And Five Finger Death Punch is going through some changes: a few days ago, rumors surfaced that guitarist Jason Hook would be leaving the band, which was confirmed by the artist on his social media, and yesterday, the 13th, the band announced the name to replace Hook.
The chosen member to join the band is Englishman Andy James , formerly of Fields of the Nephilim , and his inclusion in the lineup is no surprise to fans, considering he had been filling in for Hook since 2019, when the musician had to leave the tour early at the end of last year to recover from gallbladder surgery.
“Jason is an incredible guitarist, so we had to find someone at the absolute top of their game. Someone like Andy James, who was already a well-known virtuoso and had the ability to step into Jason’s shoes,” says guitarist Zoltan Bathory about the new member. “Andy completed our European tour with us in February, so he’s already been tested by fire. We instantly clicked both musically and personally, so he was the obvious choice. We even share the same birthday… Some things are meant to happen.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many of you in person. Thank you for the endless stories of how our music has touched your hearts in some way! But the best part of touring for the last 12 years, by far, has been playing my guitar and seeing the joy on your faces every night,” Jason said about his departure in an official statement. “I will miss that more than anything. As for why I’m leaving… well, there really isn’t just one reason. I’ve been in bands my whole life and I feel like I’ve done all the good I can now. It’s time to pass the baton and move on to new challenges.”