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White Wizzard Announces Departure (Again) of Vocalist Wyatt Anderson

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When California NWOTHM band White Wizzard hit the stage for the first night of their tour with Forbidden on June 9th, something didn’t seem right. What was wrong? Oh yeah, singer Wyatt Anderson wasn’t there. Instead of Anderson, White Wizzard was being fronted by former Cellador singer Mike Germino. So why did Jon Leon fail to announce this minor shake up to his fans? Your guess is as good as mine but today, June 27th around 2pm EST, the following status was found on the White Wizzard Facebook page:

“Wyatt Anderson wrote White Wizzard 3 weeks before tour and said he did not want to tour for personal, health and family reasons. This well after tour was booked and his flights. Mike has stepped in and is doing a stellar job. There will be a full press release soon. Ask Wyatt for further explanation.”

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, not only is he just now announcing this, new singer Mike Germino also posted via the White Wizzard Facebook page:

“I track the vocals right after this tour!”

So not only is he now the new singer for White Wizzard for the second time, Germino will be cutting vocals for the upcoming album “Flying Tigers” over the vocals that have already been done by Anderson that Jon Leon raved over on February 13th saying:

“Jon here……Wyatt is officially done with tracking vocals. I want to personally say that I am very exited and happy Wyatt is back, and that he has kicked serious ass and done an amazing job. The album will consist of 12 tracks. More info on those tracks soon, including a video talking more about the upcoming album. Thanks to all the fans…….”

All I can say is that it has never been so much work keeping up with a band and all of their drama, or shall I say HIS drama? For those that want to be further entertained, you can keep up with (or at least attempt to) the soap opera at https://www.facebook.com/WhiteWizzard

About The Author

Don

I have been running this blog since 2009. AKA as the Great Southern Brainfart, Southeast of Heaven is my baby now and forever. I’ve had my ups and downs with bands over the years but they are all great experiences and memories. My Swedish friend Charlie said once, “Don is known for being one of the meanest bastards in American rock journalism.” It’s nice to be loved.

I also once took a shit in Anthrax’s dressing room toilet and didn’t flush.

See author's posts

49 Responses

  1. sorry kelli but no i wont shut the fuk up you, jon, me and everyone on here is entitled to their opinion

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  3. I can’t tell if I’m amused or repulsed. Either way, I think it’s all a bit ridiculous. HG and WW are both rad bands that are evolving and gaining new fans and sometimes new members. Of course, some people speak their minds more freely than others. So what? At least there’s awesome metal being made. So it might be a guy with an ego, it might be a guy obsessed with dinosaurs(I love you, LaRue), it might be a scrawny (adorable) vegetarian. Let’s just all shut the fuck up and appreciate the fact that all of our hearts are in the metal. Or whatever…I’m just hot girl that Hails the Grail and calls herself a Farthead.

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    1. Kelli! Always the peacemaking Farthead! I love you gurr and you’re right, IT’S MUSIC! HOORAY MUSIC! CELEBRATE MUSIC AND LET THE DRAMA JUST DIE! How ’bout that Gypsyhawk album eh? They’re touring with Huntress. Far out! And how about that Graveyard album? Hoping they’ll tour in 2011 here in the states! And how about ground turkey tacos? Had ’em for dinner last night and they melted my face! I also DIDN’T save a lot of money with Geico. My insurance went up after we moved into our new house. FML!

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  4. Eddie trunk is a complete tool he wound up Bruce Dickinson on Flight 666 by claiming Maiden were just revisiting the past which was way off the point and if he knew anything about Maiden, which he claims he does but to be honest my little 9 year old knows more, then he would of know the set was a present to all the new fans they have gained in the last 8-10 years dickinson hes been back in the band. ive heard his show online and he continually cuts people off when they have him in a corner and blatently know more about the subject which is childish.

    UP THE IRONS

    AND

    HAIL THE GRAIL \MM/

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  5. Keep trying to spin peoples minds man…..you are such a pathetic little prick. One last thing I wanted to call you out for was a couple months back, I saw you posted a picture of Eddie Trunk over a pile of shit on your page. I thought it was classless and that it showed what an ignorant little fuck you are. I wanted to post something then, but I chose to leave it alone. In regards to disrespecting DIO, that was a great example. DIO loved Eddie. We met Eddie the night of DIO’s funeral in the Rainbow, and he was genuine and a great guy. The next day at the public memorial, he did a stand up job and was heartfelt and sincere in running the whole event. Pricks like you find people to bash because they have some serious insecurities within themselves, or just need to create shit because they are shit themselves. The point is you are clueless and nobody cares who you are and the only reason I struck back is your personal attack on me and my deep regard for Dio as an influence. Music is my religion and is everything to me, and I should not let a little asshole like you divert my attention on this level, but you really are a little piece of shit. It is sad really, that the internet gives assholes like you a voice…

