Ill Nino

As bi-lingual Latin metal band ILL NIÑO prepares to embark on a 28-city major market U.S. tour aimed at cities with strong Latino communities, members of the politically and socially conscious New Jersey sextet paused to comment on today's nationwide protests of Congress' attempts to toughen immigration laws.

"Hispanics just want to be appreciated for the work they do in America, and not viewed as second class citizens," said lead singer Cristian Machado, amid rehearsals for ILL NIÑO's "One Nation Undivided Tour," supporting their politically relevant album, ONE NATION UNDERGROUND. The album, released last fall on Roadrunner Records, is about society being controlled and divided through all sorts of different influences - both internal and external - and realizing that there are external forces keeping too many things hidden from the general populace. The music on ONE NATION UNDERGROUND reflects the savagery, rage, disillusionment, beauty and melancholy the band members feel from within, while staying true to their Latin roots.

"Here in the U.S. the reality is that most of the work done by Hispanics - Latinos, whatever you may call us - is quite honestly the type of labor that most Americans wouldn't do for the wages that the Latino community works for," Machado continues And don't forget - many of the Latinos living and working in the U.S., are also U.S. citizens, many whom are born in this country."

Joining ILL NIÑO on the "One Nation Undivided" tour will be fellow New Jersey metal band God Forbid, as well as Silent Civilian (featuring former Spineshank lead singer Johnny Santos), Eyes of Fire and Bleed the Sky - all hand-picked by ILL NIÑO. All five bands are unifying to create a great festival style metal tour. The mayhem begins May 10 in New York City and continues through June 10 in ILL NIÑO's home state of New Jersey.

The tour arrives just as the video for "THIS IS WAR," the band's latest single, is debuting on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.

"From a logical standpoint, who is really to blame for a wage issue, an employee or an employer?," Machado asks. "Simply put, we are overworked, underpaid, and used as a scapegoat for our current financial woes.

"The U.S. should be attacking much bigger economic problems like welfare and unemployment - not to mention foreign affairs. The U.S. is a country founded by people who migrated from other countries. I can understand making our border security tighter, and even building that wall, but to criminalize people who have been working in the U.S. for such a long time is completely un-American. Hopefully there will be a resolution in which all parties involved can find comfort."

ILL NIÑO ‘ONE NATION UNDIVIDED' 28-CITY U.S. TOUR:

Wed., May 10 Avalon New York, NY

Thu, May 11 Axis Boston, MA

Fri., May 12 NorVa Norfolk, VA

Sat., May 13 Roxy Atlanta, GA

Sun., May 14 House of Blues Orlando, FL

Tues., May 16 State Theater St. Petersburg, FL

Wed., May 17 House of Blues New Orleans, LA

Thu., May 18 Warehouse Live Houston, TX

Fri., May 19 The Back Room Austin, TX

Sat., May 20 Galaxy Club Dallas, TX

Sun., May 21 Southbeach Amarillo, TX

Tue., May 23 Marquee Theatre Tempe, AZ

Wed., May 24 Soma San Diego, CA

Thu., May 25 House of Blues West Hollywood, CA

Fri., May 26 New Oasis Reno, NV

Sat., May 27 Club Boom Ogden, UT

Sun., May 28 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO

Thu., June 1 Vic Theater Chicago, IL

Sat., June 3 Machine Shop Flint, MI

Sun., June 4 Peabody's Cleveland, OH

Tue., June 6 Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA

Wed., June 7 Trocadero Philadelphia, PA

Thu., June 8 Webster Theatre Hartford, CT

MORE DATES TO COME '