"When you've got a wife as hot as mine, who needs to look at other women?" |

Tucked into a corner at the Los Angeles airport, Stabbing Westward bassist Jim Sellers is talking about his real life wife, Deborah, whose flight is scheduled to touch down any minute. But he's also making an inadvertent analogy to his band's recent drummer situation.

It's been nearly a month since resident skin-pounder Andy Kubiszewski shattered his collarbone in an ill-timed in-line skating accident, and Sellers and his bandmates have been hunkered down in Los Angeles all week, auditioning fill-in drummers.

Sure, it's fun to gaze adoringly at other percussionists, but...

"Andy is one of the best drummers in the world," laments Sellers, "so we're all a little bummed about [his injury]. He's tough to replace, even temporarily."

That hasn't kept them from making the most of their fallen mate's down time. Since the injury, former Nine Inch Nails drummer and current production superstar Chris Vrenna -- who also played the drums in an early incarnation of Stabbing Westward -- has filled in on three shows, playing a recent date in Kansas City and two more in Los Angeles before returning to his bustling career as a producer, programmer and engineer.

"Chris is our friend, and he played on the first two demos (for "Lies" and "Violent Mood Swings"), so he was the obvious choice. We called him up, and he was like, 'I'm already learning the material!'"

After Vrenna's limited engagement ("We had a lot of fun onstage," laughs Sellers), Killing Joke drummer Geoff Dugmore was slated to fill in the rest of the dates until Kubiszewski's return, tentatively scheduled for mid-July. When family obligations recently forced Dugmore to withdraw, the band decided to hold auditions. Kubiszewski himself flew in to participate, and after seeing several candidates, the group tapped L.A. native Johnny Haro.

"He's got a really cool vibe," explains Sellers. "He's a power drummer, but he has a very nice touch."

Let's hope Andy Kubiszewski isn't the jealous type. (Scott Hess)