Any idea why they [layed minus Mal? Don;t tell me they managed to fall out in the space of three weeks during the short Aust tour in 2006...

Yes, 'tis curious.

I seriously doubt a real answer on that will be forthcoming, or if an explanation is given to the fans/public it will probably be extremely glossed over. I don't think we'll ever know and that it's all left to conjecture.

I went to the concerts last year in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. As an audience member, Mal's drumming was great to hear, and the songs were as energetic as could be. When I had the pleasure of meeting him personally and having a chat, he was a charming, personable man.

I'm sure he'll be missed by a lot of fans on tour, but I'm equally sure that the band will deliver quality shows, even if they sadly don't include Mal.

It was fairly glossed over in any media I've seen, but very sad to say that Mal is well and truly out of the NZ '08 tour. The closest I think we'll come to any public explanation was Tim saying that Mal's not part of the "Core 5" who have been emailing each other this whole time and discussing the logistics of the tour (yes, it has been happening since Oz '06). Won't be quite the same to me without Mal there, he's a great drummer and a charming person.