Now Van's open to a reunion

Traxan

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Mar 10, 2012
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WD, I don't know if your judicious silence since the split was a strategy or accident from concentrating on Sanctuary, but it seems to be working.




Former NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams has echoed comments made by the band's ex-guitarist, Jeff Loomis, regarding a possible reunion of the group's classic lineup, saying "time heals all wounds."

In a recent interview with Rock. Nothing But…, Loomis stated about his current solo career and his departure from NEVERMORE, "A lot of good things came from NEVEMORE, and I wouldn't be here playing music today if wasn't for NEVERMORE. But I think every book has its ending, and when one chapter closes, another one opens up. So it's kind of an end of an era for me, regarding NEVERMORE. I'm starting off fresh doing my own thing now, so really I'm just playing the music that I'm writing for my project. Kind of putting NEVERMORE aside. 18 years in a band is a long time my friend. [laughs] It had to have its ending. I kind of just wanted to start a new musical direction with my life. I'm not saying that NEVERMORE will never get back together or do some sort of reunion, or a festival kind of thing in the near future, but at this given moment in time, it's just kind of set aside. We'll see what happens in the future."

Asked about Loomis' comments by a fan on Facebook, Williams replied, "Jeff and I speak all the time, so those comments are no surprise to me and I would have to agree with him to a degree. Bands split up and mend over time, so I wouldn't rule the thought out. They say time heals all wounds, and it has for most bands. It's not like anyone spit on anyone or anything, so we do have that going for us. [I'm] just not sure of his definition of 'near [future],' though. [The reunited] SANCTUARY [which features in its ranks NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard] is doing their thing, Jeff is doing his and I'm stoked to be working on ASHES OF ARES [with former ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow], PURE SWEET HELL and a couple other musical appearances to later be announced. I guess time will tell either way, I'm just enjoying life for the now."

In an August 2011 interview with Greece's Rock Overdose, Dane stated about NEVERMORE's split with Loomis and Williams, "Well, I didn't separate from Jeff; Jeff separated from me — that was his choice. And he, I think, wants to focus more on being a guitar hero and doing solo records. And this whole thing, this split with Jeff…. I mean, I could give a shit about our drummer — we never got along anyway — but Jeff was one of my best friends. And it's like going through a very painful divorce. I'm still very upset about the way it happened, because I didn't know that they were quitting the band until I saw on Blabbermouth. And that's not the way you treat your friends. We could have talked. And that was really, really shitty. I still talk to Jeff sometimes, but he's in his own world right now, so good luck to him. I love him — he's like my brother, but… There's not a whole lot I can say about that."

Regarding NEVERMORE's future, Warrel said, "NEVERMORE is still a band. We're still going to use Attila [Vörös], the guitar player that was playing with NEVERMORE when all this happened. And I think we have a new drummer — I'm still deciding. The guitar players that are submitting their YouTube videos to me for auditions, some of them are just fucking phenomenal. And I'm kind of humbled by all this, because I didn't realize that they are so many talented kids out there. Replacing Jeff is hard, so it's gonna be a slow process. And I will not replace Jeff until find the perfect guitar player — someone that can write songs and someone that can play solos. Sometimes there is somebody that can really compose good music and sometimes there's another one that can really shred on the guitar, so there has to be a balance. I'm gonna approach this carefully, because I don't want to stain the legacy of the band. NEVERMORE was my baby and has always been my passion for years. I'm still hurt over the way things fell apart, but you pick yourself up and just focus on what you're doing in the moment. But NEVERMORE is still a band; there was just two people that quit."
 
That's stretching it a bit. Neither one of them said anything about being open to a reunion. They said that time heals all wounds and that it's possible that one day they could reunite, but that's like saying that one day I could win the lottery and fuck Heidi Klum. Sure, it could happen...in the strictest sense of the word.

Since we're speculating, I would say that I could see Jeff coming back a lot sooner than Van...and Van even says this. Plus, maybe Warrel doesn't want Van back as he doesn't seem to miss him one bit. There are plenty of other drummers out there who could probably play circles around him, with all due respect. As solid as he is, he isn't the most imaginative drummer in the world.
 
