Nevermore took to Facebook and explained why Jim Sheppard was left out of the reunion.
“So, the NEVERMORE teaser has sparked a lot of positivity and some expected negativity,” Jeff Loomis And Van Williams shared. “Let me (Van) address the negative first. Some people think it’s disrespectful not to involve Jim or inform him of our plans.”
They continued, “But those who feel that way don’t know the history of the band or the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to this decision. While it may not have been the most ideal approach, the reality is that there hasn’t been communication with Jim in years.”
“We felt that sometimes, for the sake of a fresh start, it’s necessary to move on from relationships that may no longer be conducive to growth or new beginnings. We made this decision with the intention of honoring the legacy of the band while moving forward in a way that felt right for us at the time,” the band stated.
The band members further said of Sheppard, “That said, we wish him good health and he is free to pursue whatever path he chooses. Without going into too much detail, I’ll just say respect goes both ways, and certain things became irreconcilable over time for us. At this point in my life, I don’t feel the need to explain myself further on this, so take from that what you will.”
The musicians also addressed the comments, saying that their actions are about money. They explained, “For those calling this a ‘money grab,’ I have to disagree. Most musicians, don’t do this for the money. We’ve spent countless hours thru the years sweating, rehearsing, performing, and recording simply because we love it.”
“This is what we chose to do in life because we’ve always loved it. That’s what drives us, the passion for music, the connection with fans, and the creative process. If money comes from that, great but it has never been the focus, but we also have bills to pay like you,” they revealed.
Recently, Loomis and Williams hinted at Nevermore’s return. They shared a short teaser video with images of the band, possible silhouettes of themselves, and the message ‘Resurrecting The Dream.’ The video ends with the Nevermore logo and the year ‘2025.’
Nevermore broke up in 2011 after Loomis and Williams left due to issues with other band members. Their final album was released in 2010.
