It had been rumored for months, but now it’s official: Conan O’Brien’s longtime band leader Max Weinberg won’t be following the talk-show host to his new TBS late-nighter. The press release announcing the split indicates that Weinberg is departing “by mutual agreement†(a decision that was doubtlessly hastened by Weinberg’s inquiries into becoming bandleader for Jay Leno), though the message’s tone is cheery: “Max has been a huge part of my life for the past 17 years and he is an incredible band leader and musician,†says O’Brien. “I hope he can find time to stop by the new show, sit in with the band, and pretend to find my monologue funny.â€