Black County Communion frontman Glenn Hughes says the band “is over” because guitarist Joe Bonamassa has left, and won’t let the remaining members keep using the name.
The classic rock outfit released three acclaimed studio albums before internal tensions boiled over, with Hughes last year revealing he was thinking of quitting because he wanted to play live, and Bonamassa insisted he wasn’t available.
That led to a series of public outbursts in which the two musicians took pot-shots at each other before both said they were ready to “move on.”
They appeared to calm down later and said they were talking to each other again. But Bonamassa continued to insist he’d always said he wouldn’t have time to tour in support of 2012 album Afterglow – while Hughes, drummer Jason Bonham and keyboardist Derek Sherinian suggested they’d been led to believe otherwise before the record was recorded.
Earlier this month the blues axeman said he was “happily not involved any more” and revealed he’d become disillusioned during their 2011 tour because he found it “very tense.”
In reponse, Hughes tweeted, “Just so it’s crystal, BCC is over. Joe left and will not allow us to keep the name. Nice, huh? Jason, Derek and I will continue when the time is right.”
He added, “I have my hands full writing my first solo rock album in five years.” Hughes says he began writing tracks on March 21st, and he reflects, “I choose happiness and have nothing but love to offer. Everything is the way it’s meant to be.”
Last year producer Kevin Shirley told Classic Rock that a series of disagreements had almost led to the band’s third album never happening. But he remained confident that, given time, the dust would settle.
He said, “You can’t take away the fact that these are the ultimate rock stars, and there must be something about that rub that makes the music amazing. There will be another record. I would guess we’ll record it in early 2015 – look for it in October 2015.”
additional source: classicrockmagazine.com
28 Responses
Good, this was nothing special. Never understood the press’ love affar with these guys in the first place. Completely overhyped. Im still trying to figure out who Glen Hughes is and why im supposed to care.
Um, don’t condem BCC as “nothing special” when you don’t know the vast history of the players. Glenn Hughes was in Deep Purple, Black Sabbath while Derek Shirinian was in Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol and a bunch of other legendary bands. Jason Bohnam is in Led f-ing Zeppelin!! These are all well-known highly influential musicians. Joe Bonamassa was the only cat in the band who *isn’t* a legend.
Glenn Hughes is an amazing talent on bass and a great singer songwriter as a fellow bass player I would simply tell
You to go check out some of his work it speaks for itself you won’t be disappointed
Full section on Glenn in my new book out in 1 week!
It seems like Joe thought it was understood that they would work around his solo schedule, and the band thought that he would work around their schedule. When Glen started complaining publicly, that seemed to be final straw for Joe. I thought this band had great potential.
What a shame they made three of the best albums to come out in a long time. Hopefully things calm down again look at sabbath if they can do a new album with Ozzy after all these years then Black country communion can put there petty stuff aside.
Wow it’s starting to sound like Joe’s getting a ego the size of Mt.Rushmore. That’s something to give a band they’re blessing to carry on now not to let them use the name bollox. Joe did a show last yr close to his home town last yr that got blasted in the reviews only to run to his facebook page and whine about it heres the link. https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa/posts/10150902013849659
I agree, I love rock music but never understood the hype about this band. Some good songs but nothing to make me pissed that there done. Oh well, if they dont have the time for each other than I certainly dont have the time to waste on them.