No need for Andrew I guess...

[tapsmiled]

In case I was wondering why Andrew, who is supposedly somewhat tight with Kelly (or so I've read), has yet to respond to my posts, this was in my email today from Jeff's webmaster....

"Hello Everyone,
Thanks for all the e-mails and your concerns. I can't go too far into this, as there are now legal concerns regarding the band situation, but I can tell you that the other three guys decided to throw me out and try to replace me.
I was expecting to tour this year, as we had just finished a new CD and mixed a live one. Brad and I had worked with an attorney for most of last year to secure an operating agreement with everyone to protect the name, etc. It was unsuccessful, as Jack and Kelly refused to agree to anything with us. (which is the reason we needed an agreement, no one had registered the name for 13 years, as well as many other potentially devastating business management oversights)
In November, Yolande and I traveled to Australia to see her gravely ill father, and since then I've not gotten a returned phone call or e-mail from anyone in the band.
Evidently, Brad decided to join up with Jack and Kelly, take the name and split the money three ways. Sadly, it appears that their personal greed has trumped the loyalty to our fans.
After returning home, I received a one page letter from an attorney saying I was out, and that's all I know. They were actually booking shows without me before I was told anything.
In the meantime, I'm playing, writing and recording constantly, while trying to figure out how people can behave so badly after 27 years of working together.
Anyone thinking of buying tickets to see the show should know that it won't be Night Ranger they're going to see. (although I've heard that my name and picture are wrongly being used in ads in some markets)
Other than that, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer and is going into surgery today, so I'm very worried.
I hope this answers your questions. Please let anyone that asks know that I'm fine, and have positive thoughts for my Dad. He needs 'em.
All the best, Jeff Watson"




This sucks, and if it is true what Jeff has written, then they suck as well.

[Abitaman]

Said to here I really like Jeff. Being kicked out of the band and other personal problems.


But does lead to a question that will be debated forever... Is Night Ranger Night Ranger without him? As is Journey really journey without Perry, Styx and Dennis, Foreigner and Lou, Van HAlen and Roth (or HAgar), etc.... Not trying to stir the pot. But there was a Night Ranger cd without him and Jack in the early 90's FEEDING OFF THE MOJO (not bad either).


Wish him the best thou-ERIC

[7 Wishes]

Now that someone has finally spilled the beans, I can confirm what I posted (and later deleted) a couple of months ago. This is absolutely what's going on with the band, but it doesn't end there...it gets much worse. I am a friend of an ex-member of the band; that is all I can say. I have been getting periodically updated by this band member for years. Anyway, it's the ugly truth.

[tapsmiled]

@7wishes

Feel free to elaborate....
If they dont like it, screw em. If you are like me, you have continued to follow them for years---regardless of their commercial success. I would venture to say that any "rock" fans who were into the band were there b/c of Brad and Jeff. If Brad really did what Jeff wrote, then fuck him and them. Jeff is irreplaceable. Sure, others can do what he can do on the guitar..perhaps even better...but Jeff is NR and NR is Jeff. Makes me wonder about Fitz. Funny that a guy who no longer wants to tour becomes VH's touring keyboard player.

So, tell us more, please.

[RockInDetroit]

Not just Van Halen's keyboard player but also with the east street band. This is all way to ugly for me. I can not believe this has happened to my favorite band. The sad thing is live they sounded better than ever. Seems like Jack is getting legal advise from Tommy Shaw.

[7 Wishes]

No-one can do what Jeff does. He invented the eight-finger tapping technique. He's fantastically underrated.

[Andrew]

I've been in constant contact with Jack and Kelly and you will hear something ASAP.

They are aware of what Jeff has said. Sorry for not responding to previous questions, but it is not my place to speak for the band. Keep an eye on the frontpage....

[Andrew]

Now that someone has finally spilled the beans, I can confirm what I posted (and later deleted) a couple of months ago. This is absolutely what's going on with the band, but it doesn't end there...it gets much worse. I am a friend of an ex-member of the band; that is all I can say. I have been getting periodically updated by this band member for years. Anyway, it's the ugly truth.

No. It is merely ONE side of an unfortunate situation.

[7 Wishes]

Yes, I've suspected as much, but you know how difficult it is when you have loyalties to someone. I understand that, though. It's all a shame.

[paste]

@7wishes
Makes me wonder about Fitz. Funny that a guy who no longer wants to tour becomes VH's touring keyboard player.

Night Ranger hasn't done a traditional tour in close to a decade. I believe the last full tour was around the time of the Seven album and the 2nd Rock Never Stops Tour. Since then, they mainly fly out and do weekend gigs, so I could see where a full tour (4 to 7 shows a week for anywhere from a month to a year) would possibly be a better option, especially financially.

