At the end of the world, three things are guaranteed to survive: Keith Richards, cockroaches, and White Wizzard. I wish someone could tell me how the fuck Jon Pimental Leon is still even in the game. The guy has failed more times than an iPHone app startup company yet he still manages to make news. Hell, look at me, I’m actually giving him news so I guess you could say, “touché.”
Last year, just like always, Jon Pimental Leon made a promise that he wouldn’t keep. He promised to put White Wizzard forever. Ever since the Over the Top album, the band went through at least three vocalists, and more lineup changes that I can even count at this point.
Loudwire did a lengthy spread on the return of White Wizzard and the lineup was revealed to be:
White Wizzard 2019 Lineup:
Mikey Dean Gremio – vocals
James J. LaRue – guitar
Will Wallner – guitar
Jon Leon – bass
Devin Lebsack – drums
Jon Pimental Leon had this to say about the new lineup:
“In the history of White Wizzard, it has always been an evolving entity. There has been one singer that has sang twice as many shows than any singer in the band, and to probably 10x the amount of people,” begins a statement from the group.”
“There were many tours where Wyatt Anderson backed out last minute due to personal reasons and this singer flew in and saved the day with two weeks to go and we never missed a beat. He’s never gotten to record an album with White Wizzard, but he will now,” the band continues, revealing, “Very happy to announce that ex-Cellador singer and our former touring singer Mikey Dean Gremio will be recording and fronting the band on its next album.”
In praise of Gremio, the statement adds, “He never ever flaked on a show, and always gave his all in every performance and always knew the words and was prepared. Looking like the midwestern offspring of Ripper Owens and an old school outlaw country singer, Mikey is a versatile vocalist with an incredible range and depth.”
Looking to the future, White Wizzard said, “We are very excited to see the results of Jon’s vocal melody writing and Ralph Patlan’s vocal production on a full length album with Mikey singing.”
Joining Gremio and Leon in the new lineup is guitarist James J. LaRue, who played on White Wizzard’s 2018 record, Infernal Overdrive, guitarist Will Wallner, who played on the 2013 effort The Devils Cut, and drummer Devin Lebsack, who performed on the band’s “Marathon of Dreams” 2014 single.
So here’s where I will begin to write MY thoughts of this whole ordeal. When vocalist Mike Grimeo left White Wizzard, he had nothing but harsh words to say about how Jon Pimental Leon treated his band mates. When guitarist Will Wallner left the band, he literally left mid-tour, said every shitty thing you could possibly say about a person, and even went as far as to make a “hate video” on YouTube showcasing Pimental’s shitty singing in the background of a hateful voicemail left on Wallner’s phone.
Sounds like two guys that really like each other huh? I give this line up until the end of the year before it fizzles out once again and the mudslinging starts again but I don’t know what kind of hold Jon Pimental Leon has over these guys. Does he have videotaped evidence of Gremio hanging out with middle school girls? Does he have footage of Wallner actually speaking in an American accident? Did he secretly record James LaRue eating a Big Mac and chicken wings?
Seriously, I welcome anyone from the band to reply to this and tell me just what it is that draws them back to a band that they ran from like a building on fire and talked as if it was the worst experience they’ve ever had. Hell, even ex vocalist Wyatt “MAGA Man” Anderson joined not once, not twice, but THREE fucking times. I will not share our personal conversations but let’s just say that Anderson had nothing good to say about working with Mr. Pimental.
So again, what is it? It can’t be the money. Are these people easily manipulated by a musician who has the personality and smooth talking ability of a used car salesman? All I can say is that it will forever be a mystery until someone steps up and can actually say just what it is that draws these moths to the flame known as Jon Pimental Leon? We may just never know but I will say this, STOP FEEDING THE MONSTER. Maybe it’ll go away.
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