Grand Rapids Radio: Eric Zane OUT At Free Beer&Wings

Eric Zane's departure from the nationally syndicated Free Beer & Hot Wings morning show has disappointed and mystified listeners.

Eric Zane

Zane, a popular radio personality, has been with the show, heard locally on Townsquare Media's WGRD 97.9 FM, since he and Gregg Daniels (Free Beer) and Chris Michaels (Hot Wings) came to Grand Rapids in 2004 from New Jersey.

The show is now syndicated to 37 other stations across the country.

The reasons behind his leaving the show have not been released, and left to conjecture on social media. A petition drive, "Bring Back Eric Zane," has been started at change.org.

Some say they won't listen anymore.

"So bummed to hear this first thing! Zane was a great part of the show, and gave us a lot of hilarious memories. He'll be missed, but I still love the show! Best of luck to Zane and the guys as they move forward," a listener wrote on the show's website.

Another said: "This is horrible news.....I just loved what Zane brought to the show. Very funny twisted sense of humor yet very honest about everything. I will miss him."

The show released the follwing statement:

"The time has finally come for us to address the extended absence of Eric Zane. We can now confirm that Zane is no longer a part of the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show. Our parent company and he have severed ties which means that it is impossible for us to carry on with him. We had some truly great times together and hoped that it would stay that way until the end, however we've been in this game a long time and that's often the nature of the business. He is still our friend and brother and always will be. 

Details are still being worked out between all parties involved which means as of now, we quite literally are not at liberty to give specific details beyond confirmation of his departure. This is not a scenario we ever hoped we'd find ourselves in and obviously didn't ask for, but here we are. This has been incredibly difficult and weird for ALL involved and we appreciate your understanding. Right now, we ask that you let us handle this like the internal family issue it is. We are all real people with real emotions dealing with real things that affect us all directly. Finger pointing, blame, attacks or misguided speculation are not helpful. 

So that's it. For now. The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show goes on. 

We'll tell you more when we can...unless we can't. Forward we go. We hope you come with us. We can't do it without you. 

-The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show"