THE QUIREBOYS Explain Decision To Split With Singer SPIKE

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

THE QUIREBOYS have released a statement explaining their decision to part ways with their lead singer Spike (real name Jonathan Gray). Late last month, the long-running U.K. rockers announced that they had split with the frontman and revealed their intention to continue as a five-piece, with longtime guitarist Guy Griffin handling the vocals. A short time later, Spike took to his Twitter to write that he had received a letter from "3 of MY band members informing me that my services are no longer required to sing or perform with them." He went on to refer to himself as "THE QUIREBOYS founder, only original member and singer." After a couple of concert promoters canceled THE QUIREBOYS' previously announced appearances, the band issued the following statement: "Further to our initial statement last week regarding THE QUIREBOYS parting ways with Spike, we'd like to address some of the questions and speculation that have arisen. "Spike was informed of our decision to part ways with him via a phone call from the band's manager two weeks prior to receiving the letter, which was just legal confirmation, as he refused to speak to us. Spike has consistently declined to meet and discuss band issues over the course of the past nine months. "Our decision was not taken lightly and is the culmination of not just months but years of persistent problems, as many working in the music industry know. "Most recently we had to deal with his last-minute nonappearance on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise as well as the double-booking of solo shows in a bid to jeopardise contracted QUIREBOYS shows, including those in France this past weekend and our forthcoming US tour. There are many more instances of cancelled shows and systematically trying to undermine us thus causing stress and uncertainty to both our crew and ourselves. "Spike's solo performances are not and have never been an issue, but doing them without any consultation with the band or management is. Our shows are booked months in advance of being announced and all band members receive the dates in good time. It is up to us all individually to manage our calendars accordingly and to ensure that any other projects we have do not interfere with THE QUIREBOYS schedule. Ultimately, if we do not fulfil our contracted tour schedule, the band makes no money and any deposits would need to be refunded. "We have been trading as THE QUIREBOYS through a business registered with Companies House & HMRC for many years, a company Spike was asked to join but declined, preferring instead to be hired on a freelance basis, 'cash in hand'. Therefore, there is absolutely no fraudulent use of the name by us. Spike does not legally own the band or the name. "The pandemic hit our company and band hard, as it did many in the industry. After an 18 month struggle to pay bills and keep the band solvent whilst supporting our families, we were dismayed to come into possession of a contract that Spike's Agent had been sending out on his instruction stating: 'Please note that THE QUIREBOYS will not be performing any 'unplugged' shows in 2022' - and so just like that, 50% of our future income was gone before we had even had a chance to play again. "None of us asked to be put into this position. We are a band who has been playing together for over twenty years with nine albums' worth of music to our name. In addition, as most fans would know, Guy Griffin has played on every QUIREBOYS album to date, writing many of the tracks you love. Why should we be denied the opportunity to play the songs we wrote or performed on and not be able to protect our livelihoods? "Let the music do the talking." THE QUIREBOYS most recently performed without Spike aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise, which departed out of Miami, Florida on February 9. THE QUIREBOYS put out their most recent album, the well-received "Amazing Disgrace", in 2019. The band's debut LP, "A Bit of What You Fancy", was released in 1990 and included the song "Hey You", which was THE QUIREBOYS' biggest hit, reaching No. 14 in the U.K. singles chart and No. 5 in the U.S. Billboard Rock chart. In 2020, THE QUIREBOYS were scheduled to celebrate their 35th anniversary with a tour. The trek, which ended up getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, would also have marked 30 years since the release of "A Bit Of What You Fancy". Following the band's inception in London in 1984 — originally as THE CHOIRBOYS, then THE QUEERBOYS, before settling on the less controversial name of THE QUIREBOYS — there followed six years of hard graft and personnel changes. THE QUIREBOYS played to 72,000 people at 1990's Monsters Of Rock at Donington with the likes of WHITESNAKE, AEROSMITH and POISON. They supported THE ROLLING STONES that same year in Newcastle, and opened for GUNS N' ROSES at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and again a couple of years later on their "Use Your Illusion" tour. The public's appetite for THE QUIREBOYS had returned and hasn't waned since — three further studio releases ("Well Oiled", "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers", "Halfpenny Dancer") were released on various labels from 2004 to 2009 before the band found their new, and permanent, home on Off Yer Rocka, the label of the renowned festival brand Hard Rock Hell. An anniversary edition — fully re-recorded — of "A Bit Of What You Fancy" drew much acclaim in 2021.