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    1. Jon,

      Thanks again for coming back to my shitty little blog that nobody cares about. Here’s the deal bro. I chose to express my opinion on Eddie Trunk because I think he’s an arrogant piece of name dropping shit. It has nothing to do with any personal insecurities. It has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that he’s a big bag of wind that never shuts his piehole long enough to let anyone say a word. tI is no disrespect to Dio at all that I can’t stand Eddie Trunk. I’m sure Dio liked some great food. What if he loved broccoli? I fucking hate broccoli. I highly doubt he would think I was an ass for thinking that. I’m not of the minority here in how I feel about Mr. Trunk. He has guests on his show, constantly cuts them off in interviews to talk about himself and his book. Yeah, so he’s got a great gig and a gets to hang with tons of cool people. That’s totally true but having a cool, awesome gig doesn’t make you a cool or awesome authority on anything. You can call it me classless, a cock sucker, a prick or whatever it is you want to call me and really it phases me none. As far as anybody caring about me or who I am, I would put that to a vote bro. Like any “side”, we all have our supporters. You’ve know all about that one dude. There are those that support you and those that think you’re a total clown. Same with me. There are my supporters and my loyal readers and those that think I’m a total clown and know nothing prick. More power to them. You can’t win ’em all. I’m just mature enough to accept that and roll along with it no matter what people say about me. I can see the humor and hilarity of the haters and what they have to say.

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  6. Hardly prick…..We actually have fans that see this different than you and I am glad to see them give you a bit of a reality check. I hope we meet in person sometime. You post your bullshit with the bravery of being out of range, but I would love to have a face to face interview sometime. Until then….have fun with your little blogs.

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  7. Looks to me like Jon Leon is being unfairly attacked here. The guy running this site is off his chain. Wyatt has bailed on them twice. That is fucked up. Great singer or not, he is messed up for doing that. I know what goes into planning a tour and making a band. 3 weeks notice before a tour is devastating. I caught WW in Jersey and they were amazing. Blown away by Mike the singer and it is a testament to the bands resolve that they could go through that and still kill. I also know how press can be, and it is understandable why they would wait to announce. They want people to see the band and how good it was with Mike. If anyone did not go because Wyatt was out, they would have missed a better band performance than they did with Wyatt. I saw them with Wyatt, and Mike is better live-way better actually. Wyatt sang a great album in studio, but I look forward to hearing the new guy on the next release. He was amazing live. Jon Leon wrote Over the Top and even played alot of guitar on it, so I do not see how the material will suffer because Wyatt is gone, as the new singer is killer. Good luck White Wizzard and do not let the haters take you down!!

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  8. Sorry Jon but switching singers left right and centre is hardly less worse than Grail switching guitarists no matter how awesome LaRue is. Grail’s style is more adaptable than WW as you insist on remaining “classic” bands like metallica, maiden and priest became so big becuase they didn’t follow a trend, they grew out of one. sorry when the two James’ and Tyler left WW it was your loss and Grails gain.

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  9. tgsbf, instead of thinking as a fan who’s hurt by the departure of wyatt. think of being in jon’s place, it wasnt his decision for wyatt to decide not to tour, so its inevitable for him to leave the band again. To move forward and release an album with the previous singer when there’s an opportunity for the new singer to replace the tracks should be an obvious choice. There’s no need to just continue to bash wizzard, it is what is and there shouldnt be any reason to doubt how much this album is gonna slay if you’ve checked out cellador before.

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    1. Justin, I appreciate your comment bro but I think you missed the point. The point wasn’t me being hurt by the departure of Wyatt. The point was that J-Woww totally pulled a bait and switch on everyone and failed at feeling that the fans were worth it to be let in on this move. That’s all! J-Dawg proved what a stand up guy his is in this thread so no need to flog this dead horse.

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  10. Wow – 2 professional musicians coming here to argue with a BLOGGER. Guys, no matter who says what in this argument, you WW dudes will always come out looking like losers.

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  12. My buddy Don sent me a link to this. Love u man…fuckin salacious tattoos bro, no joke. I was drinkin an affligem the other day and thought of you Jon, you’re ridiculous and a bastard but I probably love you the most. Tuneleros Luna, heavy metal garage sale 2012.

