While it’s not quite Robbie Robertson getting back together with The Band or even Jani Lane rejoining Warrant, we never thought we’d see the day that guitarist Charlie Hitchcock performed with Particle after some major uglyness marked his departure from the group in 2005. Yet Hitchcock and his old band mates will put any ill feelings aside to respect and honor two fans who recently passed away long before their time – Gregg Lobdell and Jimmy Lebloch – with a pair of shows in Southern California on May 21 (St. Rocke @ Hermosa Beach, CA) and 22 (Winston’s – Ocean Beach, CA).
Particle – Pipe Dream (Live – 02/23/2002)
An announcement on ParticlePeople.com explains…
Gregg and Jimmy were cornerstones of the Southern California music scene, and both played vital roles in helping build Particle’s fan base when the band first started with Hitchcock ten years ago. The band is eternally grateful for all the friendship and amazing experiences they shared with Jimmy and Gregg over the years, and they feel the best way to help their friends and family celebrate the lives of these two special people is to come together to perform as the classic Particle lineup that Jimmy and Gregg both loved so much.
Both Gregg and Jimmy also loved the music of Phish and as such the Mockingbird Foundation will set up a table at each show where concert attendees can make donations in their names. Anyone who makes a donation will receive this amazing print celebrating Gregg and Jimmy’s lives that artists and friends Jeremiah Harrison and Whitney Padgett created.
This isn’t Particle’s first time reuniting with an ex. After Hitchcock was fired, the band hired both Scott Metzger and Ben Combe to replace him in 2006. Metzger left the group quicker than Usain Bolt a few months later with Combe departing in 2007 for reasons he explained to Randy Ray.
Last November, Combe came back into the fold after a two years absence for a run of gigs in the Northeast and has since performed with the band at most shows without officially being named a member of Particle. Five years after his departure, Hitchcock’s chair is still open. It remains to be seen if he fills the spot himself or if Particle continues to turn to Combe.
