Bonamassa manager: Point fingers at me over BCC

Future in doubt: Black Country Communion

Joe Bonamassa’s business partner says it was his decision to cancel Black Country Communion’s one-off show scheduled for January.

Roy Weisman says he made the call because Glenn Hughes had been “revising history,” and as a result playing the gig would have been uncomfortable.

He insists everyone was aware that Bonamassa’s commitment to the band would remain on an occasional basis, but for Hughes the message went “in one ear and out the other.”

The concert, which was called off just days after tickets went on sale, helped propel the feud between the guitarist and frontman into the spotlight.

in September Hughes said he doubted whether the band had a future because Bonamassa wasn’t available to tour upcoming third album Afterglow. In the aftermath of his comments both musicians went public, saying they were ready to “move on” from the band.

The singer later tried to calm speculation, accepting responsibility for having kickstarted the controversy. But earlier this week Bonamassa broke his silence, condemning Hughes for attempting to “bully” him into playing.

After drummer Jason Bonham said he’d also understood the band were going to hit the road in support of Afterglow, Weisman has spoken out in defence of his colleague.

He tells Classic Rock: “When BCC was created almost three years ago, everyone knew Joe had a full-time solo career. This project was ‘modern Travelling Wilburys,’ bringing four individual artists with their own careers together to make a great record.

“Both Joe and I were always above board about the touring. It was always meant to be from time to time. However, especially with Glenn, this idea seemed to go in one ear and out the other. His manager always knew the deal, even though Glenn wouldn’t stop pressing on the point.”

Weisman points out that Bonamassa kept his vow to tour with BCC in the summer of 2011 but continues: “Beyond that, there were no additional promises.

“The fact is, Joe’s solo career takes precedence over BCC, and always has. Everyone has known that from day one.”

The business partners initially agreed to the concert in order to promote the album, but Weisman says he was forced to reconsider. “When Glenn started speaking about Joe the way he was in the press, revising history on the spot, it became overwhelming. It got to a tipping-point where it was no longer comfortable for either Joe or I to want to Wolverhampton.

“In the end I am the one – not Joe – who made the decision to cancel Wolverhampton. So there it is. All fingers can point to me!”

Meanwhile, BCC have released their sixth and final video clip detailing the making of Afterglow, which is released on October 29.