It was just last week when keyboardist/programmer Chris Spicuzza announced his departure from Chimaira, and it’s only been a few months since bassist Jim LaMarca left the group as well. Well now you can add drummer Andols Herrick to Chimaira’s “ex-band member” list, as he too has just announced his departure. In an exclusive statement to The PRP, Herrick had the following to say about his split with the Cleveland metal group:
“Since Chris released his statement recently, I suppose its time that I do so as well since I have been dodging questions and comments for almost as long. I am no longer a member of Chimaira, and actually haven’t been since before Christmas. I did play at Chimaira Christmas 11, which was my last show. I certainly couldn’t have asked for a better and more memorable way to go out.
I cannot stress enough how significantly different the circumstances are now than back in 2004. The short story is that the guys had taken issue with certain aspects of my role in the band. Nothing discussed was out of anger or anything personal, but I was definitely not expecting it and it was quite the spirit crusher for me. The decision was made that it would be in the band’s best interest to move forward without me.
I was obviously devastated, but again there was no ill will between us. Later, I was asked to rejoin, but after some painful contemplation in my mind, I decided it was best not to. I started to see everything that happened as something that was ultimately positive. I share some of the same concerns that Chris mentioned in his statement, namely the current state of the music industry and concerns about my future.
A major transition in life is much more manageable at 31 than it is in your late 30’s or early 40’s, so as a guy with literally zero experience in anything else, better now then later. Plus, it would be hard to go back without feeling constantly uneasy about the situation.
So where does that leave me musically? Well, I damn sure am not done as a drummer! I will be releasing an instructional book/dvd through Hal Leonard later this year. I teach private drum lessons in New Jersey. I’m also really trying to get busy with session recording work, so if you’re a guitarist or a band that needs drum tracks, I can be contacted at drummerandolsherrick@yahoo.com.
I’ve had a couple opportunities to track drums for two great bands, and I hope to be a part of a lot more. I hope you guys will continue to keep up with my work, so follow me at twitter.com/the_real_andols, facebook.com/drummerandolsherrick,youtube.com/realandolsherrick, and at www.andolsherrick.com.
Although I did not record the new album, I was around for the majority of the writing process, and I know you guys are going to love it. Despite the recent dramatic lineup changes, I’m quite confident the band will press on just fine. I will always love my brothers, both current and former, in Chimaira! Thank you to Crush Drums, Sabian, Ahead, Gibraltar and Evans for being fantastic companies to work with. Thanks to all the fans for the great years, and the multiple lifetimes’ worth of amazing memories!
Andols”
This now makes Herrick (who was first in the group from 1999 to 2004, but returned in 2006) the third member to leave Chimaira since November. While LaMarca apparently wanted to retire and start a family, both Herrick and Spicuzza have hinted at things within the band “changing.” So we have to ask: what the hell has been going on in the band that has caused at least two members to leave the band?!
Frontman Mark Hunter confirmed in a statement regarding Spicuzza’s departure that guitairst Rob Arnold is still in the band despite his new role in Six Feet Under, while Arnold himself assured fans that he was still in Chimaira as well during an interview with Metal Sucks. Plus, the band (whoever’s left in it) has been working on new music since signing to eOne Records. So it’s unlikely that Chimaira’s future is in jeopardy. But nonetheless, these sudden changes are definitely alarming.
So far, there’s been no word on replacements for any of the band’s vacant spots. We’ll keep you updated when more develops.
