Finnish hard rock band Lordi announced Thursday (14th) that their longtime bassist Ox will be leaving the fold following their summer festival dates.
An announcement from the band was posted on their website and social media, saying
“This is a very sad day in the history of the band. Our long term bandmember and close friend Ox has decided to leave the band after the summer festivals 2019.” The band goes on to wish him “all the best for your future and thanks for the fantastic time we had all together.”
The post continues with a statement from Ox himself:
“It has come the day that I have to tell you that I will be leaving Lordi,” said Ox, whose birth name is Samer el Nahhal. “There is no drama, no major issues or anything like that. I just feel very strong urge to do something else in music and to be available for other musical journeys, what ever [sic] those will be.
I wanna thank the band and especially the best fans on this planet, for these 13 years and the greatest ride of my life. I love you all from the pound of my heart and I hope to see you again somewhere sometime.”
Ox joined Lordi in 2005, before the release of their third album, 2006’s Arockalypse (though he did not play on it) and helped them to their historic Eurovision win that same year. His first official recording with the band was 2008’s Deadache.
Lordi has not been announced who will be filling the open bass position yet.
Ox plans to finish out the summer with the band, playing with them during their previously announced festival appearances.
“I will do the summer festivals with Lordi and after that it’s time for the new guy to take it from there.”
Those dates include Rockharz July 3, Pfeffelbach Open Air on July 5, Pekelny ostrov on July 6 and Reload Festival on August 23.
Lordi released their ninth studio album, Sexorcism, in May 2018.
