The guitarist also revealed details regarding some controversy within the group that fueled his decision not to return. "I love my brother and respect his talent," he noted, "but his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100% of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to."

Now, Chris responds to the official statement, telling Billboard "it's way more complicated than Rich's public outburst" while declining to elaborate. "I'm going to keep my personal, private family business personal and private," he says, "and I'll focus on all the other things that are important. The ideas, I think, are more important than the drama."