Metal Anarchy

Phil Demmel is planning to exit Vio-lence following their February 11 show in São Paulo, Brazil. This news comes shortly after it was revealed that the guitarist had joined Slayer guitarist Kerry King’s new solo band. However, he says the two announcements are unrelated.

Demmel commented:

“I am announcing that this Sunday will be my last show with VIO-LENCE.

The timing is weird, I know, and it doesn’t really coincide with the Kerry thing. It’s not that, ‘Oh, that got announced, so now I’m quitting this, stopping this,’ whatever you wanna [call it], retiring from, whatever. It’s been, I guess, in the works for a bit. My status has been undefined for a while. I’m kind of doing things that I felt comfortable or fell into 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 that my time is at an end.

I’ll always identify with the band. Me and [drummer] Perry [Strickland] started this band in high school. It’s cool to be going to places that we haven’t been.

I’m feeling that [VIO-LENCE singer] Sean [Killian] is… We’ve gone far on different pages. I guess we’ve always 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 [laughs], I felt compelled to make the break.”

He also added that he “thought about maybe doing a [hometown farewell] show” with Vio-lence, but he has since decided against it:

“I don’t feel like I need that. I feel like playing those [comeback shows in Oakland in April 2019] with Perry and Deen [Dell, bass] and Ray [Vegas, guitar] and having those two magical days and doing some other stuff that we’ve done, writing the five songs, doing the EP, I feel fulfilled. And anything further kind of feels forced. Actually, before this [Latin American] tour [kicked off], I honestly didn’t wanna come. [But] I was committed to it. I wasn’t gonna back out. I’m committed to the dudes. But I think I’m done. I think that I’ve done what I wanted to do with this band.

June 1st, 1985 to February, what will be 11th, 2024. 39, almost 40 years. So, never say never again. Try not to say that. Sometimes you do. It’s been life defining, it’s been a pleasure, it’s been an honor being Phil from VIO-LENCE.”

[via Blabbermouth]