I don't know who's going to log on and actually read this... it's
really something i wanted to say to all of you anyhow so that doesn't
matter.
You all really cut Mike a raw deal. You didn't give him the chance he
deserved after all of these years of commitment and devotion. It's
unbelievable the people he considered to be his BEST friends would have
done it like this... Why didn't you guys sit down and talk to him
first? Why wouldn't you give him that much after all of this time?
Don't any of you have one ounce of respect for Mike? Enough respect
that you would've talked to him first before ripping away something so
precious to him? This isn't as simple as "making a business-wise"
decision Ian, this was your fucking friend. Did that make it easier to
try to paint it that way? That this is some business decision, free of
any personal or emotional weight? What a crock of bull shit.


Have you forgotten about the countless shows Mike helped to
book for you guys, the countless phone calls he used to make to set up
the unforgettable tours you all took? HE DESERVED BETTER THAN THIS...
and it's obvious to me you guys know that otherwise you would've had to
balls to let Mike know what was up before he had to ask... and in some
E-mail no less! WOW!
I've heard a handful of times Mike talk about what you guys all mean to
him, what the band has been for him. His own parents move on to start
new families and leave Mike in limbo not really belonging anywhere...
feeling out of place and like he doesn't have a family. He's ALWAYS
said YOU GUYS were his family. How could you be so cold-hearted as to
pass something like this off as a "BUSINESS" decision?! I know Mike,
and I know he's hurt very deeply NOT by being kicked out of the band,
but by his BEST FRIENDS total lack of respect and caring for him.
This was totally unnecessary, you know you should have simply let Mike
know you all wanted him to be a little more committed and given him the
chance to improve on that before taking these steps.



You didn't talk to him, to him this is coming out of left field.


Mike deserved better than this from people he's given so much
to over the years. You've all put in so much to this for so long, just
try to imagine what you've done to Mike by not even giving him a chance
to step up! I wish you could know how unbelievably heartbreaking it is
to see you guys do this kind of thing to him. Any true friends wouldn't
have bull shitted around and played games... "Uh... yeah Mike there's
no practice this weekend"... then the next weekend sending a text
message 3 in the morning before practice "Uh.. yeah Mike don't worry
about coming to practice someone else is going to Jam with us today..."
What the fuck is that?


No matter what Mike did to rub anyone the wrong way, no matter
what he's done that irritated any of you or maybe that you didn't agree
with, no matter any of your differences even YOU OWED HIM MORE RESPECT
THAN THIS!


You guys fucked over someone who genuinely cared about you and
who cared about the band. I'm thoroughly disappointed in all of you.



-Melissa Folkerts