    Anyways, I’m on a bus right now on my way OUT of Los Angeles. Visiting for a couple days and already it’s too much for my tender soul. Out here, and around the world really, our artform is exploited by non-artists with egos even bigger than mine or Yngwie’s. I’m talking about record labels, promoters, everyone on down the line. The industry feeds on this bullshit. Sensationalism. And we all end up with nothing from it. DON’T SIGN AWAY YOUR PUBLISHING RIGHTS. Learn your modes, intervals, harmony, chord sequences, understand your instrument, master tone and technique, learn all the rules and only then break them, write your masterpieces. Celebrate, mourn, live. All this scandal shit is dumb, it’s more rock’n’roll not to give a shit about any of it. Music….it’s math…physics, art, expression, culture, when we’re left with nothing it’s still there…but there’s so little focus on it…on actually studying it, always forcing yourself to be better than before, striving to understand it, to hold all the world’s musical knowledge in your head at once….to be able to visualize the geometries of sound waves and in reverse, reproduce imaginary waveforms as real world audio. There’s so much to strive for and we’re spending time on this. All of u guys are good musicians. Keep it up. I like Gypsyhawk too, and the new Huntress looks interesting, and ofcourse I love Havok, Reece is one of my faves. Really excited to hear new music written by Juan Juarez and also diggin Alex w/grail. I love Wyatt and I also liked Gremio. I mean, I mostly listen to instrumental music anyways. Or Brandy. But yeah I love Boston.

    Boston has the best lyrics. All I want is to have my piece of mine. New PeeWee movie comin out…Dude Gary Holt with Slayer, how’s everybody diggin that?

    Reply

  14. I figured out who “The Man” is — Patrick Marshall! He’s my new hero!

    Patrick is absolutely right. I’ve never heard White Wizzard, either, but I’m absolutely sure there is no way Iron Maiden would have been “flame warring” with Kurt Loder, or Black Sabbath would’ve been e-mailing back and forth half a day with Lester Bangs, if the Internet had existed back then. I do know you guys are a national club act, and this is local high school band stuff.

    By the way, Don is a master of tai chi, tae bo, and chicken chow mein. He holds a blue belt in fung shway, too.

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I wrote that Nikki Sixx really wasn’t much of a bass player on a Internet forum, and he’s written a 20-paragraph rebuttal, filled with expletives, capital letters and multiple exclamation points. This should be the funniest thing since Neil Peart threatened to kick my ass for laughing when he dropped a stick during “YYZ.”

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  15. I agree, they should have announced the replacement the moment it was a certainty but I don’t think it’s as disrespectful as you’re making it out to be. I might feel more offended if I wasn’t already a fan of Mikey Gremio’s work (been listening to Cellador for years). I don’t feel very angry with WW or Jon about the way thing have been going with WW, he’s obviously a somewhat stubborn man and likes things his own way; but then again, that’s fine. It’s his band and he can do what he wants with it. Jon is the primary song writer so as of now the music still all has the same vibe to it, I don’t really feel like High Speed GTO and Over The Top sound like different bands even though the line up is drastically different. I’m looking forward to hearing Flying TIgers with Gremio, I really liked Wyatt’s voice but if he doesn’t wanna tour then that’s the end of it. I hope in the future all these issues can be resolved, and WW can finally get everything together and have a solid lineup for more than 3 months. Most of all I’d like to see things smooth over with Holy Grail so I can one day see the 2 bands tour together. I can dream can’t I? Megadeth and Metallica did it so why can’t Holy Grail and White Wizzard. Oh well, both bands are among my favorites int he current Metal scene.

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  17. I’ve never heard a single note of White Wizzard but you guys are acting like a couple of fucking clowns.

    1. Stop believing your own hype.
    2. Learn to spell.
    3. Personally responding to negative criticism of your band is a bush league move.
    4. Wizard has one z.

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    1. Sorry, I actually was changing out the cat litter, washing a few dishes and listening to “Over The Top” thinking “THIS is the man!”

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  19. And it seems someone has finally run out of legitimate responses and is now turning to humor as interesting as his life.. Nice work, douchebag.

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  20. I have to ask, why am I a meathead for standing up for myself and my band against some random prick who unjustifiably started it all? Sounds to me like someone needs a new hobby…? 😉

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    1. Why are you a meathead? Other than the fact that you called me “Son” and stated “I AM THE MAN NOW” while looking like Fred Durst. It’s either a meathead or a douchebag. Take your pick broseph.

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  21. I AM the man, son. And you had started talking shit before I ever wrote you. Fact is, I’m gonna retrack the record, and it’s gonna slay! There are actually quite a few people very excited at this prospect. You are a SOLID minority in your opinions, and just another poser ass wannabe who makes his ADMITTEDLY third-rate claim to fame by shit-talking hard-working bands on his virtually non-existent blog. Someone put a fucking muzzle on this dude!

