Still working on your top 40 there, ariich?
Anyway, I was reading some of the FK yahoo mailing list the other day, and apparently all is not happy and well. Some drama and crap that went on behind the scenes has come out - Roine expressing his displeasure with the original drummer's attitude (not his playing), Roine's brother, their original bass player, Michael and Roine almost getting into a little tiff over the way Michael left the band, Roine and Tomas Bodin disagreeing over certain things that went on and not always in the friendliest manner, and the feeling that Roine is just tired of dealing with all of it, at least for now.
Plus, and this is a damn shame, Roine outright said last week that he has really been stung by some of the criticism of his vocals over the years (PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS), which is why he is content to not sing as much anymore, as he said he has no problem just being the guitar player behind lead vocalists like Neal Morse and whoever that guy is who sings for Angels of Mercy.
Honestly, I don't see anything new forthcoming from The Flower Kings any time soon, and would not be surprised if they were finished for good.
All in all, .
Like you, I've been following this drama over recent months, mostly through the TFK message board. It's a damn shame that all of this is going down, but at very least I am happy that TFK's main players are keeping busy with their solo and side projects. Agents Of Mercy is pretty good, although Nad's voice does take some getting used to; Hasse's Musical Companion is a great band, and their first album is amazing and I hope he makes another next year; Eggs & Dogs had a great showing with
YOU ARE, so I greatly look forward to
HE SHE IT IS to finish Tomas' long-planned trilogy; and Jonas is working on the 4th Karmakanic album for sometime next year.
I also find it interesting that Tomas is now working with Michael Stolt in Eggs & Dogs, and much of the tension that Roine has seems to be with Tomas, Jaime, and Michael. I also find it interesting that when Roine left The Tangent, Zoltan did as well, and who'd they get to replace him? Jaime. Coincidence? Only they know...
It's a BIG family, these Flower Kings, and getting them to come together again might take awhile, if ever, but I'm glad they have such an amazing catalog from 94-07, nearly 20 hours of music, in addition to tons of solo albums and side projects. As much as it pains me, I might alright with TFK being done... only if it meant more Transatlantic, Karmakanic, and Eggs & Dogs.
-Marc.