BRMC Drummer Claims He Was 'Fired' From Band ... Again

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club drummer Nick Jago reports he has been relieved of his kit duties. According to a post on the BRMC website this week, Jago announced matter-of-factly that he has been replaced by Leah Shapiro, touring drummer from the Raveonettes.

"I just had dinner with Rob [Been] and Pete [Hayes] and, well, I'm not in the band anymore," Jago writes. "They are going into rehearsals tomorrow with Leah, she just finished touring with the Raveonettes and is super nice and cool. They presented it to me like they need a break, I took it as I am fired again and to be honest with you I respect their decision. I don't make it easy for them, I hope to be able to play with them again in the future as a reunion as there is really no bad feeling other than we all wanna be happy and right now we are not. Maybe playing drums for BRMC all the time is not my calling and there is something else I'm supposed to do. We will see. I'm sorry to all the fans and know that the drums are in good hands with Leah."

Hayes and Been confirmed the switchout, but insist Jago isn't fired. "It's true, Nick won't be joining us for the upcoming European tour, but it's not true that he is fired. We just feel Nick needs time to sort out exactly what he wants right now. His heart and all his energy and attention is on his own solo project and he needs to see that through."

"We welcome his singing and songwriting in BRMC, but his focus, at least at the present time, is on doing his own thing and we wish him the best," the remaining members continued. "He is our brother, our musical partner, and we love him dearly and look forward to playing with him again in the future."

Jago had previously been estranged from the band in 2004, but returned to play with the band in support of 2005's 'Howl', which only featured him drumming on one track. The band is still supporting last year's studio effort, 'Baby 81', which featured Jago back in the fold.