    Reply

    1. Can you just admit that you got called out for being an ass and get over yourself. And give that meathead singer a bone to keep him off my fucking leg.

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  23. Larue is the best guitarist I ever played with and would not have been in WW if he was not great. Sometimes personal and musical differences happen…..been happening in bands for decades. Happened in HG too…….I hope both bands get the right guys and succeed. You really are a cocksucker though.

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  24. Where is my singers comment he wrote that you need to approve prick? Afraid to show other guys in the band slamming your bullshit?

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    1. It’s right here man. Sorry, I was getting a drink. Didn’t mean to make you feel ignored.

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  25. Holy grail has swapped several members, and Larue was the most talented guy in the band in opinions of many, so it WAS a big deal. You digress because I am proving you are a hypocrite. Keep preaching from your chair…internet guys like you are a joke.

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  27. Why did we not announce this pre-tour? You should ask your beloved Wyatt the same question. I don’t understand where all your bullshit hatred is coming from, but you desperately need to grow up, brother. The fact is, I’m the man now, we’re fucking owning on tour, I actually put on a physical show as opposed to standing there, and as far as being pitchy or off – compare and contrast performance videos, they don’t lie. Then again, you could be fucking deaf, which wouldn’t surprise me in the least. Your life must be quite pathetic if the best use of your time you could find was to spend it slamming a band you claim to be a fan of. The album is going to be brilliant, and you’re gonna eat your words, man. I’ll be there to set your table.

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    1. “I’m the man now!” LULZ! Dude, get over it. My life is actually quite awesome but thanks for your concern bro. Look dude, I had no beef with you until you came in here talking like you were some meathead. Well, you made your point and I’ll make mine. If you would actually loosen your baseball cap and READ my post, you’ll see that my only issue, now for the FIFTH time was that the fans were played for fools. Dude, you just got called the “Gary Cherone” of Van Halen so I’d be pissed as well. You’re the 2nd singer for the 2nd time who’s going to record over another singers vocals. Yeah dude, YOU’RE THE MAN NOW!

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  28. Also….claiming you do not care what the details are further proves you do NOT want to know the details, because they actually may prove what you are writing is actually false in most cases, unfounded and just a bunch of shit….

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    1. And the hits just keep on coming! Ok, so it was a management decision to do that? I’d fire your manager because that decision flat out sucked. As for my “idols” Holy Grail and their shit, no disrespect to LaRue or anyone else but changing out a guitarist can be far less drastic than swapping out singers but I’ll digress on that one.

      As for not caring about the “personal” details, read my post about “Band Drama”: https://southeastofheaven.com/?p=6884 Again, for the now FOURTH time, my biggest issue with this wasn’t the interpersonal drama but the lack of respect and consideration for your fans and what we were going to see. If I went and saw Van Halen expecting to see David Lee Roth and I ended up with Gary Cherone, I’d be one pissed motherfucker. Management decision or not, I’d feel completely bamboozled and taken for a ride. You’re conducting this ride Mr. Leon. Yes you are!

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  29. It was a management decision…we had to see where Wyatt was on some things in long term and the label wanted people to see us with Mikey and wait a bit to annouce. The only people pissed are guys like you……..Our fans were all very supportive, understanding and happy with the show. Funny how your idols Holy Grail did not announce Larue being gone for months, left it on the page he and Blake were still in and toured, but you say nothing….you’re a hypocrite and a prick.

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  30. Give me a break. Covering up? The guy quit again-so we should push and tour with him on vox? You’re an asshole with an agenda….nothing more. Our fans are with us. Keep writing your no life crap…..New album speaks for itself. Its gonna be better I assure you…..that will say the rest….fuck off prick!

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    1. HAHA. An asshole with an agenda? My only agenda was calling you out for being an ass. Again, I never said not to replace him and not tour. You do what you gotta do. For the third time, the standing issue is your lack of respect for your fans to let them know about the minor detail of touring with a new singer. I don’t care if you have a new singer, bands have to do shit like this everyday. But to not announce it to your fans before the tour started was a shitty move. It was a move that kept you from losing some heads at the door plain and simple. And as for my “no life crap”, it seemed to be just fine when I was raving about White Wizzard so spare me that crap broseph. You got called out and you know it.

      If you really want to carry this one, than answer the question. Why did you not announce PRE TOUR to your fans that Wyatt had left the band and that he was replaced by Mike Gremino? Did you not feel that they were important enough to be privy to that information or did you just think that your “fans” are too dumb to to notice the difference between the two? Really. I’m curious.

