Founding drummer Todd Nance has parted ways with Widespread Panic, according to a spokesman for the band. Nance’s spot will be filled by Duane Trucks starting with the band’s hometown show at The Classic Center in Athens, Ga., this evening.
Tonight’s show will celebrate Panic’s 30th anniversary. The group—which at the time consisted of Nance, John Bell, Michael Houser and Dave Schools—played their first official gig on February 6, 1986 at The Mad Hatter Ballroom, which was located where The Classic Center now stands. A statement sent to Relix and Jambands.com from the group’s spokesman reads, “Duane will be the drummer for Widespread Panic moving forward.”
The news of Nance’s departure comes just days after he reunited with the band for three shows at their annual Panic en la Playa destination event in Mexico. Nance had not performed with Panic since September 2014 due to undisclosed personal reasons, and the Panic en la Playa shows featured several left on the shelf since his departure. During his time away from Panic, the drummer toured regionally with his Todd Nance & Friends project and occasionally collaborated with Panic percussionist Sunny Ortiz.
Earlier today, fan site Panic Stream published a tweet, which has since been deleted, that captured a Instagram direct message from Schools that read, “It was not an an easy decision. Ultimately it was his choice. Onward.”
Trucks, who plays with Schools in Hard Working Americans and has subbed for Nance since 2014, will serve as Panic’s drummer for the foreseeable future. He is also the son-in-law of Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring.
https://www.relix.com/news/detail/todd_nance_leaves_widespread_panic
I'm guessing there's a lot more to this story - Happy for Duane, though
This news doesn't surprise me. What did surprise me was that Todd played with them in Mexico.
There's past issues with dependency there...Todd hasn't looked the best of health lately either. Wish him all the best.
I briefly spoke with Derek's and Duane's Dad at the Warner last year and he expressed happiness that Duane was playing with Panic. In fact he said that Duane even had insurance through Widespread Panic and felt it might become a full time gig.
Congratulations Duane.
Can you imagine what those family reunions are like?
I wish Todd all the best.
Can you imagine what those family reunions are like?
This reminded me of a story, years ago when Derek must have been 12 or 13, me and a buddy went to see him at a BBQ joint in Jacksonville.
After having our minds completely blown by this kid ripping on Little Wing, who looked smaller than his guitar, Derek jumps offstage for a break, sits at a picnic table right next to us where his family was and starts grab assing with what must have been Duane and exclaims: "Look I bit the head off the elephant" or whatever it was, they were eating animal crackers.
My friend and I thought we were in a Twilight Zone episode.
Great story!!!
Now if they could get rid of John Bell and get a decent singer ...
Now if they could get rid of John Bell and get a decent singer ...
I was just thinking the same thing as I read the title of the thread....
I am hearing WP for the first time next week and I got Street Dogs to prep.
I think aging has helped Bell's voice, seems to be a bit lower pitched and a bit of gravel helps.
Anyway, I think the record is strong. Herring and Schools (and Trucks) will be awesome regardless.
I think Nance makes more money in his other career anyhow:
Todd was fired because he uses drugs, and refused to get sober but this is pretty hypocritical considering everyone else in WSP uses them or has used them before.
Duane is not that good of a drummer compared to Todd, and the only reason he took Todd's place is because he was in HWA with Schools and his father in law is Jimmy Herring.
WSP used to be a great bar band and good in small clubs in the 90s but ever since Houser died and now they kicked out Todd they're a pale imitation of what they once were. I love Jimmy Herring and his guitar playing but he's been wasting his talent for over a decade in panic.
At least the ABB broke up and ended it all before they became a total joke and professional cover band like panic has been for awhile now.
All entitiled to their opinion of course, but I would actually say the complete and total opposite of almost every word of this post. I would say that Todd Nance was always the weakest musician in WSP and one of the weakest drummers in a major touring act that I’ve seen. Certainly the weakest drummer in the jam/rock genre that puts emphasis on jamming and individual instrumental proficiency. Duane Trucks is a significant upgrade in my mind, just a matter of him getting comfortable with all the material and tempos.
Further, WSP have put out 5 albums of new original material since Houser passed, 3 of those albums since Jimmy Herring joined in ’06, and even have a brand new album of material that Duane Trucks played on that just came out. Many, many of those post-Houser originals are in steady rotation, so charging that they are a cover band at this point is just false.
I would argue that this current incarnation is the best they’ve ever been live. The last decade of Jimmy Panic has been really outstanding and there’s a decent chance they get even better as Duane settles in.
Obviously, Alpha is Todd Nance' s mom incognito. 😛
Todd was fired because he uses drugs, and refused to get sober but this is pretty hypocritical considering everyone else in WSP uses them or has used them before.
Duane is not that good of a drummer compared to Todd, and the only reason he took Todd's place is because he was in HWA with Schools and his father in law is Jimmy Herring.
WSP used to be a great bar band and good in small clubs in the 90s but ever since Houser died and now they kicked out Todd they're a pale imitation of what they once were. I love Jimmy Herring and his guitar playing but he's been wasting his talent for over a decade in panic.
At least the ABB broke up and ended it all before they became a total joke and professional cover band like panic has been for awhile now.
