The Years Gone By and bassist Dan Gilmartin have parted ways.
Message From Dan/The BandTYGB FANS:I've spent about an hour trying to write thisthing and I just keep deleting everything, so I'm just going to typeexactly what comes to mind.I have decided to split ways withTYGB. We are all still best of friends, and nothing can change that. Ihave a lot of things that getting in the way of me being in the band100%, most of which I have no control over. As most of you know Ijuggle going to college and playing in the band, something that isalmost impossible to do. Unlike the other guys, I did not sacrifice aneducation for music. My heart was in the band 100%, but because ofschool it makes it hard for me to be able to tour all the time,something the other boys are dying to do.Another thing that gotin the way is the conflict of interests that myself and the other boyshave. When I joined the band I didn't join because I wanted to becomesome rockstar and get signed to some major label and make mad cashflow. I joined because I just wanted to have fun with my friends. Aspeople get older, they get more responsibility. That is exactly whathappened with the band. Of course we still had fun, but more and moregot added to the plate. Instead of just having fun, we now have toworry about money, touring, record labels, and a ton of other stuffthat I want nothing to do with. I'm not saying that the other boys justwant to become rockstars, because if it wasn't fun no one would bedoing it. The bottom line is they are looking to make music theirlifestyle, even if it means dealing with all the bullshit the musicindustry has to offer.Iguess you can say I am leaving the band for the good of TYGB. The otherboys are looking to tour full-time and put the band in front ofeverything, something that I cannot do. It kills me that I have to evenwrite this, because being on the stage is something that I love andwill miss terribly.I want to personally thank every singleperson who has ever seen us live. I want to thank all of the fans whohave ever supported us, without you TYGB would be nothing. I appreciateeverything you guys have ever done for us and I apologize if me leavingupsets anyone. I have met hundreds of amazing people through being inthe band and I have had the absolute time of my life. I would not tradein my experience in the band for anything. TYGB will still be goingstrong as they will no doubt find a new bass player and write anamazing follow up CD. If anyone has any questions for me feel free tosend my personal myspace page a message, I'll get back to everyone. I'msure I'll find myself playing music one way or another, even if it'sjust singing in the shower, but I can no longer be the anchor of TYGB.
-Dan
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This could very well be one of the hardest things Ihave ever had the displeasure to write. It's wayharder than writing your senior paper the morning ofyour graduation. It's in a sense like writing a eulogyof a best friend. Scratch that, brother is a moreappropriate title. This is a letter to all of ourfans, friends and families concerning the recentdeparture of Dan from the band. As most of you may or may not know, this band wasfounded in the spring of our senior (his junior) yearof high school. We were but teenagers and couldn'thave been more naive about the world, our lifestylesand of course the music industry. Music for us was away to blow off weekly stress and the weekend showswould serve as hangouts for all our friends. It waslike living a dream. Writing music we loved andplaying it to people that love us. Not just becausethe way we look, not because the way we sound, butbecause they truly are our friends. The Years Gone Bywas built to serve a purpose. To entertain people andmake people enjoy the great things in the lives theylead. Even if for a mere 25-30 minutes, they wouldforget about divorce, fights, deception…whatever itmay be. The smiles alone were enough for us to pushthrew the bad times, family problems, and of coursethe stress of being in a touring band.One thing most people don't realize is the toll beinga touring band takes on you. Not just on your pride,when you play clubs to 2 people and those people aretrying to rob your CDs as your play. Not just on yourhealth, when you sleep in parking lots and parksbecause you spent all your money on gas to get to thenext state. Not just finically, when you come home andyou can't take your girl out because you needed to fixa broken window or flat tire. The road is hard and Ithink Dan felt that pain in recent months. The thingslike that sucked the life out of him and playing musicmight have seemed somewhat like a chore. No one is toblame, and unfortunately these things happen. For everyone reading this, there is one major thing Iwant you all to know. Dan was a huge part of The YearsGone By and I can't express to you how unbelievablybad he will be missed. Not just on the left side ofthe stage…but in my basement for practice, in ourconversations on our ridiculously long drives, in thestudio, our cramped car we toured in. Parking lots andrest stops won't be the same with out you. The lump in my throat is making my eyes water and I'mgoing to end it here. Of course we wish Dan the bestof luck in school. I hope everyone will stick with usthrew this tough time and just know we aren't going tostop any time soon.
- Nick & The Years Gone By"
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The Years Gone By And Bassist Part Ways
