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A week after three members of As I Lay Dying abruptly quit the controversial metalcore band, guitarist Phil Sgrosso has also announced that he has left the band amid a “difficult and serious situation.”
Last week, guitarist Ken Susi, drummer Nick Pierce, and bassist Ryan Neff jointly quit As I Lay Dying — fronted by singer Tim Lambesis, whoinfamously spentnearly three years in prisonafterpleading guiltyto soliciting an undercover copto murder his then-wife — ahead of their since-canceled European tour.
Susi wrote in a statement that “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.”
On Thursday, Sgrosso — who joined As I Lay Dying in 2003 and was one of the few members of the current lineup who predated Lambesis’ conviction — revealed on social media that his tenure with the band has also ended.
“Simply put, recent actions have shown that As I Lay Dying no longer offers a healthy or safe environment for anyone involved — whether creatively, personally, or professionally,” Sgrosso wrote. “After witnessing some concerning patterns of behavior, I’ve realized that I can no longer, in good conscience, enable further actions that could negatively affect anyone working within this space.”
The guitarist — who also voiced his support for the previous three band members who left As I Lay Dying — continued, “With 21 years that I have dedicated to this band, it does not sit well with me to leave or abandon what I’ve considered to be my ‘life’s work.’ I don’t feel that I, or others, should be forced out like so many have in the past… Over time, As I Lay Dying has been held back by dysfunction, and I feel that it’s no longer my responsibility to bear that burden.”
The remaining members of As I Lay Dying, which release their new album Through Storms Ahead in two weeks, previously briefly addressed the departures and the band’s unsteady future, “We are still sorting through details of what is going on within AILD and will have more details for you soon.”
On Nov. 15, Brandon Short, who drummed for Lambesis’ Arnold Schwarzenegger-themed side project Austrian Death Machine, announced his departure from that group. “For the sake of my mental well-being and personal beliefs, and in light of the recent developments surrounding the As I Lay Dying camp and Tim, this has become an inevitable step for me,” Short wrote on Instagram. “Although it feels necessary, it’s one I made after deep reflection as these events began to unravel. … My integrity and character have been called into question in a way I can no longer accept, especially with what has come to light and being in utter disbelief.”
This article was updated on at 5:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 15 to include Brandon Short’s statement.
