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This week, on Thursday December 3rd, Blood For Blood is kicking off their, long awaited, European Tour, as part of the 2010 Persistence Tour. This will mark the first time since 2004 that Blood For Blood fans have been able to see the band live on stage. As previously announced by the band on June 19th 2010 (statement hereunder), Rob Lind decided not to join the rest of the band and Billy Graziadei, from Biohazard, will be filling in for him.
Today Rob Lind wants to share this official statement about not joining Blood For Blood (for now), the future of the band and his relationship with his band mates.
Hello there children!
It’s been long time…
A few months ago it was announced in the press that Blood For Blood would be touring again. Specifically it was announced that BFB would be doing this years annual Persistence Tour in Europe (with Sick Of It All, D.R.I., Unearth, Evergreen Terrace and others). It was also announced that Blood For Blood would be doing this tour and future shows without me.
In absence of a response or statement on my part, there was an immediate deluge of speculation, invective and hostility in reaction to the announcement online and in the scene. And it is ongoing.
With the Persistence Tour looming and Blood For Blood’s return to the stage imminent, I just wanted to clarify my position and set the record straight.
First let me say that I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support on my behalf. I have never been more sincere in my whole fucking life: it meant more to me than anything that has happened since I started playing music. I will never forget it as long as I live.
However the controversy was misguided and any negativity misplaced. I have been working with Buddha and Ian for the last few months now on the future of Blood For Blood and it has been an open and amicable relationship. The core of Blood For Blood has always been our friendship within the band.
I cannot tour at this point in my life. I hope to be able to again in the future but at present it is simply not possible for personal reasons that I will not get into. I miss it very much (believe me, I would like nothing more than to be getting up on stage with the guys in a few days for the tour’s first show).
But my inability to tour doesn’t alter the fact that Blood For Blood has an enduring legacy and demand. And the fellas in the band miss it all as much as I do.
After a few months of open dialogue and discussion we (Buddha, Ian, and I) have decided on an arrangement that is best for us all.
Though I stated I can’t play out and tour right now, I am not done with music by a long shot. Nor am I done with Blood For Blood. Blood For Blood will always be a part of me and I will always be a part of Blood For Blood. And the show isn’t over…
The band, with my full support and blessing and friendship, is going to tour again without me until the time comes when I can join them again on the road. This was the plan all along and that had been in the works for a while now. We just had to work out some internal details before I could jump in openly and publicly.
This is not a tentative or half-hearted arrangement. We intend to continue the band on all fronts. We intend to record again. We intend to play out and tour again (as I stated above, I will join in live whenever possible). And we are psyched about every bit of it.
On a side note, I have never at any point over the past few years stopped writing music (either for Blood For Blood or any of my other projects). Consequently I am presently hoarding the biggest glut of material in my life. And I can’t wait to get to work on it.
So even though I won’t physically be there on stage with the guys, I will be there whole-heartedly in spirit as a member of the band. Blood For Blood is back, bitches! I bet club security all over the world is weeping and hiring extra help and taking out better health care policies on their employees!
Cheers,
Rob Lind