Now that I Mother Earth has hired a new singer to replace departing frontman Edwin, rumours are flying that the group intends to make the change complete by adopting a brand new name.

Not so, says the band's camp.

The reports have become so widespread (though not, we should point out, in Jam!) that the once-and-future I Mother Earth felt compelled to post an official response on their website.

The most prevalent of those rumours, says the statement, concerns "this band called Dry that's been doing shows recently and claiming to be us. The band does contain a bass player who used to play with (IME drummer) Christian and (guitarist) Jag before they kicked him out before (IME's first album) 'Dig'. We're not sure why they're making a pathetic grab at the IME name like that, but it's not really fair to you guys, the fans. We haven't been doing ANY shows, and we won't be doing any for a long time to come. We're busy writing an album and don't have time to play shows."

Also, "One of the more recent rumors that has been spread around lately is that we'll be changing our name. We are still I Mother Earth and have no plans to change our name."

Meanwhile, as first reported here by Karen Bliss, IME's new singer is Newfoundland native Brian Byrne. His tape was given to I Mother Earth by a third party whose opinion the band trusted.

Bassist Bruce Gordon, guitarist Jagori Tanna and brother Christian had been sifting through hundreds of auditions tapes, CDs and videos since Edwin's departure. The multi-platinum rock band officially announced it had found a singer on its web site Nov. 13, but his name had never been released.

In a posted statement, the band said: "He has all the talent, voice and charisma we could have hoped for and more. We have been writing intensely together for the past few months and are starting to demo some of the new material."