The band will also represent the Upstate NY area later this year in the next level of this international contest, sponsored regionally by the House Of Guitars and The Nerve 95.5 FM.

The Warped Tour 1998 features many of today's popular alternative and modern rock bands, along with live skateboard, inline skate, and bmx bike stunt shows and demonstrations. It's a true Gen X event.

"We are really grateful to have the opportunity to play at such a large show. It'll be a great opportunity for us to gain some more exposure, and we look forward to the next level of the contest", says drummer Plato, who appeared at the finals Saturday playing with his "trademark" burlap bag over his head.

More demented stage behaviour from the band's members includes a lead singer, Zazu Pitts, who has been known to do some unmentionable acts on stage with raw ground beef, and usually closes the show by purposely depriving himself of oxygen with a plastic bag until he passes out.

The band's next local appearance will be on Friday August 14th at The Penny Arcade for their Official CD Release Party in honor of their new CD Better Off Dead which is available now in local record stores and on their web site at www.bitterfleshthing.net.