[RockInDetroit]

Now that someone has finally spilled the beans, I can confirm what I posted (and later deleted) a couple of months ago. This is absolutely what's going on with the band, but it doesn't end there...it gets much worse. I am a friend of an ex-member of the band; that is all I can say. I have been getting periodically updated by this band member for years. Anyway, it's the ugly truth.

No. It is merely ONE side of an unfortunate situation.

It may be one side Andrew, but Jeff states he wants to remain in the band....so the bad guys are the other side.

The other guy with the Pointdexter picture situation hints that he knows Fitz ( I doubt seriously that he was talking about Gary Moon or Jesse Bradman). Fitz's departure from Night Ranger was even more mysterious...because Fitz has always taken the silent road. 'Night Ranger' pretty much brushes over any reference to Fitz and on their own site do not even mentioned Fitz reuniting with the band for Neverland and Seven...it was a five person reunion not 4. Jeff and Fitz go way back to their days before Night Ranger with Sammy Hagar. Fitz supposedly left Night Ranger because he doesn't like touring and toured with Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen shortly leaving the band.....and is now recording another Alliance cd. Doesn't look like a guy wanting out of touring or the business.

Unlike Fitz, Jeff has had a stronger connection with his fans. From the looks of it many of his fans emailed Jeff on a continuious basis......Jeff whats going on they asked......and Jeff responded.....he felt an obligation to the fans. Actually this whole mess could've been avoided had Night Ranger chosen not to remove Jeff from their Myspace page and the silence that followed. I will say all I know is that you can email Jeff and he actually responds to the fans. You can ask Jeff a question and he always does his best to answer the question.

This is ugly and it really did not need to be. Look everyone fights. I get the opinion Jack Blades is taking legal advise from Tommy Shaw....you would've thought that he would've learned from Tommy's mistakes.

As for Andrew not responding to your questions Tapsmiled....Andrew gets insider information for this website.....many have said that this website is the official site of Night Ranger. If Andrew revealed information he was asked not to reveal he would not get this insider information and stuff like the sound clips for the new Night Ranger cd. Andrew was only doing what any journalist would do.

[Wally_Hatchet]

Said to here I really like Jeff. Being kicked out of the band and other personal problems.


But does lead to a question that will be debated forever... Is Night Ranger Night Ranger without him? As is Journey really journey without Perry, Styx and Dennis, Foreigner and Lou, Van HAlen and Roth (or HAgar), etc.... Not trying to stir the pot. But there was a Night Ranger cd without him and Jack in the early 90's FEEDING OFF THE MOJO (not bad either).


Wish him the best thou-ERIC

Wish JW the best too, but Brad is the sound of Night Ranger IMO.

[tapsmiled]

Now that someone has finally spilled the beans, I can confirm what I posted (and later deleted) a couple of months ago. This is absolutely what's going on with the band, but it doesn't end there...it gets much worse. I am a friend of an ex-member of the band; that is all I can say. I have been getting periodically updated by this band member for years. Anyway, it's the ugly truth.

No. It is merely ONE side of an unfortunate situation.

It may be one side Andrew, but Jeff states he wants to remain in the band....so the bad guys are the other side.

The other guy with the Pointdexter picture situation hints that he knows Fitz ( I doubt seriously that he was talking about Gary Moon or Jesse Bradman). Fitz's departure from Night Ranger was even more mysterious...because Fitz has always taken the silent road. 'Night Ranger' pretty much brushes over any reference to Fitz and on their own site do not even mentioned Fitz reuniting with the band for Neverland and Seven...it was a five person reunion not 4. Jeff and Fitz go way back to their days before Night Ranger with Sammy Hagar. Fitz supposedly left Night Ranger because he doesn't like touring and toured with Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen shortly leaving the band.....and is now recording another Alliance cd. Doesn't look like a guy wanting out of touring or the business.

Unlike Fitz, Jeff has had a stronger connection with his fans. From the looks of it many of his fans emailed Jeff on a continuious basis......Jeff whats going on they asked......and Jeff responded.....he felt an obligation to the fans. Actually this whole mess could've been avoided had Night Ranger chosen not to remove Jeff from their Myspace page and the silence that followed. I will say all I know is that you can email Jeff and he actually responds to the fans. You can ask Jeff a question and he always does his best to answer the question.

This is ugly and it really did not need to be. Look everyone fights. I get the opinion Jack Blades is taking legal advise from Tommy Shaw....you would've thought that he would've learned from Tommy's mistakes.

