Both players issued separate statements in late November - just hours apart - that they were leaving to pursue their own musical interests; they have since confirmed plans to launch a new band together.

Now, Ellefson reflects on the lineup change, telling Spotlight Report "It is obviously going to be different without them. We spent five years together with them in that lineup, that is a long time. We did multiple live albums with them, two studio albums, we toured together. So it's a bit like some family members are gone."

"Especially through the holidays, I've kinda been a little sad about it," he continued, "I realize that they wanted to move onto something else and I support them as my friends, but selfishly I'm definitely going to miss them for sure. Things are moving forward of course and there will be a new development happening on that front."