On Monday, Five Finger Death Punch vocalist Ivan Moody proclaimed onstage that it was his last show with the band after a sloppy set that saw Bad Wolves frontman Tommy Vest sing several songs filling in for the frontman. The next day, not only was a tour announced, but the band released a statement saying that the show would go on, stating essentially that the unpredictability of rock and roll makes it thrilling. Today, the band announced that the rest of the European tour would continue, but with Vext on vocals as Moody gets help for a relapse. For his part, at least Moody admitted that he had substance abuse issues in a statement:
“I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I have fallen off the wagon again. I was on shaky ground prior to our performance in Tilburg, and although a lot of the events of that show were out of my control, the shame of not delivering pushed me over the edge. It would not be fair to my bandmates or my fans to continue to perform in my current condition. One of the worst parts of addiction is the loneliness you feel, so having the support of my band and all the knuckleheads is what drives me. I am committed to getting better so I can get back out on stage as soon as possible.”
FFDP guitarist Zoltan Bathory added that the band are still behind Moody 100%:
“As a band, we are committed to supporting Ivan’s road to recovery. We are as baffled and saddened as anyone to watch our brother continue to struggle. Almost everyone in the world knows someone who struggles with addiction, and can relate to how the self-destruction of someone they care about is very difficult to watch. Five Finger Death Punch has every intention of playing the dates we’re committed to and beyond. The band is bigger than any one member.”
Vext said that he’s committed to filling in, and there’s no concern that he’ll relapse, as he’s been sober for years now:
“It is a tremendous honor to share the stage with Five Finger Death Punch on these remaining dates. Today I am blessed with over 8 years of sobriety, so I can certainly empathize with Ivan’s struggles. Not only do I feel a responsibility to deliver for the fans of Five Finger Death Punch on these remaining dates, but also to deliver for Ivan so he can get back to work as soon as he is healthy.”
Here’s hoping that Moody’s able to get his act together, as he’s already been in rehab. Crowds are continuing to support the band, but if the thing that Five Finger Death Punch increasingly become known more for their unhinged singer than their music, they could wind up with another Puddle of Mudd situation.
