A phone call on Friday, February 14, 2003 settled the matter. The band from which Charlie and Dave had been borrowed struck an independent record deal, Michael was told by leader Ben Gmetro — and a summer tour was now a strong possibility.

"The pair was got in a Faustian contract with Ben. Now time had run out. As Dave and Charlie couldn't be in two places at once, Ben's precedence meant plans for my band were postponed indefinitely. In spite of good intentions of the others, the Concord was now a one-man band."

The moment he hung up the phone, Michael wrote a letter and the next morning mailed it to each of the members. "No long goodbyes or slow deaths — I work at right angles. Sic transit gloria Concordia…

"…or so I thought."