I think you are correct with a lot of this.
However, there’s still a fair degree of ‘choice words’ being said by Hook.
At the last weekly chat, he referred to them as ‘New Odour’ again, so hasn’t totally given up on the public name-calling.
Having now watched the Twitter replay, I can confirm (as others have said above) that he keeps saying things like ‘the three of us really gelled on this LP’.
The only time he mentions Gillian is during ‘Doubts Even Here’ when he said it was Martin’s idea to get her to read the scripture. He said he never liked this element of the song.
So, even if he has spoken fondly of Gillian occasionally in the past, he had a chance to, very publicly, praise her contribution. Or even acknowledge it.
But he didn’t.
In fact, one of the saved tweets on the replay is from someone asking Steve whether Gillian actually played on the LP, as Hooky appeared to be insinuating that she didn’t. Steve replied ‘The track sheets would seem to suggest she did’.
As regards the band communicating “coldly” with him, I’m guessing that they just use lawyers to discuss matters with him. Which, given the circumstances, seems a very sensible thing to do. Better to do that, in my opinion, than let conversation degrade into bickering and name-calling. Which it inevitably will.
I agree with you that Hooky obviously feels aggrieved at how he was treated.
I also think that he has a point, in respect of certain matters. I’m sure he has been hurt by the band and that isn’t good.
However, as the person who tweeted Stephen stated, Hook ‘lets himself down’ with some of his comments, in a very public way.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Hook’s weekly chats and have really warmed to him again, after feeling a bit fed up with his comments a few years ago.
He is charming, friendly and comes across as a genuine bloke.
However, he rarely misses an opportunity to ‘air the band’s dirty laundry’ and I just wish he’d reign this in a little.
Edited by user 31 August 2020 23:49:00(UTC)
| Reason: Rogue apostrophe