The future of San Diego’s Grammy Award-nominated Christian metalcore band As I Lay Dying is shrouded in mystery following the sudden departure of four members of the five-piece band within the past two weeks. The tour manager also resigned.

The only remaining member of the band is lead vocalist Tim Lambesis, who was released from prison in late 2016 after serving three years in prison. trying to encourage the murder of his first wifeMegan. She later divorced him and was given custody of their three children, who were adopted from Ethiopia.

None of As I Lay Dying’s four recently departed former members have specifically explained what led to their decision to leave the group. However, individual statements on social media touched on various factors regarding their departure, without specifying the exact reasons.

Guitarist Ken Susi stated that his “personal morals have been tested to the breaking point lately.” Drummer Nick Pierce wrote that he had to “step away from the band to protect my personal health and integrity.” Bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff chose to remain more vague, saying he chose to leave the band “after much consideration.”

The most detailed explanation came from guitarist Phil Sgrosso, though it lacked specific details. He was the last of the four members of As I Lay Dying to leave. He announced his departure on Wednesday, a week after Neff became the first member to leave the group.

“It is clear that we are in a difficult and serious situation,” Sgrosso wrote in a statement on social media.

“Simply put, recent actions have shown that As I Lay Dying no longer provides a healthy or safe environment for anyone involved creatively, personally or professionally. After witnessing some worrying patterns of behavior, I have a clear conscience that could negatively impact anyone working in this field I realized that I could no longer allow other actions.

“For these reasons, I think it would be in my best interest to step away from As I Lay Dying completely, both creatively and personally.”

This rapid series of turbulent developments led to the cancellation of the 24-year-old band’s 25-city fall European tour. It was scheduled to open in Würzburg, Germany, on November 15.

The fact that Lambesis is now the only member of the suddenly shortened As I Lay Dying also casts doubt on the Nov. 15 release of the band’s aptly titled new album, “Through the Storms Ahead.”

A representative for Napalm Records, the label to which As I Lay Dying is signed, did not respond to questions from the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday about the fate of the album and whether Lambesis has remained silent about the recent turmoil. group – was open to interpretation.

Lambesis, 44, is an Arizona native who grew up in San Diego. He founded As I Lay Dying in 2001 and is the only member of the band’s numerous lineups. A graduate of Santa Fe Christian school in Solana Beach, he later studied for a time as a religious studies major at the Jerry Falwell-led Liberty University in Virginia.

The first iteration of As I Lay Dying, with Lambesis as the driving force, released its debut album “Beneath The Encasing of Ashes” in 2001. The band has won four San Diego Music Awards and a Grammy in 2008. Nomination in the Best Metal Performance category.

Lambesis was arrested in 2013 after offering to pay for the murder of his first wife. The “hitman” he requested was an undercover sheriff’s deputy who testified when the case went to trial. The vocalist was released in late 2016 after serving nearly three years of his six-year sentence.

After completing his parole terms in 2017, Lambesis publicly apologized for the actions that led to his incarceration.

“I have remained publicly silent since expressing my remorse for my sentence because time seemed to be the best way to accelerate recovery,” Lambesis wrote in a lengthy statement on Facebook.

“As I complete my full statutory sentence today (including completion of all probation/parole requirements), this is my first opportunity to freely apologize without any motivation to curry favor with the courts. Know clearly that no amount of time given can correct my mistakes…

“Words cannot express how deeply sorry I am for the pain I have caused. “There is no justification for what I did, and I, like most of you, probably view the person I have become with disdain.”

Lambesis and the other four members of As I Lay Dying reunited in 2018 and They performed their first concert together at the all-ages Soma Live in San Diego.

“We’re very, very grateful to be here,” he told the audience at the sold-out show. “Not only are we grateful to you, we’re grateful to each other, we’re grateful for the relationships we’ve rebuilt, and we’re very, very excited about it. Thank you for the opportunity to make music together again.”

As I Lay Dying’s 2018 reunion didn’t last long after the band released a new album titled “Shaped By Fire” in 2019. (It was abruptly removed from online streaming services about two weeks ago, but there are conflicting reports as to why.)

Guitarist Nick Hipa left the band As I Lay Dying in 2020, followed by drummer Jordan Mancino and bassist/vocalist Josh Gilbert, who both left in 2022. Lambesis and guitarist Sgrosso later recruited Susi, Pierce and Neff to replace them.

Now, after two weeks of upheaval and the departure of Susi, Pierce, Neff and Sgrosso, Lambesis is the last man on the otherwise abandoned musical ship As I Lay Dying.

The exact reasons for the recent departures from the group are unclear, at least for now. However, Lambesis’ third wife, Dany Ciara, issued a statement on October 24, denying that rumors posted online by Lambesis that she had been subjected to domestic violence were “completely false.”

It remains to be seen when and if Lambesis will comment on his band’s apparent collapse or attempt to create a new version of the band, and how audiences will react if he does.

First Publication Date: November 1, 2024 16:05 PDT