Threads like this kill the spirit of the music we all love.  We all have opinions and views of past and current happenings, but we never seem to remember a few things.  99 percent of us base our opinions on at best second hand information, and the 1 percent that know the real inner workings will likely never spill the beans.  Getting back to my point, regardless of what side of the fence you lean towards, I think we could all agree it has stopped being about the music a long time ago.  Why don't we make it about the music again? 

I have loved Brian and all BB music for a long time.  I appreciate his effort in making this album but the production is terrible.  I am Joe Thomas'd out.  I just don't see how this album will translate to sales outside of most strident BW/BB fans.  I'm just going to come out and say it, in my opinion I just don't see Brian having ability to be successful in today's music market.  I truly believe the only reason TWGMTR was so successful was because it was the "reunion" album and I would be willing to bet it was a curiosity purchase for the general public unlike most of us hardcore fans.  I have let the Google preview of NPP stew for a couple of days to give it a fair chance to grow on me and unlike most albums every time I try to listen to it, to me it gets worse.  I even hate the fact that I'm typing this, I would love to hear Brian put out a last great rock and roll album!

With out getting into his personal finances, I believe that he owns a rental property or 2.  And from knowing him, he saves everything.  He has a hard time throwing anything away. 

Just wanted to put Christians side of the story out there that's all.  He was subjected to some crappy internal politics which is truly a shame.  I agree with the earlier post about the vocal blend being better with Christian in the touring band.  Christian certainly had some similar tonalities to Carl.  In my opinion his talents were under utilized.  The few times I heard him sing lead on God Only Knows before they started piping in Carl were nothing short of amazing.  Quite honestly his lead vocal really put Bruce's to shame.  There is a video somewhere on YouTube from 2011 and it is awesome.

AGD I just want to shed some light on your comments about Christian.  You seem to be taking some passive aggressive shots at him, which I would like to help elaborate on.  You are right this was just another paying gig for Christian.  It got to be that way do to some internal politics in the touring BB.  Christian had been with the band 8 years and had asked for a raise and was not given a raise once in 8 years.  He had also asked a weekend off in September 2013 and was subsequently given off the entire month of October 2013 which amounted to a heft 4 figure loss of income for Christian.  Christians leaving was a confluence of internal politics, and a desire to write more original music.