NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams tease their future reunion.
On Friday, December 27, Loomis and Williams uploaded a one-minute video teaser with NEVERMORE-related imagery, their silhouettes, and the slogan “Resurrecting The Dream”. The teaser concludes with the NEVERMORE logo, “A New Chapter Rises” and “2025”.
In 2011, Loomis and Williams left NEVERMORE owing to personal disputes with singer Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard. Interviewing later, Warrel called NEVERMORE “the greatest band that alcohol ever ruined.”
Dane passed away in December 2017 at 56 in São Paulo, Brazil, while recording his posthumous solo album, “Shadow Work”. After a nighttime heart attack, the musician died.
Johnny Moraes, Warrel’s solo band guitarist, said Dane had addiction and other health concerns. “His health was already very weak because of his diabetes and his problems with alcoholism,” stated.
Dane had started recording his vocals for his follow-up to 2008’s “Praises To The War Machine” solo album soon before his death. The instrumental sections were almost finished.
Loomis was asked about reviving NEVERMORE without Dane in a 2019 Metal Master Kingdom interview. Jeff replied: “I think NEVERMORE’s sound was unique because of all the musicians at the time. Me, Van, Warrel, Jim. Different guitarists played in the band over time. We had Chris Broderick and Tim Calvert, who died. Lots of good players. Steve Smyth, Curran Murphy. Each of these guys was in NEVERMORE. I think it’s necessary to move on. I want to remember our band’s music spirit and attitude and move on. I think it’s impossible without Warrel. He is missed. One of my best buddies. It’s sad when it happens. It was. But we have music to remember it.”
In 2018, Loomis told France’s Loud TV about Dane’s death: “It’s tragic for one of my greatest pals from my band days. I think he was one of the best metal lyricists ever—a great person. Also troubled, he had troubles. We had many good and bad times together, but the good outweighed the bad. Finally, we talked like friends before he died. We got along. The music community mourns his passing, and he’ll be remembered as a brilliant metal vocalist.”
Loomis said Warrel was “struggling with drinking and things like this” for years before his death. “I’m not getting into too much detail there,” stated. “He struggled. I’ll miss him greatly. He was my friend and a lovely person.”
Jeff was asked if NEVERMORE might reunite before Warrel’s death. “I think that if you accomplish something for so long and leave your imprint in the music world, sometimes things have to finish. Unfortunately, my position with NEVERMORE ended an era after 18 years with the band. My life was entering a new phase. A reunion show was discussed in late 2016, but it never transpired. It won’t happen today.”
Loomis “amicably” left ARCH ENEMY in December 2023 for Joey Concepcion.
Jeff, NEVERMORE’s main songwriter, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014 but did not write “Will To Power” or “Deceivers”