THE WILDHEARTS Frontman Addresses Bassist's Departure

THE WILDHEARTS mainman Ginger has posted a lengthy message via his official web site addressing bassist Danny McCormack's recent departure from the group in order to go into a rehabilitation center to seek out help for his heroin addiction.

"Ever thought that things have gone as bad as things can possibly get, only for things to get worse?" Ginger wrote. "Much, much worse? In the quest for the official nadir of bad tidings the good news is that there isn't one. When the smell of shit becomes too much to deal with, worry not... pretty soon you'll have to eat that shit, and then pine for the days when all you had to do was smell it.

"Rock 'n' roll... it's a shit business. Well, it's a brilliant game for those who enjoy it, but for some it is a one way ticket back to the hell that haunts them in the shape of alcohol and drug addiction. Everyone likes a drink or a drug of some kind, but to some it is not a casual relationship. It is a bunny boiler of a partner that demands the soul and sanity of its victims. Be it drink or drugs, the problem with the sufferers of this particular illness is not the vehicle but the direction. They will get that buzz whatever it takes, and will still hate themselves for it. It is not anyone's place to judge the intentions of an addict, it is a mental state and therefore not up for discussion by anyone other than fellow sufferers or people that have been close to sufferers. Addiction is not aimed at you. It is not a personal jibe. The self loathing involved with being an addict, to anything from crack to chocolate, is something that the public do not see. The addict is not innocent as charged but neither is the person that would judge the addict, in any way. There are people that think that feeding an ex-heroin addict regular alcohol is okay because it isn't heroin, blissfully ignorant to the fact that heroin isn't even the problem.

"Having an addictive personality is the problem.

"Yet, these are the same people that will judge, condemn and insult those around them for having design faults. These are the people that addicts will suffer from knowing. People who will spread rumours, and try to alienate the addict from other people that care for the addict. Why? Because if the addict knew just how much these people blame the rest of the world for them being fucked up, the addict would then realise that their sinister plan is to keep the addict in a controlled environment so they won't fly away, thus making the lives of the condemners even more meaningless.

"What chance have addicts if there are people around them feeding their newest addiction? They will obviously revisit their old habits in time if they are left off the hook long enough.

"Action is the final answer.

"Danny, as you have probably heard, is not in THE WILDHEARTS. We do not know if he will be back in the band. This sucks. Especially right now, when everything is supposed to be heading in the right direction.

"The first thing we do not want to happen, and WILL NOT allow to happen is that Danny dies because of his inclusion in this band. We can't watch him head slowly downhill, and we can't force the band and crew to stop drinking to make things easier for him, as the addict will find another source to obtain his fix of whatever. We can't encourage him to drink, and if you see him drinking please do not buy him a drink, otherwise you are helping kill Danny, and I can't think why you would think that's cool. All I can do is this, urge you to help. Spread the word, and of anyone sees him with as much as a beer in his hand, they owe it to themselves to remind him that they love him and would rather not see him drinking. Believe me, booze will kill him as surely as heroin. Please help.

"The second thing we want to happen is that we keep the band going, for us, for the fans and to give Danny something to work for if he decides he wants to get well and re-join. If Danny walked through the door in a years time, clean, sober and actually living a life, there isn't anyone that wouldn't weep, and welcome him back.

"I hope that he can do it this time. Do it properly and for good. Some people should be clean.

"Good luck Dan, we love you very much."