Nick Jago Leaves BRMC. Again.
West Coast drone rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have once again parted company with troubled drummer Nick Jago. Statements from the band and drummer are sharply at odds with each other so what's happening with BRMC?
Nick Jago is under the imprerssion that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club bandmates Peter Hayes and Robert Been have fired him. Not so, say his cohorts who insist that the hapless tubthumper has been given time off to decide whether his priorities lie with his day job or with his solo project.
Writing on BRMC's forum, Jago said: “I just had dinner with Rob and Pete and, well, I'm not in the band anymore. They presented it to me like they need a break, I took it as I am fired again and to be honest with you I respect their decision. I don't make it easy for them.”
He's not wrong. Jago's past problems with drugs saw the drummer enter rehab while his appearance at the 2003 NME Awards saw him stand silent motionless for nine minutes when accepting the gong for Best Video. BRMC's gig at the ICA last July saw the band begin the set without Jago, a move that suggested all was not well in the group's camp.
Jago continued: “I hope to be able to play with them again in the future as a reunion as there is really no bad feeling other than we all wanna be happy and right now we are not. Maybe playing drums for BRMC all the time is not my calling and there is something else I'm supposed to do. We will see.”
Responding on the band's forum, bassist Robert Been wrote: "It's true, Nick wont be joining us for the upcoming European tour but it's not true that he is fired.
“We just feel Nick needs time to sort out exactly what he wants right now. His heart and all his energy and attention is on his own solo project and he needs to see that through.
“We welcome his singing and songwriting in BRMC, but his focus, at least at the present time, is on doing his own thing and we wish him the best.
“He is our brother, our musical partner, and we love him dearly and look forward to playing with him again in the future.”
Dead Combo's Leah Shapiro will occupy the vacant drum stool on the band's upcoming European tour.
Find Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on iTunes
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