New album Foregone out February 2023

[The Grayfox]

That is cool, but yeah, from what I recall JesterHead never really went anywhere. Mostly just picture galleries and a forum modeled on the North Korea model of "never speak ill of our dear leader(s)". I think some people did get some cool stuff out of it, but for the majority it was probably not worth whatever it cost. It also seemed to fizzle out pretty quickly. I don't know how long it was properly active for, but it couldn't have been much more than 4 or 5 years? I remember visiting the desolate wasteland of what remained of the JH forums 10+ years ago and it was... sad. As far as I know the band pretty much just let it die quietly without announcing it was over.

My impression is that they hoped it would catch on and become a fan club for them, but they put such minimal effort into it that it never stood a chance. People join fan clubs for exclusive stuff. A photo gallery doesn't count. If they had started recording their shows and uploading videos or sharing old demos, just SOMETHING other than "here's a forum where you can kiss the band's ass and some pictures you can see on inflames.com." For instance, Metallica's fan club has been going strong for decades and it's because they treat it like an exclusive club and give you perks. I know Metallica is a huge band and IF is not, but regardless, there are ways to make the people who pay for the membership feel like it's worth it.

 

[eochaid]

Representing more importantly, did you find a bank branch?

I didn't. And I tried so hard.

 

[eochaid]

My impression is that they hoped it would catch on and become a fan club for them, but they put such minimal effort into it that it never stood a chance. People join fan clubs for exclusive stuff. A photo gallery doesn't count. If they had started recording their shows and uploading videos or sharing old demos, just SOMETHING other than "here's a forum where you can kiss the band's ass and some pictures you can see on inflames.com." For instance, Metallica's fan club has been going strong for decades and it's because they treat it like an exclusive club and give you perks. I know Metallica is a huge band and IF is not, but regardless, there are ways to make the people who pay for the membership feel like it's worth it.

Well, they turned some people into brainless minions after naming them leaders of the different jesterhead branches.

 

[The Grayfox]

Yeah, like ArchY -- Jesterhead Leader of France. Dude shut down his website and forum at their request so more people would go to Jesterhead.

 

[ThePhobiac]

Tanner is out of the band, per the band's social media.

 

[Xpyro125]

Fuck, dude. Goddamn it. I don’t even know what to say, that just fucking sucks.

 

[ciko_gfb]

Really bad news, loved Tanners contribution on the songs. Also looks like they parted ways badly since Tanner is not following Anders or Björn on Instagram anymore. Such a shame.

 

[Xpyro125]

So he’s still following the band account, Liam Wilson (the new bassist), Chris Broderick, and still Bryce Paul (the old bassist), but yeah, not Anders or Björn. The creative differences part in the statement felt off when I read it anyways. Shit really fucking sucks.

 

[DE4life]

Tanner is a pretty creative individual. Wouldn't surprise me if he wanted to shake Anders and Bjorn out of their cycle of mediocrity and the pair of them couldn't handle it. Anders' contribution to Tanner's Night Fiends project was one of the few times in recent memory I really enjoyed something he was part of.

Not exactly the first time a band member has left under a black cloud. Jesper, Peter, Niclas and now Tanner. With that said, I didn't expect Tanner or Bryce to last as long as they did. I guess the American bro experiment is over, and now we move into the American old boy era. What American rock/metal drummer between 40-60 years old is currently available?

 

[mindd]

What American rock/metal drummer between 40-60 years old is currently available?

A lot of them since it's apparently Fire Your Drummer May, Foo Fighters and The Who also fired their drummers. So maybe Howard and Anders decided to snatch Josh Freese and Bjorn said "Yes, honey", haha.

 

[mindd]

And yes, this sucks, Tanner is a nice guy and he genuinely was excited about both older and newer IF stuff, he's probably the only one of "the new guys" I would be bummed about leaving.

 

[mindd]

Another theory – Anders&Co. decided that this forum was getting too dead and they wanted to breath some life into us. Good old IF, you've never let us down.

 

[DE4life]

A lot of them since it's apparently Fire Your Drummer May, Foo Fighters and The Who also fired their drummers. So maybe Howard and Anders decided to snatch Josh Freese and Bjorn said "Yes, honey", haha.

Definitely fits the age profile. Get the feeling he's too well known though. Other than their lord and master, King Howard of Benson, I don't think Anders or Bjorn would want to be directly involved with anybody that famous.

I made fun of the American broskis when they arrived, but honestly, I grew to respect Tanner. A solid drummer in his own right, his Night Fiends side project was pretty cool, and he just generally seemed like a decent guy. "Creative differences" probably meant he actually wanted to make something good that has some form of originality (not ripping off At The Gates, Tool or the band's past material), and that hasn't really been Anders and Bjorn's style since... 2011 or so.

 

[DE4life]

Just 7 weeks ago. The hipster hamster loves you until he doesn't - then you're dead to him. Cold as ice.

“I don’t mean that to be disrespectful to anyone who has ever been in the band, but these are really professional musicians and very skilled at what they do, and they all come from different backgrounds.“

Yeah m8, no disrespect at all to the people in the band who, by a large consensus, made your best albums. The people who came in as session musicians for your shitty era, those are the real GOATs, the real musicians. Absolute moron.

 

[Xpyro125]

Small tangent, but that looks like the most wonderful water to swim in ever

But yeah, shit still sucks

 

[Xpyro125]

I just read that Tanner lost three close friends in a plane crash just two days after his wedding. I really feel for him, man.

I don’t know if that may have changed things for him professionally, with his demeanor, or anything else, but this still really sucks.

 

[ThePhobiac]

Yeah, without speculating too much, my sense is that there's suddenly a lot going on in his life and it's not feasible to continue with the band. That may not explain a few things and it's possible there's drama, but it's all I can think of. The guy was a soldier in his time with IF and the other members seemed to like him a lot.

 

[DE4life]

I very much doubt they'd cite creative differences if it was personal issues tbh. Also if that was the case why would he unfollow Anders and Bjorn on socials?

 

[eochaid]

He just knew that he was a hired gun, not a real member of the band.

 

[The Grayfox]

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but I don't even keep track of who is in the band except for Anders & Bjorn. If one of their hired guns leaves, I'm going to forget 10 seconds after I read about it. Much like this one. It sucks for this dude, especially right after getting married and the plane crash (I'm assuming the one in San Diego, which has been pretty big news all over the state.) So, that part definitely sucks and I know it sounds kind of callous even though I don't mean it to, but I just haven't paid attention to who is in the band since Jesper, Daniel, Peter and, to a smaller degree, Niclas, left/were fired.