After the completion and release of the album the band decided to retain Michael in the band, forcing Jabs to leave. However after a few weeks of the tour, Michael, still coping with alcoholism missed a number of gigs and at one point collapsed on stage. Jabs was brought back to fill in for him on those occasions when he could not perform. In April 1979, during their tour in France, Jabs was brought in permanently to replace Michael.”Jabs’ playing style was a large part of Lovedrive’s fresher, newer, heavier sound. This “Van Halen-like” sound would become the band’s signature as it would propel them into superstardom in the 1980s.In the year 2000, he was awarded the city of Hanover plaque and the Cross of Merit on Ribbon (Verdienstkreuz am Bande) of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit.
Jabs was discovered by Francis Buchholz, who helped him learn mathematics.