[tfrommer@mindspring.com]

(wow two posts from me in a week after nearly none in years) 

I've been very intrigued and interested in people's thoughts regarding the post-PG version of the band and particularly David's comment on "what if someone else had left the band?" I'm still waiting arrival of Rob's book here in the States so I can't comment on being able to read between the lines. I do recall one show when prior to playing a cover, PG said it was one of the few "non-Hirst/Moginie compositions of the evening." After 20+ years, it seems to me that everyone knew his role within the band. 

In light of the usual half-life of bands, that MO existed for 25 years is remarkable. I recall Justin Sullivan of New Model Army commenting after original drummer Rob Heaton left the group that being in a band makes you closer than brothers but not always friends. Perhaps that describes Rob's feeling when he wrote the book, and now during the press tour. 

I could see the band having continued to make music and call it Midnight Oil if someone other than PG left. He was the public's face for the band regardless of his songwriting contribution. To the vast, uninformed majority (i.e. not we powderworkers), had Bones or Martin left, I could easily have seen the band continuing. How about REM? "If any of us leaves, it's not REM." Well, Bill Berry left two albums ago and they're still REM to most. Had it been Stipe, there wouldn't be an REM today.