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After apparently being fired from Madball, Jay Weinberg has responded thru Blabbermouth.net:

«Throughout the several months-long writing and rehearsing process held at MADBALL‘s Queens, New York workspace, I was fully engaged in the writing of the music for this album. As important as Freddy‘s lyrics would become when the music was finished, he was only present at those pre-recording sessions on two or three occasions. I agree that MADBALL will be better served by an individual more attuned to their particular lifestyle and, occasionally, a new band member will grind gears with longtime members over non-musical issues. To each his own.

But, let me be clear — while I really enjoyed playing the music, I do not subscribe to their choice of habits and lifestyle. This past August while on tour in Europe, disturbing events within the band indicated to me that it was time for me to move on.

While on tour in Canada in September, I informed Freddy, Mitts, and Hoya of my decision to leave — but not before they had found a replacement.»

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of Joe Grushecky’s American Babylon album, Joe will perform two nights in Pittsburgh, with the Houserockers and special guest Bruce Springsteen. The shows will take place at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall on Nov. 4th and 5th. Tickets will be available thru Ticketmaster.

Back in 1995, Bruce Springsteen produced the album, co-wrote some of the songs, played and sang on the album and went on tour for a week as part of the Houserockers, in a tour known as «The October Assault».

«I was pretty much down and out,» Grushecky told the Pittsburgh Tribune. «For the only time in my life, I was disgusted about music. … I didn’t have much going on. So for Bruce to come in and consent to do that — to produce the whole record and sing and co-write two songs and go out on tour with us — was a major shot in the arm. It gave me a second life, and I’m eternally grateful for that.»

Photo: Bruce and Joe in 1995 after recording American Babylon.

Here’s the full 30-minute interview with Brian Williams, as aired last night on the Nightly News at NBC.