Keith Urban Defends Decision To Fire Longtime Bandmates After Backlash From Fans

Country crooner Keith Urban’s good-guy rep took a big hit after he coldly dumped three longtime band members, say insiders, including one who had been with him for decades since the beginning of his career.

The 57-year-old Somebody Like You singer shocked fans by canning drummer Terence C. Clark, keyboardist Nathan Barlowe and bassist Jerry Flowers — Urban’s band leader for over 25 years.

Sad Flowers revealed his firing on social media, writing, “It’s with a heavy, but very full heart that after 25 years on stage with Keith Urban, Keith has decided to make a lineup change and I will no longer be in the band.”

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Angry fans immediately blasted Urban’s firing line.

“This is crap,” says one.

Another pens: “Jerry, this is breaking my heart. You are just as much a part of KU as anyone. I go to concerts to see you as much as to see KU.”

Actress Nicole Kidman’s guitar-strumming husband defended his cold cuts, saying, “I’ve always followed the inner voice that says it’s time to make a change in any area of my life and sort of just take the leap.”

But a source predicts that the axings will backfire on the singer.

“Keith is out there competing against some country stars that are 30 years younger than he is and he wants to stay current,” the source says. “But his rabid fans looked at his band as part of the package at concerts.

“Changing his band isn’t likely to bring Keith new, younger fans, but it sure pissed off the old ones. You can’t help feeling that Keith is going to regret this.”