And Finally Artist News Gigs & Festivals Legal

Every Time I Die split after four of five members quit

By | Published on Tuesday 18 January 2022

Every Time I Die

Four of the five members of Every Time I Die have announced that they have left the band. This comes several weeks after frontman Keith Buckley separately announced that he was taking a hiatus from the outfit and also claimed that his bandmates had been working behind his back to replace him.

In a joint statement last night, guitarists Jordan Buckley (brother of Keith) and Andy Williams, bassist Stephen Micciche and drummer Clayton Holyoak said that they had all now left the band.

They added that they had hoped to release a statement that came from all five members of Every Time I Die which “outlined the truth”, but had decided to issue this statement without Keith Buckley because “we were informed … of something planned to be released [but] not mutually agreed upon that consists of inaccuracies and controls a narrative to the benefit of one”.

There was “no direct communication” with Keith Buckley prior to making this announcement, they confirmed, “because it’s either impossible for direct communication with him solely or we’ve been cut off to any and all communication by him himself”.

Insisting that “there is zero truth about the band continuing on with a new singer”, the four band members added that they are “extremely disappointed in how this was played out online in front of” their fans.

Keith Buckley responded to this statement by posting a scan of a legal letter from his now former bandmates dated 20 Dec 2021, which states that his brother, Williams, Micciche and Holyoak are seeking to reach an agreement separating them from him, while also ordering him to cease and desist making negative statements about them.

The implosion of the band follows a tense few weeks for Every Time I Die fans. At the beginning of December, Keith Buckley announced that he was not taking part in the final three dates of the band’s US tour, which was promoting their latest album ‘Radical’. However, he said, he would return for the band’s annual hometown Christmas show – which he did when it took place on 11 Dec.

“Caring for my own mental health has taken priority over EVERYTHING else in my life”, he said at the time via Twitter. “The love it has brought to everything I do has been clear to everyone that has seen me and I value my progress way too much to allow a setback. I am taking a hiatus from ETID to prepare for [the Christmas show]”.

The rest of the band then followed this up with their own statement, saying that they would complete the tour without Buckley, instead inviting the audience to take his place.

“Mental health is a real issue and when not treated has an impact on so many people”, the band said. “Keith needs to take this time to rest and prepare for the holiday shows and we wish him a quick recovery … We don’t want to let you down so we’ll be playing these last three shows without a vocalist. Like Keith always says ’this mic is your mic’. So come and help us finish up this tour”.

So far, so seemingly amicable. But then Keith posted a new statement, saying that the real reason he was taking time away from the band was because he’d learned that his bandmates were planning to replace him. He suggested that they had decided that they no longer wanted him in the band because of a number of lifestyle changes he had made, particularly no longer drinking alcohol.

“Now that I have seen the ‘official statement’ indicating that ETID is finishing the tour without their singer, I think I’m ready to tell you all a little bit about exactly why my mental health has had to become a priority over ETID”, he wrote on Twitter. “And trust I have receipts”.

“While meditating in a side room yesterday I overheard my own brother tell an outsider that ETID had been in talks to replace me this entire time”, he went on. “I thought they were my biggest supporters. But Jordan had lied. His concern was a cruel trick. Their statement is proof”.

“Traveling separately, away from alcohol and the behaviours of those who choose to drink, has brought me peace of mind and has made me the best performer I have ever been”, he continued. “I love the ETID community and finally felt like I was giving back in a meaningful way. And I will continue to”.

“Being ostracised from a band I have built for 20 years because I made a decision to do whatever it took to be a good human being hurts me deeply”, he then said, “but trust me when I say I am the most mentally fit I have ever been. This decision was made to protect myself from my own sibling”.

Last week, the band announced that they were cancelling UK tour dates set to begin later this month, citing “ongoing [COVID-19] restrictions and financial liability for a tour of this size”.

However, Keith Buckley is still set to appear for a series of on stage interviews with podcaster Matt Stocks around the UK next month. While those shows are seemingly in part aimed at promoting his other career as a novelist, the Every Time I Die split will almost certainly become the focus of the interviews and audience Q&A sessions.



READ MORE ABOUT: