Lineups, shake ups, and changeups are inevitable. Four lineup changes have recently been revealed, whether stemming from amicable departures or personal conflicts. In case you missed it, we compiled all four:
01) Phil Demmel leaves Vio-Lence
While the timing couldn’t have been better with Kerry King’s new solo project being revealed, which may lead to assumptions, Phil Demmel has decided to leave Vio-Lence. The announcement arrived around the same day Kerry King announced his band for his solo project, with Demmel participating. However, Demmel’s reasoning appears to be completely separate. This wouldn’t be Demmel’s first time leaving the group. Shortly after leaving Machine Head, the guitarist reunited with the Bay Area thrashers in 2019. On Monday (5th), Demmel shared a video explaining that his final performance with the group will be on Sunday, February 11, at the Carioca Club in São Paulo, Brazil.
Demmel stated:
“I am announcing that this Sunday will be my last show for Vio-lence. The timing is weird, I know. It doesn’t really coincide with the Kerry thing. It’s not ‘oh, that got announced so now I’m quitting this, stopping this, retiring, or whatever.’ It’s been, I guess, in the works for a bit.
My status in the band was undefined for a while and [the band was] kind of doing things that I felt uncomfortable or fell in to my schedule or whatever. But given just the latest state of the band and where I feel I belong with it or feel tied to it, I just think my time is at an end.
Me and Perry started this band in high school and it’s cool to be going to places we haven’t been… I’m feeling that Shawn is.. I guess we’ve both been on different pages, but I don’t feel like I fit in with what the objective of this is anymore. And in light of some current events, I felt compelled to make the break and just thought about maybe doing a home show and saying ‘good bye’ but I don’t feel I need that.
I feel fulfilled and anything further kind of feels forced. Actually before this tour, I honestly didn’t want to come. So I was committed to it, I wasn’t going to back out, but I think I’m done. I think I’ve done what I want to do with this band.
June 01, 1985 to February 11, 2024. 39, almost 40 years. So never say ‘never again,’ or you try not to say that but sometimes you do. It’s been life-defining. It’s been a pleasure. It’s been an honor being Phil from Vio-lence.”
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