How is that Reap? All bands get their eggs in a basket first before anouncing a new band member. I think we're all just anxious.
Pointing out that reality is almost making my argument for me.
Remember right after MP left the band, and the remaining members went to great lengths to reassure the fan base with calm and honesty? Now, whenever they talk about the future, the comment is either "this is going to rock!" or "we can't reveal the new drummer's name for reasons we can't talk about." The first sounds forced. The second hints at problems beneath the surface.
At this point, I almost have to believe there's conflicting legal interests involved. It's the only way this can possibly be happening.
What do you want to happen, from a P/R standpoint, when announcing a new drummer? Fan excitement? When the new guy's name is released, the reaction will be a mix of (a) Oh, they finally released that info? Interesting. Hope the album's good. (b) Thank god we finally know. I feel relieved. (c) I'm interested but skeptical. (d) ZOMG IT'S NEVER GONNA BE LIKE PORTNOY.
That doesn't look like excitement to me. Anybody who was genuinely interested got bored or anxious. The new guy's name actually being announced will reinvigorate this interest a bit, but all the energy that would have went into genuinely caring has already been expended on waiting.
If the new drummer's Mangini, it's even worse. His potential in the band has already been discussed, and the announcement would have no effect beyond "oh, so it was him." Some people would be stoked they speculated correctly, but that's just internal ego being satiated.
So far, how could this situation have turned out worse? An apparently large portion of the band's fans want them to quit. The rest of their fans are in an anxious and pissy mood. They missed a great opportunity to re-rally the base with the exciting news of their new drummer.
But maybe I'm not taking a long enough view. Any situation can be turned around.
EDIT:
Even if someone in the band said something like this:
"Look, we know the wait for the new drummer's name has been excruciating. And not in the P/R sense of the word. We know it's created lots of anxiety, confusion, and boredom. Due to legal matters beyond our control, it's been impossible. If we had done it our way, we would have made the announcement at least a month ago. We don't have some kind of master plan involving alienating our fan base."
People would understand.