John Butler & Nicky Bomba Part Ways

2 September 2013 | 3:53 pm | Staff Writer

The "stretching of energies" wasn't quite working.

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The long-standing musical relationship between Nicky Bomba and John Butler has come to an end, it was announced over the weekend, as Bomba looks to focus more on his own numerous musical endeavours such as the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Bustamento and more.

Both Butler and Bomba have agreed that his leaving the John Butler Trio, the band he drummed with for many years, was a positive creative step for all concerned parties.

“Nicky has been a part of the Trio in some way or another in different forms over the past ten years, and somehow I think he will always be some kind of thread in the weave that we are. We are blood and soul music brothers,” Butler said in a statement released today.

“But Nicky is a front man through and through, and over the last few years watching his amazing Melbourne Ska Orchestra go from strength to strength and the opportunities for this grand dream of his open up wider and wider I had to ask him, and myself; is now a good time for him to ride that horse while she's heading for a full gallop?

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“Seeing him play to a sold out Metro City gig in Sydney a few months ago made my heart full and happy. It felt and looked “right”. It is an amazing time in Nicky's world as all his stars are aligning for his own project, and I honour that path completely and am so happy to watch my brother shine.”

Bomba said that it was the “stretching of energies” and “clashing of dates” between the two acts that has prompted the decision.

“As a songwriter and performer in my own right, the time felt right to hop back on my own ship to nurture the stories I've created,” he said.

“Along with my other projects, The Melbourne Ska Orchestra has gathered some steam of late and the stretching of energies and clashing of dates meant something had to give. John and I understood the scenario and like seasoned travellers at a crossroad, we both happily agreed on this GPS recalculation!”