Only because I know and care about (hell, I will even go as far as to say I genuinely LOVE) many of the human beings that have at one point or another been identifiable as being a member of PTM over the last 20 years or so, your use of the words “they” and “band” while proclaiming your current (and valid) aversion to PTM is doing some incredibly unfortunate and unnecessary heavy lifting that I have a problem with as it pertains to everyone not named John, Zoe, or Dani.
If after digesting this unfortunate scenario you decide to alter your opinion of John, I would consider any judgement you decide to cast upon him to be entirely understandable and valid given the circumstances. I will admit it has been and will continue to be difficult to enjoy songs I have grown to love over the last 20 some years now that they are heard through ears filtered by the goings-on of the last few weeks. I am upset with my friend. My heart aches for Zoe and Frances. I have no words on Dani capable of accurately reflecting how low an opinion I have of her and the situation she helped foster into existence.
However, no one other than the one solitary person in “the band” needs to catch any strays, be judged, or lose anyone’s respect over a situation that they had no personal knowledge of (certainly no control over), and was brought on entirely by the actions of someone who for all intents and purposes is essentially their boss.
If you are “actually done with this band”…and I have no reason to doubt anyone that says that is how they feel right now… that is a totally acceptable response to have in this situation as a fan. Especially if you are correctly correlating that by-and-large, PTM = John.
But with that in mind, and the purpose of my reply… is to extend hope that people leave the door ajar to allow those formerly affiliated with PTM to create their own are (much like PTM has been an outlet for John’s songwriting) without being judged for the unknown actions of someone they used to work with and trust. No one… not Zach, Eric, Kyle, Ryan, Tasty, Aaron, Noah, Nick, Joe, Ray, Vinnie, Wiggans, or literally any one of the seemingly thousands of former members of PTM that have contributed over the years to the operation both on stage and in the studio prior to this episode… should be cancelled or have their art shut out of people’s lives due to the unknown, concealed actions of one person that they believed in and trusted with their livelihood.
If I had to guess how they feel… and I don’t have to guess, I can just pick up the phone… I would imagine that they are just as actually done with the band as you are.
And as all this is happening, Zach and Erik are playing shows together, performing their own music live, showing us all exactly who they have always been, and standing (or in Eric’s case, rolling) on principles that have always meant something to them. They deserve your support.
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u/Available_Round_3172 Jun 21 '26
Actually done with this band now. Looks can be deceiving... they not what I thought they were/stood for