I was under the impression that Nevermore weren't that well off. I know Warrel said he can live off of his music, but from what I gather he leads a relatively simple, peaceful life and lives within his means. Definitely not the lap of luxury.
 
TBH, while I'll give Loomis his shred-god due, I don't like his writing or his solos on anything after EoR. I don't like his guitar tone, either. Whether that was up to him in NM or not, I dunno.

I'd really, really like to see new blood just to hear what it would sound like.
 
Since we're speculating, I would say that I could see Jeff coming back a lot sooner than Van...and Van even says this. Plus, maybe Warrel doesn't want Van back as he doesn't seem to miss him one bit. There are plenty of other drummers out there who could probably play circles around him, with all due respect. As solid as he is, he isn't the most imaginative drummer in the world.

Oh man don't get me started. It took me more than 10 years to finally appreciate Nevermore because I couldn't stand his incessant double bass kicks. I was first introduced to Nevermore in 2000 when I saw them with In Flames (went for IF, who were the opener) and couldn't stand the constant double bassing in every single goddamn song I heard. This is where masters of it like Lombardo separate themselves. They know when NOT to use it.
 
I was under the impression that Nevermore weren't that well off. I know Warrel said he can live off of his music, but from what I gather he leads a relatively simple, peaceful life and lives within his means. Definitely not the lap of luxury.

Well I hope Jeff gives lessons for a little extra $$$, because if I ever do finally find a job in Seattle, he'd be my first choice for a teacher.

And yeah, given that I saw them in 2000 at The Key Club in LA in front of ~1,000 people and the last time they played LA it was The Key Club, I doubt they are rolling in it. That's life for most musicians. meanwhile, Lars adds another wing to his Marin County mansion. There is no justice.
 
TBH, while I'll give Loomis his shred-god due, I don't like his writing or his solos on anything after EoR. I don't like his guitar tone, either. Whether that was up to him in NM or not, I dunno.

I'd really, really like to see new blood just to hear what it would sound like.

I agree. Nevermore itself seemed to be stunted in the musical evolution aspect. Whos fault that is, i dont even know but really...yeah, i think as they were before, thats done. If they want to have Nevermore keep going somehow, new blood is the way to go.

(also hai! Been awhile, fuckers!)
 
TBH, while I'll give Loomis his shred-god due, I don't like his writing or his solos on anything after EoR. I don't like his guitar tone, either. Whether that was up to him in NM or not, I dunno.

I'd really, really like to see new blood just to hear what it would sound like.
I agree with part one, completely. Honestly, if I were pressed, I'd say I don't see Nevermore continuing at this point unless Warrel has something hidden in his rectum he's going to pull to show us all what-for.

EDIT: OH LOOK, IT'S JAMIE! I TOTALLY DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO SIGN IN BEFOREHAND BECAUSE I MENTIONED THE THREAD...
 
I'll agree with the chorus. Easy to do, I know. But if you took EoR, TGE and TOC and mixed em up in a bag, I'd be hard pressed to say which album they came from. Maybe TOC sticks out because the songs are short.

TPoE and DNB were much more diverse. With DHiaDW Jeff just tuned a 7 string a half step down, Van double-bassed through everything, and it all started to sound the same. His dominance more or less crowded out Steve Smyth, which was unfortunate. Steve could have been a great fifth member. Jeff either needs to get out of his comfort zone or give Atilla some space.
 
There were issues with Steve not music related that pushed him out. That wasn't ever going to happen.
 
There were issues with Steve not music related that pushed him out. That wasn't ever going to happen.

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And...let us just leave it at that.
 
Also with EoR, I could probably tell you if it came from that. I REALLY noticed the change in TGE.
 
And...let us just leave it at that.

Shame, because you read the early interviews when he joined, Nevermore was talking like they finally found their replacement for Calvert.

In the end, the biggest shame is that Calvert only made one record with them. I think he could have kept Loomis from falling into a rut.
 
I wouldn't mind him returning, but I don't see any of the previous guitarists being open to it. Broderick would laugh his ass off.