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  31. Wow-not sure where to begin. I have never read something so unfactual and filled with bullshit about me in my life. I will say the hatred of me and my band has gotten to a level that is almost comical, as it is rooted in internet hearsay and assumption more than in fact. On one point, this thing about the Dio cover is amazing. I have gone back and listened, and with Peters accent and pitch shifting the producer had to do, if your ears “want” to hear it ypu can kind of make that into Jon Leon but cmon….carry on and Jon leon are 3 syllables and the last 2 of each are the same. So it is already damn similar-but whatever. It shows how deep some people will go when having an agenda. I suppose you never read the eulogy I wrote on behalf of our band or the lyrics to shooting star. Dio was a huge influence on me and I was horrified by his passing. To bypass what I wrote as a fan as my own goodbye and to somehow spin some bullshit like that is just wrong. Anyone not trying to hurt me or my band can see that I think. So fuck you, Luna and anyone else creating that bullshit.
    As far as Holy Grail, they quit-the rumor I fired them is false. Thre is alot people do not know and I have remained quiet to this point, but not anymore. You will see a detailed blog and hear interviews about it all soon. I am ready to fight back-taking the high road has caused this to get out of hand. The truth is not what people are hearing I assure you.
    Finally with Wyatt-the guy does not want to tour-what can we do? He is not into it-he loves his family life so good for him. He has bailed twice because of that. Has nothing to do with anything else. Should we just quit and cancel a tour? Hell no! Mikey kicks ass and he is the man now-he cpuld not commit last year and can now, so that is that. Fans of Wyatt sorry, but was not my choice. I love his voice too!!
    To our fans thank yu and I love u all-to the haters-try and hear my side in the coming days and best to you too-I just want to make music and do not understand alot of this but it is what it is. Again thank you WW fans!!

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    1. Jon,

      Ok man, so now you’re on MY turf bro. You spoke your mind and now I’m going to speak mine. Was this the article you are whining about that I just posted yesterday: https://southeastofheaven.com/?p=7282

      First off, that whole thing about the “Jon Leon” in the Dio cover was hilarious. I know that’s not what he said but when Luna pointed it out it was just funny. It still doesn’t make up for the fact that it was a horrible rendition of a great song. Again, as I said before, I’m a WW fan of old and consider “Over The Top” one of my favorite albums ever but again, I’m a fan and I’m critical. I just think it’s too bad that you get your panties in a wad every time someone says something critical about your band. Who cares if Luna and Co. were fired or quit? I’ve always heard that they quit. Who gives a rat’s ass? Are you pissed because they went on to make a better album that you could ever dream of making post “Over The Top?” Wyatt and the OTT line up was stellar and face it, you will never capture that again. It’s not too hard to see just why people would find you impossible to work with.

      As far as Wyatt leaving the band, again, this isn’t the point. I really don’t care about the details about why or how this split went down. That is band business and none of mine. The issue that I found with all of this was your lack of respect for your fans to let them know about the minor detail of touring with a new singer. So many people were looking forward to seeing Wyatt back on stage and went to these shows only to see that pitchy Fred Durst lookalike up there. I could care less what a great singer you think he is. The point is that you didn’t think it important to tell your fans that they weren’t going to get what they thought they were getting? I totally get this because if I were wanting to see you live and I heard that Wyatt had been replaced by Gremino, I totally would’ve not gone to the show. Maybe you’re smart enough to know this fact and that is why you had to get called out by a 3rd rate blogger like myself before you even mentioned it to the fans. Either way, I think that’s a shitty thing to do and as fan, I found it highly insulting. I would’ve been even more pissed had I been one of the ones that showed up at one of your bait and switch events.

      And finally, if you love Wyatt’s vocals so much, why cover them up with Gremino’s vocals on the new album? Boy that’s going to work out really well huh?

      Jon, I’m not taking anyone’s side here but the side of the fans. You really must think we are that stupid and that you are THAT great for us to put up with this kind of ridiculous behavior. I have stood behind you and given you the benefit of the doubt over the years even when you released that crappy Shooting Star/We Rock single. I always tried to see the positive in all of this but this was the last straw broseph. You can call me a hater, you can call me whatever the hell you want but if you can really look at yourself in the mirror and think that you truly believe you do anything with the fans in mind, then I will just call you delusional.

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  32. You know, I’m a casual fan of WW, but it’s crap like this that Jon Leon keeps doing that makes me never want to listen to their music anymore. I have to respect someone that I choose to listen to. I have completely lost respect for Leon.

    Reply

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