Three members of a popular band have quit in the span of a week, citing “personal morals” and “personal health and integrity.”
Rolling Stone reports guitarist Ken Susi and drummer Nick Pierce have left As I Lay Dying, a metalcore group led by singer Tim Lambesis. Susi and Pierce said they were leaving this week, days after bassist-vocalist Ryan Neff announced his own departure last Friday.
“I jumped into the AILD camp with full knowledge of the heightened dramatic history, but had a drive to just play great music with great friends,” Susi wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, my personal morals have recently been tested to a breaking point, and it’s now the saddest ending to what could have been the greatest second chance for this band.”
“This is far from the ending I anticipated,” said Pierce. “I feel I need to distance myself from the band in an effort to retain my personal health and integrity.”
As I Lay Dying has canceled its upcoming European tour dates, and tour manager Alex Kendrick has also reportedly resigned. Kendrick said he’s still on good terms with Lambesis, but “there’s just no work so I’m removed from the situation professionally.”
Neff, an original member of the metalcore band Miss May I, said he was leaving As I Lay Dying for his “personal and professional journey. I am grateful for the experiences and connections I’ve made during my time with the band. Thank you to all the fans for your support.”
As I Lay Dying is a Grammy-nominated metalcore band, known for its mix of melodic rock and thrash metal often with Christian themes and lyrics. They were named the Metal Band of the Year in 2012 at the Loudwire Music Awards, thanks to hits like “Blinded,” “Nothing Left,” “Within Destruction,” and “Parallels.” A new album is scheduled to be released Nov. 15.
The group went on hiatus when Lambesis pleaded guilty to soliciting murder in 2014, attempting to hire an undercover cop to kill his estranged wife. He served two-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the murder-for-hire plot and was released in 2017.
As I Lay Dying returned in 2018, but three band members left shortly afterwards. Drummer Jordan Mancino said in 2022 he was leaving due to “a number of ongoing internal issues” and bassist-vocalist Josh Gilbert quit a month earlier “to pursue other musical opportunities.” Guitarist Nick Hipa exited the band in 2021, saying he could no longer justify being part of “a superficial pursuit” of the “story and meaning” that the band’s reunion was built upon.