FROM FIRST TO LAST guitarist TRAVIS RICHTER has apologised to fans following the departure of frontman SONNY MOORE.

Moore quit the American rock band last month (FEB07) after months of speculation, but Richter insists the group tried their best to avert the line-up crisis.

Richter explains, "We were getting ready to fly to Los Angeles to meet up with Sonny to record the album when we got the news about him leaving.

"We know that Sonny's departure is going to be a huge deal to a lot of our fans. We all tried to make some compromises, but sometimes artists just have to do things for themselves."