In a statement to Blabbermouth.net, Nevermore’s founding bassist Jim Sheppard spoke out about reunion without him.
“In my heart, Nevermore will always be Warrel, Jeff and I living in a one-room apartment, slaves to an eight-track recording machine, non-stop songwriting insanity,” the musician said. “We were driven, we were hungry… To quote Dave Mustaine, we were ready to ‘smile, eat sh*t and ask for more!'”
He added, “True, I’ve been retired. I enjoy my new life in Alaska following bears with my wife Priscila, a wildlife photographer. My opinion of [Loomis’s and Williams’s] press release [announcing the Nevermore comeback is] Van came across self-promoting and Jeff felt very sincere; he truly wants to capture a little piece of the magic we held.”
“I’m disappointed no one reached out to me concerning the name Nevermore, a name that means blood, sweat and tears. With that said, I wish them the best,” Sheppard further shared.
Nevermore split up in 2011 when Jeff Loomis and Van Williams left due to personal issues with Warrel Dane and Sheppard. Loomis and Williams announced Nevermore’s comeback last month.
The return was teased on December 27 with a one-minute video showing Nevermore images and silhouettes of Loomis and Williams, plus the text ‘Resurrecting The Dream.’ The video ended with the Nevermore logo and ‘A New Chapter Rises’ for 2025.
Later, the two also explained on Facebook why Sheppard was not part of the reunion. “So, the NEVERMORE teaser has sparked a lot of positivity and some expected negativity,” Loomis And 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 went on to say, “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 members stated.
In the rest of their statement, Loomis and Williams also noted that they wished Sheppard good health and respected his path, but over time, certain issues became irreconcilable. They also addressed claims of doing it for money, stating their actions are driven by passion for music, not money.
