ATHEIST Drummer Wants Everybody To 'Chill'

Drummer Steve Flynn of reactivated seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST, who received criticism from some of the band's fans for how they announced the departure of bassist Tony Choy, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Wow, seriously folks... I'm not sure how this was taken so far out of context.

"Actually, I am. I know exactly how this got taken so far. It's PR 101. The statement needed to be more simple, devoid of emotion, and to the point. It was a poor attempt and it was too long. However, there is a LOT of truth in that original press statement and there is a WHOLE LOT that people took the wrong way. Period. It's really quite simple.

"The whole point of the statement was that ATHEIST became what ATHEIST eventually became a very, very long time before Tony Choy played in the band... It's fact, it is most certainly not opinion...It's VERY very simple. Tony knows this and will agree without hesitation.

"Tony called me and said that he didn't want to continue doing this sort of music. In fact, he said it on multiple occasions previously. Simple. The problem was when he said it the last time and decided to pull the plug it was four weeks before we went to studio. THAT CLEARLY SUCKED!! We were pissed . . . We then tried to explain that his absence has, in no way, any significant impact on the sound, writing, musicianship, that made ATHEIST whatever it is to this day and/or the new record — 'Jupiter'.

"The truth is (and nobody will or can argue the simple point) from day 1 it was Kelly [Shaefer, vocals] and me who were primarily responsible for writing, arranging, and so forth... just as it is today — with [guitarists Chris] Baker and J.T. [Jonathan Thompson] in 2010 contributing significantly.

"The 'Unquestionable Presence' [1991] lineup (the guys that wrote the music) did not include Tony. It's simple. Tony stepped in and played on the album. He played what was already written. TONY HIMSELF would NOT disagree with that.

"We will release a joint letter soon so everybody gets it.

"That's it! That's all we tried to say.... QUITE poorly obviously!!!

"Again, our apologies.

"The 'legend' of ATHEIST and who was part of the original lineup has become quite distorted over the past 20 years. Again, read the first press release.

"While we're friends, we love Tony, we may still tour together (if Tony wants to still do this sort of music) and on and on... he was not part of what made the sound that is to this day recognized as ATHEIST. Tony (not a judgment in any way) simply played what was already written on 'Unquestionable Presence'. Now, he was a contributor on 'Elements' [1993], to be sure. Kelly will tell you he was a significant contributor. But, scattered individual opinions aside, that album is NOT considered by most people as a quintessential 'ATHEIST' record....where 'Piece Of Time', 'Unquestionable Presence' are....

"Does that make sense to everybody?

"I wasn't part of 'Elements'. Tony was. Tony wasn't a part of 'Unquestionable Presence' or 'Piece Of Time'. I was.

"Does that make sense?

"The foundational lineup did not include Tony, and it was that foundational lineup that is responsible for whatever you think of ATHEIST in 2010.

"Tony and I talked about this subject last week at length. No harm...no foul....It's simple.

"The press release was poorly done. Again, while it communicated much truth, it was written with and taken with the wrong tone, and that we did NOT intend. We simply wanted the truth to be out there. Though I will say that in many folks' defense, I can see how it was interpreted as it was.

"We're not professional PR folks. We're just trying to exist, work, and play cause we love the music!

"All's well. Tony's well, we're well. I'm sure Tony's new endeavors will be great... we'll probably be touring together (did everybody miss that on the last release?),we're still friends. I'm going to Miami to visit in a couple weeks to hang out with him.

"So, again, apologies for the drama. But, please, everybody... chill.

"If anybody would like to discuss, we'll be glad to have a conference call, video interview, whatever.

"Again, it's just music. There's been a LOT of heated debate here. It's all good."

Tony Choy's official statement regarding his departure from ATHEIST can be found at this location.

ATHEIST recently completed work on its long-awaited fourth album, "Jupiter", for a tentative November release via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at LedBelly studios in Atlanta, Georgia with engineer Matt Washburn and was mixed by Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER). The bass tracks on the effort were laid down by ATHEIST guitarist Jonathan Thompson, who also plays bass for Flynn's other group, GNOSTIC.

Quality video footage of ATHEIST's August 9, 2009 performance at De Kade in Zaandam, Holland can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthemetalflow").