yeh from alot of interviews i can make out that noel came back off holiday an alan had been given the boot by liam.at the end of the day alans gone yes a quality drummer he is,but you would not have heard the heavy sounds on this new album and dbtt wouldnt have sounded how it did.listen to the tsotl an say my big mouth on record,now although it sounds mega,it still would sound better with a pounding beat instead of all the fills ere there an everywhere.