Guitarist Paul Alosio and bassist Dalton Edwards have both announced their departure from Homewrecker. This news comes after frontman Matt Barnum was fired from the band following sexual misconduct allegations and after drummer Matt Izzi was kicked out of Scorched and Crypt Rot for similar accusations.
Alosio issued the following statement:
“I need to speak.
I am crushed beyond belief. Absolutely devastated that one of my band mates and someone I considered to be a best friend lived this secret life that hurt so many people. I am sorry that I have not said something sooner, I wanted to hear everyone’s stories as they came forward.
I truly believe Matt Barnum is sick and for being so close to him I feel an immense amount of guilt. For being too naive to see what was right underneath my nose. In the past I can remember one specific instance in which he had made someone I knew uncomfortable, and when I told him to make things right he apologized to that person. I’m obviously not going to add this girl’s name out of respect. I had thought that was the extent as to how far anything like this could go. I was very, very wrong about that. His issues go way deeper.
I trusted him and I believed his lies. I am disgusted, furious, sick to my stomach, and so remorseful that I was so blind to it. I just wish I had known.
I am so sorry if by being in Homewrecker I in any way helped to enable this behavior. I put everything I had into it, I was passionate about the music and what we could accomplish as friends.
Homewrecker was one of my favorite bands before I joined. I looked up to these guys and I never in a million years would have thought that this would be the outcome. Anyone who knows me, who really knows me, knows that I would never stand for this. I feel like I was manipulated into trusting him and being there for him as a friend. But my feelings aren’t worth half as much as the women speaking up now, they have been betrayed, manipulated, and we need to listen to their stories.
I will listen to what you have to say and I will believe you, I will support you and I hope you are able to heal. If there is anything i can do to help, i will do it without question.”
“It goes without saying beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am no longer a part of Homewrecker. I alpologize if that was not clear with my statement yesterday.
I don’t know what the future holds for me, I don’t know if I ever even want to play in a band again, and I feel so sick about everything, but for right now the thing everyone needs to know is that I cannot stay in that situation for a moment longer.”
Edwards also issued a statement:
“I am absolutely devastated after reading and hearing all that I have the past two days.
My first hardcore experience was a show I attended at West End. My friend and I went to see a band called Homewrecker and they quickly turned into one of my favorites. I probably went to 95% of the shows that happened at that venue from then on and I made sure I was at every Homewrecker show after that. Years later, I had the opportunity to join the band and I have been a part of it for the past 10 months. I was very excited to join as I thought that would never happen. Now, after reading and hearing everything that is being brought forward, I regret ever being a part of this band and I want absolutely nothing to do with the name.
Thinking back to all of the good times I had at that venue makes me feel sick. We were all having a blast during the shows but what was going on there after hours is a completely different story. It was supposed to be a safe space for people to come hang out and enjoy music but in reality it was the exact opposite.
There are many more victims than the ones who experienced something terrible at west end and you all need to know that each and every one of your stories are equally as important. I hear you and I believe you. I will stand with all of you until the end. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated at all.”
[via The PRP]
