Brand X Lineup Changes

[progman1975]

Per John Goodsall:

Percy Jones quit the band in July and Kenny Grohowski has seemed to be fired.
It looks like John has recruited Jeff Berlin to take Percy's place. And either Simon Phillips or Chester Thompson(Oh, please let it be Chester )
will be behind the drums. Seems like John wants to tour in April-ish but I doubt that happens becuase of the virus. Any thoughts????

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

Brand X is still around?!?

Kewl.

[Dave (in MA)]

Per John Goodsall:

Percy Jones quit the band in July and Kenny Grohowski has seemed to be fired.

Per John Goodsall where? I haven't seen any mention on their Facebook page.

[Rick L.]

The main thing is that there is a band named Brand X. Who cares who is in the band? I'm sure there will be a Brand X long after we are all gone. Centuries from now. Maybe longer.

Thay can do a double bill with Yes.

Wait......what?

[syncopatico]

You *can't* have Brand X without Percy Jones.
But John could reform Fire Merchants with Chester Thompson (or Simon Phillips), with Jeff Berlin replacing the deceased Doug Lunn.
(They used to do a version of Nuclear Burn live back in 1989 anyway.) [expand Fire Merchants into Brand X 2021?????]

[Dave (in MA)]

I like the material from the faction that included Giblin instead of Jones that appeared on the last 3 70s/80s records just fine, but I like the idea of a Jones-free Brand X less than one that includes him. I like what Tunnels and MJ-12 put out more than what Fire Merchants released, but Jones' solo ones, less so.

[syncopatico]

I don't believe the faction with John Giblin ever toured though. Percy was always the touring bassist(?)

[calyx]

I don't believe the faction with John Giblin ever toured though. Percy was always the touring bassist(?)

Indeed, at least until the late 1990s, when a line-up with Goodsall but without Jones toured, much as what is being proposed (other than the players mentioned above are of a higher league, or at least better-known).

[interbellum]

You *can't* have Brand X without Percy Jones.
But John could reform Fire Merchants with Chester Thompson (or Simon Phillips), with Jeff Berlin replacing the deceased Doug Lunn.
(They used to do a version of Nuclear Burn live back in 1989 anyway.) [expand Fire Merchants into Brand X 2021?????]

When I bought tickets for the March-show (which was cancelled of course) it was mainly because I wanted to see and hear Percy Jones.
Of course Jeff Berlin is a great bass-player too, but he's not PJ.

[Finch Platte]

Any idea why Percy quit?

[Dave (in MA)]

I guess you could go here https://www.facebook.com/KennyGrohowskiDrummer/ and here https://twitter.com/GoodsallJohn to get a rough idea about What Happened.

[rapidfirerob]

I read Kenny's post yesterday on FB as well. It's sad this is the way things have gone down. Kenny wasn't even notified he was out. It seems unclear why Percy quit.
I've seen this incarnation twice, thankfully. I will go see the band with Jeff and the new drummer, who Kenny names on the FB article, but, as others said,
no one can replace Percy. The two live albums they released, the last one being a double one, are great. Locked and Loaded and But Wait...There's More/Live 2017.
I hung out with John and Percy the first time around after the show. John is quite the character.

[gpeccary]

Well this is indeed sad, I saw that lineups times or more this last go round, and Grohowski was insanely great, such a perfect fit. The first time I saw them was with Kenwood Dennard, and Gorhowski was a major improvement in the chemistry I thought. To me, and its just my opinion... the weak link was Goodsall. If they replaced him it wouldn't bother me. Replacing KG and Jones, thats a problem for me. I know Giblin was in the band at one time, but to me, Brand X just isn't the same without Percy.
This is sad news.

[Sean]

Gotta say, it's not Brand X without Percy. It's the makings of a damn good band though!

[NogbadTheBad]

Gotta say, it's not Brand X without Percy. It's the makings of a damn good band though!

Yeah, won't be following them without Percy. That said Simon Phillips would be a good hire.

[Mascodagama]

Per John Goodsall:

...and Kenny Grohowski has seemed to be fired.

My fave current drummer

But given the number of projects he's involved in, I could well believe he wasn't able to give the touring commitment they probably needed.

[Zeuhlmate]

I guess you could go here https://www.facebook.com/KennyGrohowskiDrummer/ and here https://twitter.com/GoodsallJohn to get a rough idea about What Happened.

Goodsall John seems to have a problem...at least with communication.

[NogbadTheBad]

Agreed.

[Mascodagama]

My fave current drummer

But given the number of projects he's involved in, I could well believe he wasn't able to give the touring commitment they probably needed.

I hadn't read the thread properly when I posted this.

Ugh, what a mess. Goodsall does not come out of this looking good at all.

[M Sary]

According to Grohowski, the new drummer is Tobias Ralph, former drummer for the Adrian Belew Power Trio.

[NogbadTheBad]

Tobias Ralph is a good drummer enjoyed him with Belew, Julie Slick & The Crimson Projekct

[Zeuhlmate]

Why not call it Brand Z ?

[gearHed289]

The first time I saw them was with Kenwood Dennard, and Gorhowski was a major improvement in the chemistry I thought. To me, and its just my opinion... the weak link was Goodsall. If they replaced him it wouldn't bother me. Replacing KG and Jones, thats a problem for me. I know Giblin was in the band at one time, but to me, Brand X just isn't the same without Percy.
This is sad news.

I saw them with Dennard too, and I agree. Goodsall seemed like he was hanging on by a thread. Not in a terrible way, but not completely dialed in either. I saw them in the 90s as a 3 piece with Katz, and I *think* I saw Tunnels (unless it was "Brand X" with Wagnon on MIDI mallets). Hung out and had a beer with Percy at one show which was really cool. Just an ordinary guy who happens to be a mind blowing bass player. I had tix for March in Chicago, which of course did not happen. If they tour with Berlin, I'll probably go. Never saw him live.

[Splicer]

The only time I've seen Goodsall live was with Tunnels. My only impression of him was, "What is he so angry about?"

[Hobo Chang Ba]

Ugh, this is all pretty ugly.

I can live without KG in the band (although the method of his departure is terrible), and T Ralph is pretty great. But hard for me to get too excited without Percy in the band (however great Berlin is...and he is).