All entitiled to their opinion of course, but I would actually say the complete and total opposite of almost every word of this post. I would say that Todd Nance was always the weakest musician in WSP and one of the weakest drummers in a major touring act that I’ve seen. Certainly the weakest drummer in the jam/rock genre that puts emphasis on jamming and individual instrumental proficiency. Duane Trucks is a significant upgrade in my mind, just a matter of him getting comfortable with all the material and tempos.
Further, WSP have put out 5 albums of new original material since Houser passed, 3 of those albums since Jimmy Herring joined in ’06, and even have a brand new album of material that Duane Trucks played on that just came out. Many, many of those post-Houser originals are in steady rotation, so charging that they are a cover band at this point is just false.
I would argue that this current incarnation is the best they’ve ever been live. The last decade of Jimmy Panic has been really outstanding and there’s a decent chance they get even better as Duane settles in.
LOL keep telling yourself that WSP is at their best now and that they'll get even better. This is the incarnation of the band that invited Carrot top as a guest "musician" multiple times. The new songs are not that good, and sorry but their original sound with Houser and Todd is what attracted most people to them to begin with. But Duane Trucks is a butt rock drummer. 😛
I assume you're trolling and there's no real way for this discussion to move forward, but Carrot Top sits in on percussion during the Drums section of shows and played with them while Houser was still alive 11 times starting in '97.
They certainly lost something with Houser's song writing - but the upgrade in pure instrumental proficiency from Nance/Houser to Trucks/Herring is mammoth. There's no need to discuss this further as it's not really a debateable point. Lots of people prefer the Houser WSP sound better, and that's fine. I became a fan in that era so I understand and I like that era as well. But, I happen to like the Herring era even better and in terms of the caliber and technical ability of the players on the stage there is I would say a significant upgrade now over say 1999.
I wish Todd well, hope for the best for him, thank him for the many years playing in a band I love. I also have no doubt they'll be better still with Duane.
Actually, I think Duane fits in the band much better than his father-in-law -- who's a great guitarist playing in the wrong band.
Jimmy Herring has so much more to offer. Have tried many times to like WSP. Just can't.
Then again, better they get Duane Trucks than Duane Betts.
"Herring has been wasting his talent in Panic for a decade now"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By "wasting" his talent in Panic, Jimmy has been able to afford a nicer house,
evidently have health insurance, put out two solo albums, and mount a tour with
his own band consisting of Mike Landau and Mike Kennealy. While I'm not a huge
Panic fan, it would be hard to say Jimmy is wasting his talent. He is after all a working
musician. His other opportunities in today's world would be Justin Timberlake's touring
guitarist?
Alpha says the reason Todd is no longer in the band is an abuse problem. I'm not going
to doubt him. So ... Duane is a suitable replacement. He played with Schools in Hard Working
Americans. Jimmy's son-in-law (although that should put a damper on picking up chicks on tour.)
About Duane maybe it's me but he appears to just an average drummer at best. Better than Nance
but average at best. You'd think with Derek as his brother he'd be some jazz fusion phenom.
Duane's drumming sounds very appopriate for the songs being played. He fits in. It wouldn't sound right if you put a great drummer like Yonrico Scott in the drummer's seat or had Count Mbutu replace Sunny Ortiz.
"Herring has been wasting his talent in Panic for a decade now"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By "wasting" his talent in Panic, Jimmy has been able to...mount a tour with
his own band consisting of Mike Landau and Mike Kennealy.
I'm curious if this was a misprint. I know he toured several times with Landau and Krantz as The Ringers, but did he actually tour with Mike Keneally?
Blooby
You are so right Blooby. I stand corrected. I got mixed up as Mike will be touring with Satriani soon. The point being is that Panic afforded Jimmy the luxury of touring making music that others would deem worthy of his talent with musician's of his own caliber I.e. Landau and Kramtz.
Just a follow up:
The Panic show last night here in Mobile was very enjoyable, my first as I said before. Herring was the main draw but I have been curious about WP for a bit and I'm glad I finally checked them out.
I did not know any of the tunes but pretty much liked all except for one ballad. Big jams in heaping helpings. Really loud in no small case due to JH.
I have to say the best male/ female ratio I've ever seen at a jamband show.
I don't know how many more big shows I have in me or if I will go to another Panic show but last night was a good night of music.
I have to say the best male/ female ratio I've ever seen at a jamband show.
I've observed this as well.
Just a follow up:
The Panic show last night here in Mobile was very enjoyable, my first as I said before. Herring was the main draw but I have been curious about WP for a bit and I'm glad I finally checked them out.
I did not know any of the tunes but pretty much liked all except for one ballad. Big jams in heaping helpings. Really loud in no small case due to JH.
I have to say the best male/ female ratio I've ever seen at a jamband show.
I don't know how many more big shows I have in me or if I will go to another Panic show but last night was a good night of music.
Glad you enjoyed it. I am a hardcore fan of WSP and to me, it seemed like an extra special show just because they didn't do one cover song. They always sprinkle in a few covers. For someone that doesn't know much of their stuff, it probably wasn't optimal, but glad you liked it none the less.
PS. Duane is a much more enjoyable drummer than Todd. I feel bad for the guy, but he just always seemed pretty boring to me.
[Edited on 2/19/2016 by tfhello]
WSP on TV tonight:
http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=141085#pid
