Rumors have been swirling about a possible breakup of long-time on-screen pals Conan O'Brien and bandleader Max Weinberg, especially following the announcement that the E Street Band drummer would not be joining the currently running Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television tour.
Now comes word from musician Al Kooper that Weinberg has indeed ended his working relationship with O'Brien, according to Zap2It.com.
"[Weinberg] is a name you can't say anymore," Kooper recently said in an interview. "He's not in that band anymore. They let him go. This is a big transition, and they're all signing new contracts and everything so they replaced him, as far as I know."
Since departing NBC's 'The Tonight Show,' O'Brien has been unable to appear on television -- a stipulation of his contract with the network -- but his newly announced TBS late-night show is gearing up for a November debut, so fans have been left wondering what might happen with the show's band.
TBS hasn't released any official statement regarding Weinberg's departure, but it sounds like he will keep busy with his newly formed project, The Max Weinberg Big Band.
O'Brien has also remained silent, at least in public, about any change in band leaders, however, the comedian will break his television silence May 2 in an exclusive interview with '60 Minutes,' airing on CBS at 7 p.m. EST.
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