Former SOULFLY guitarist Marc Rizzo has rejoined his old band ILL NIÑO.
Rizzo was formerly a member of ILL NIÑO, appearing on their 2001 album “Revolution Revolucion” and the 2003 follow-up “Confession”. Rizzo would leave ILL NIÑO soon after to join Max Cavalera’s SOULFLY , where he remained for 18 years.
Marc walked away from SOULFLY earlier this year, saying that his association with the band had simply “ran its course.”
Rizzo broke the news of his return to ILL NIÑO during an October 6 YouTube livestream. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “We will be announcing it soon, but I’m doing some recording for the new ILL NIÑO record. And I’m super excited, man. It’s a different band. It’s not the band it was, obviously, for obvious reasons, from back when I was in the band, in 2002, when I left. A lot of things have changed. So I’m excited to work with these guys. It’s great to reconnect with Laz [Pina, bass] and Dave [Chavarri, drums] and work with the new singer Marcos [Leal], who’s an incredible singer. So I’m stoked, man. We’re gonna record this new record. I’ll probably — well, I am gonna do a tour with them soon, and we’ll see what the future holds, man. They’re gonna be announcing this very soon, and I’m very excited. Yes, I’m rejoining the band, which is awesome. I’m very excited to reconnect with my friends.
“Everyone loves a good reunion, and the fact that me and ILL NIÑO are working together again, it just goes to show that things can happen when everybody can meet up and talk and keep it between dudes,” he continued. “Don’t bring in managers and people’s freakin’ girlfriends and wives. You can have a reunion. And when dudes get in a room and just talk and work out anything from the past, good things can come out of it. So that’s what’s going on.
“More importantly than all that is the music,” Marc added. “This new ILL NIÑO record is the best shit they’ve ever done. Again, the new singer Marcos is one of the best singers in metal. I mean, this kid is spot-on. He writes great stuff. He can sing; he can scream. So, this is really good stuff, man. I’m really excited.”
ILL NIÑO’s upcoming album, “IllMortals”, will feature guest appearances by Sonny Sandoval (P.O.D.), Benji Webbe (SKINDRED), Max Georgiev (FALLING IN REVERSE) and AJ Channer (FIRE FROM THE GODS).