What Does the Future Hold for the Dave Matthews Band?

2008 has been a hell of a rollercoaster ride for the Dave Matthews Band.

The lows for the band, certainly outweighed the highs.

Back in May, just days before their summer tour was set to take off, keyboardist Butch Taylor left the band after ten years, citing personal reasons.

At the end of June, saxophonist and founding member LeRoi Moore was involved in an ATV accident. Sadly and tragically, and not even two months later, he had passed away.

The high points, or great things, that the year brought for the band, were the additions to the summer tour, of guitar mastermind Tim Reynolds and saxophonist/flutist Jeff Coffin, of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. But like I said, the lows outweighed the highs.

But before all of these things happened, the band was already hard at work on a new studio album, with producer Rob Cavallo, who is best known for his work with Green Day, the Goo Goo Dolls and My Chemical Romance.

Dave and company are reluctant to describe the sound for the follow-up release to 2005's Stand Up, but they have been saying that it's quite different from their previous albums.

Then one day, all of this stuff happened.

Luckily, for the band and its fans, the late Moore will be remembered one last time, with the band using as much of what he had already recorded.

The band has finished their 2008 tour, one of the most successful summer tours of the past fifteen plus years, and are taking a much needed break to focus on what is important in life.

Dave has said that in the past the band has tended to push the recording process, eager to get back on the road in time for summer.

But with everything that has happened, they have decided to take their "sweet time" with the new material, to pay respects to the legacy that LeRoi Moore left with the band and the fans.

Dear Dave Matthews Band,

As a DMB fan for nearly half of my life, you are what makes my summer's complete. I can hardly wait until the day, when the tourdates are announced and I decide on what shows to attend. I know it's been a rough year for you guys, and I know I speak for all the fans when I say: please, please, please take all the time in the world off that you need. There is no other band more deserving of a break, or in need of some time off, to spend with your families and loved ones.

To read a fuller, more detailed version of what's going on in the world of the Dave Matthews Band, please click here.