Dave Matthews Band Keyboardist Quits 3 Days Before Tour Begins

Where Are You Going, Butch? Speculation as to what is the real reason why keyboardist Butch Taylor is leaving the most successful American touring band of the past decade is still up in the air.  The Dave Matthews Band fan message boards were ablaze Tuesday afternoon as the following message was released by dmband.com:  Keyboardist Butch Taylor has decided to leave Dave Matthews Band. We are saddened by this sudden news but he has our full support. He’s given so much to us and our audience through the years and he will be missed.
Long time fans who have seen the band perform live in the past 8 years would remember Taylor contributing with solos near the end of staples like “Two Step” and “Bartender”, as well as lending soprano back-up vocals with drummer Carter Beauford on “Stay.” Always smiling on stage, he was a permanent presence stage right since the summer tour of 2000.  According to DMBalmanac.com:
When DMB wanted a keyboardist for a few tracks on Before These Crowded Streets(1997), they brought in Butch Taylor, a former bandmate of Carter and LeRoi’s, who also guested at a handful of shows with the band in 1998 and 1999. He then toured with the band for most of the summer 2000 tour but was absent for that year’s fall tour and for the beginning of 2001’s summer tour. After the release of Everyday, however, it was apparent that the new songs needed a fuller live sound, so Butch was brought back into the lineup beginning on 5.18.01. By the end of the 2001 tour, Butch was an “unofficial member” of the band, playing on nearly every song from 5.18.01 to 4.1.08. 

The emphasis should be made about “unofficial” member, as he was never listed as a band member.  The albums Busted Stuff and Stand Up did not list him with the other 5 as a member, always a guest.  Maybe that finally got to him, maybe he was tired of being a “guest” for 8+years.  The band was in the studio working on material for a new album due out later this year or early ‘09.  Was that it?  He was told once again that he would not get the royalties of being a member, again just a guest?  Maybe it was the fact that Before These Crowded Streets guest and longtime friend of the band, guitarist Tim Reynolds, joined DMB in the studio and will be joining the band on it’s entire summer tour.  Did Tim and Butch have a beef?  Too many guests this summer?  Along with Dave Matthews on guitar, Leroi Moore on saxophone and clarinet, Boyd Tinsley on violin, Stefan Lessard on bass, and Carter Beauford on the drums, this tour was scheduled to include Tim Reynolds on guitar, Rashawn Ross (formerly of Soullive) on trumpet, and Taylor’s keys, which would have put 8 men on stage every night.  I guess it’s too early for the reason behind his departure. The next question is this: will the band find a replacement to fill in for the tour? Names thrown around by fans have included 2 (one being more realistic and one being a stretch a mile long) Ray Paczkowski, who played with Dave and Friends in 2003, and Page McConnell, former keyboard player for Phish.  The former is more likely if they should choose to replace Butch for the tour, but without much time to rehearse, I doubt they will find a keyboard player for this tour.  I for one will will miss Butch and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. 
**Butch Taylor stats as guest keyboardist according to DMBalmanac.com:
Song Appearances: 8254
Show Appearances: 486