Love And Theft's Brian Bandas is leaving the group. He tells TheBoot.com it's not a decision he's made lightly, noting, quote, "This is something that I've been toying with for a longer time than probably anybody realizes." He explains that the turning point for him came in April, when Lyric Street Records closed and the group lost their label deal. But the singer admits it's not easy to go, and calls working with Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles for the past five years "an unbelievable experience." However, Bandas says he feels it's "the right step" for him, and he's excited, quote, "to see what the next Love And Theft in my life is going to be."
Bandas adds that the support he's received from Gunderson and Liles has been "incredible," and it's taken him a bit by surprise. He admits, quote, "I have been blown away. They have really encouraged me." He adds, quote, "I've been so thankful for how our friendships have been preserved through a difficult transition." Bandas will end his tenure with Love And Theft with the group's New Year's Eve concert in Chesapeake, Virginia. Gunderson says he and Liles plan to continue as a duo, jokingly noting, quote, "I'm going to be 'Love' and Eric's going to be 'Theft.'" Turning serious, he adds, quote, "We still believe in the music we're making, the music we're about to make, and what we've done so far, so we're not going to let this all of a sudden kill Love and Theft."
