Well since I guess the rumors have started and the word has gotten out. We were not going to announce this until later this year. But JG and I felt since it is out there, we might cut some of the crap off at the pass.
JG is leaving the band to pursue other ventures and interests that he has put on hold for the last 12 years with The Braindead. It isn’t an easy decision but one that we have all discussed over the last few years as we all grow older.
So to stop certain rumors, here are the facts.
1) No, he is not leaving angry or on bad terms.
Read the above, it is simple as that. He has decided to retire from the band life to bring other dreams into reality. Which he has some seriously exciting dreams. Which you are all more then welcome to bring up with him when you see him and I know we are trying to get his account on here straightened out so he can post on here for anyone who wants to get in touch with him.
After some of you have stuck it out for 12 years, you will start too understand. The time you loose for doing other things beacause the band is always taking up your free time. Especially, when it comes to personal lives. Plus, we are not 20 years old any longer.
2) Is he looking for another band.
Not at this time but who knows down the road.
3) What are the rest of us doing now that we lost such a fixture within the band and on stage?
We are not looking to add anyone to the band at this point. Ritchie is kicking ass and we feel more then confident with him leading us on stage. Hodge, Russ, Red and myself will also help with backing vocals from now on and might just sing a song or two from now on.
4) What does this mean about the older material?
Yes, some songs will most likely not be played as much. Not because we don’t want to play them but some songs are just signatures of JG’s and yeah, we might pull them out here and there but you will still be able to hear our older songs.
We have a lot of newer material that we haven’t completed and the rest of us want to continue down the creative path we are venturing on right now.
So make sure you catch all the shows you can because we have a limited amount of time before the end of the year and right now, our last Seattle appearance will be the September 24th show with Nuclear Assault. JG will be leaving at the end of 2005.
And yes, this is a major shift of things with the band and it is hard on me and the rest of the guys too see him leave but at the same time, I can’t help but be excited to see him finally start the work toward his dreams and future. He is one of my best friends and always will be. The band is our outlet but our brotherhood is what makes the magic happen.
So….there you have it.