As for Andrew not responding to your questions Tapsmiled....Andrew gets insider information for this website.....many have said that this website is the official site of Night Ranger. If Andrew revealed information he was asked not to reveal he would not get this insider information and stuff like the sound clips for the new Night Ranger cd. Andrew was only doing what any journalist would do.

I simply responded to Andrew's claim that confirmation of a rumor was forthcoming...I asked for clarification of his statement.

[Andrew]

It may be one side Andrew, but Jeff states he wants to remain in the band....so the bad guys are the other side.

The other guy with the Pointdexter picture situation hints that he knows Fitz ( I doubt seriously that he was talking about Gary Moon or Jesse Bradman). Fitz's departure from Night Ranger was even more mysterious...because Fitz has always taken the silent road. 'Night Ranger' pretty much brushes over any reference to Fitz and on their own site do not even mentioned Fitz reuniting with the band for Neverland and Seven...it was a five person reunion not 4. Jeff and Fitz go way back to their days before Night Ranger with Sammy Hagar. Fitz supposedly left Night Ranger because he doesn't like touring and toured with Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen shortly leaving the band.....and is now recording another Alliance cd. Doesn't look like a guy wanting out of touring or the business.

Unlike Fitz, Jeff has had a stronger connection with his fans. From the looks of it many of his fans emailed Jeff on a continuious basis......Jeff whats going on they asked......and Jeff responded.....he felt an obligation to the fans. Actually this whole mess could've been avoided had Night Ranger chosen not to remove Jeff from their Myspace page and the silence that followed. I will say all I know is that you can email Jeff and he actually responds to the fans. You can ask Jeff a question and he always does his best to answer the question.

This is ugly and it really did not need to be. Look everyone fights. I get the opinion Jack Blades is taking legal advise from Tommy Shaw....you would've thought that he would've learned from Tommy's mistakes.

As for Andrew not responding to your questions Tapsmiled....Andrew gets insider information for this website.....many have said that this website is the official site of Night Ranger. If Andrew revealed information he was asked not to reveal he would not get this insider information and stuff like the sound clips for the new Night Ranger cd. Andrew was only doing what any journalist would do.

Just a couple of small points -

There are a few things here that have not come to light. Jeff has definitely not told the full story....if those facts were to come to light, his claim of wanting to still be in the band would hold zero merit.

Again, it is not for me to tell of these things...if the other guys want to talk at any time, then they can. I hate this situation, as NR are one of my Top 5 favourite acts of all time.

And Fitz didn't want to tour much....his recording a new album doesn't effect that position. No way will Alliance do any live shows, it is just a studio project.

Perhaps things coul dhave been handled differently, I certainly pushed Jack for a comment before now, but the guys really didn't want to air this feud in front of fans.

And lastly - i would have responded in part to Tapsmiled's post, but I really didn't see it.

Let's hope things get better from here, Jeff's an amazing player and NR is an amazing band.

[X factor]

Said to here I really like Jeff. Being kicked out of the band and other personal problems.


But does lead to a question that will be debated forever... Is Night Ranger Night Ranger without him? As is Journey really journey without Perry, Styx and Dennis, Foreigner and Lou, Van HAlen and Roth (or HAgar), etc.... Not trying to stir the pot. But there was a Night Ranger cd without him and Jack in the early 90's FEEDING OFF THE MOJO (not bad either).


Wish him the best thou-ERIC

Wish JW the best too, but Brad is the sound of Night Ranger IMO.

Agreed, Wally. Jeff is an awesome player, but imho- you got Brad, Kelly and Jack, you got NIGHT RANGER...

[RockInDetroit]

Said to here I really like Jeff. Being kicked out of the band and other personal problems.


But does lead to a question that will be debated forever... Is Night Ranger Night Ranger without him? As is Journey really journey without Perry, Styx and Dennis, Foreigner and Lou, Van HAlen and Roth (or HAgar), etc.... Not trying to stir the pot. But there was a Night Ranger cd without him and Jack in the early 90's FEEDING OFF THE MOJO (not bad either).


Wish him the best thou-ERIC

Wish JW the best too, but Brad is the sound of Night Ranger IMO.

Agreed, Wally. Jeff is an awesome player, but imho- you got Brad, Kelly and Jack, you got NIGHT RANGER...

That is the problem.......that is why Jeff and Fitz are out. Because there is a band hierarchy and those three were at the top of it. All three started the band after appearing in another band before Night Ranger. Jeff and Fitz were never in a good situation. Night Ranger tried to exist without Jack and that did not go so well.

As for Fitz, again. Fitz supposedly did not want to tour than shortly after leaving the band toured with Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen.