Ryan Neff 's departure , the vocalist and bassist of As I Lay Dying , guitarist Ken Susi , and drummer Nick Pierce also left the group. Ken also said that his "personal morals were recently tested to a breaking point."
The departures of the members are the most recent changes to occur in the band since their return following Tim Lambesis' release from prison. Lambesis served a two-and-a-half-year sentence after ordering the murder of his then-wife .
Initially, As I Lay Dying underwent a reformation when, in 2018, Lambesis brought in Phil Sgrosso , Nick Hippa , Josh Gilbert , and Jordan Mancino . However, in 2020, Hippa left the group, and two years later, in 2022, Gilbert and Mancino also left. In the same year, Susi, Neff, and Pierce joined the band, completing the lineup with Lambesis and Sgrosso.
Ken Susi's statement
Last Thursday, October 24th, Ken Susi made a statement on his Instagram, saying: “My time playing with As I Lay Dying has come to an end today. I leave with immense gratitude to everyone who has followed and supported me from my Unearth to this era of my career . ”
And he continues: “I jumped into Camp AILD fully aware of the heightened dramatic history, but I had an impulse to just play great music with great friends. Unfortunately, my personal morals were recently tested to a breaking point, and now it’s the saddest end to what could have been the best second chance for this band.”
Susi went on to say that Neff “is receiving a lot of negative reaction for resigning first” and says she regrets not having shared the same decision and not having stood by her friend.
He also praises him, saying that “he is an impeccable musician and an even better person. I will miss you all on this stage, and I look forward to seeing you soon.” He even jokes about the opportunity for a new job, asking “anyone looking for a guitarist? My resume is ready.”
Shortly after Ken Susi's departure was announced, Nick Pierce also announced that he was no longer part of the band, stating, " From now on, I will no longer play drums for As I Lay Dying. This is far from the end I expected, and I feel I need to distance myself from the band in an effort to maintain my health and personal integrity."
He also writes thanking the fans and people who supported them during their time as a band. Furthermore, he says he's excited for his future: “Looking to the future, I’m excited to continue my drumming career and pursue what I love most, which is making music.” And, he concludes by updating his schedule, saying: “My tour and session schedule is now actively open for new opportunities.”.”
Ryan Neff's departure
On October 18th, before Ken Susi and Nick Pierce left, Ryan Neff announced his departure from As I Lay Dying on his account, stating in a short text that “as of today, I have made the decision to leave As I Lay Dying. This choice comes after much reflection, and I believe it is the right step for my personal and professional journey. I am grateful for the experiences and connections I made during my time with the band. Thank you to all the fans for your support.”.
AILD had scheduled a European tour that was to begin on November 15th in Würzburg, Germany; however, with the departure of the members, the event promoters said the tour was cancelled. Also in November, the band was scheduled to release their album, titled Through Storms Ahead .
With these departures, the band is once again a duo, with only Lambesis and Sgrosso remaining in the group. Check out their statements below.
Tour in Brazil
a Latin American tour in early October , including six countries and four shows in Brazil. It has not yet been confirmed whether the tour will take place.
Problems of Tim Lambesis, lead singer of the band
Lambesis was arrested in 2014 after ordering the murder of his ex-wife . In May of that year, he was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty. Approximately two and a half years later, in December 2016, he was released. In June 2018, As I Lay Dying played their first show with the vocalist, after releasing a video explaining the group's return . In September 2019, the band released their seventh studio album, Shaped By Fire .
Once again, the vocalist took to Facebook to address the issue. He said he has been rebuilding his life and dedicating himself to the principles of honesty: “I am against who I was in my past. I am pursuing a new purpose with the rebirth of AILD. We are doing it collectively.”
“The people who support AILD aren’t supporting the person I was. Part of my life now is undoing the suffering I caused and helping others who also have addictions. Instead, I think AILD fans are supporting the belief that people can change. I’ll never be able to undo my biggest mistakes, but I believe it’s better to do something than to give up.”
Upon his release from prison, the vocalist issued a new statement: “Words cannot express how sorry I am for the pain I caused. There is no excuse for what I did, and now I look at the person I have become with as much disdain as you do.”
“First, I want to apologize to my ex-wife and my incredible children for my actions. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t want to undo the damage I’ve done, and out of respect for them, I won’t say anything more about them (now or in the future).” In 2021, he was sued by a woman who claims to have been injured during the fire caused by the musician in December of the previous year. Vivienne Barcena , who suffered second-degree burns, said she was injured when Lambesis spilled gasoline on a bonfire at her parents’ house. At the time, the vocalist said the fire was accidental and that he ended up burning 25% of his body .
