Alissa White-Gluz Denies Trying to Sabotage The Agonist
Current Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz has denied recent claims that she has worked to sabotage the career of her former band, The Agonist.
The accusations arose during a recent interview with White-Gluz’s successor in The Agonist, Vicky Psarakis. Psarakis alleged that White-Gluz has “been trying to kill this band ever since she was fired” via the use of her influence within the industry. Although when White-Gluz joined Arch Enemy in 2014 she planned to keep fronting The Agonist simultaneously, the band kicked her out, stating that White-Gluz was “playing both sides to have her cake and eat it too.” White-Gluz subsequently called the firing “the worst betrayal I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Now White-Gluz and Kult Management — which is run by Arch Enemy’s last vocalist, Angela Gossow — have released a lengthy statement to Blabbermouth denying all of Psarakis’ claims. They even went so far as to get The Agonist’s current and former labels, Century Media and Napalm Records, to affirm that there’s been no blackballing behind-the-scenes. The statement also discourages Arch Enemy fans from harassing Psarakis as a result of her claims.
You can read the entire statement from White-Gluz and Kult Management below:
“We welcome people to look through the entire history of all her social media and find a single instance in which she speaks about her or the band she is in,” the management states.
Alissa confirms: “I do not and have not talked about them or even thought about them in years. I am more than happy to talk to Vicky and put her concerns to rest because I know for a fact they are completely untrue. I have nothing but good luck to give her since I know I really enjoyed the music I made in that band and I’m sure she is making great music now too. She is welcome to contact me and always has been welcome to do so, but never has.”
According to Kult Management, Alissa has never met Vicky before and she “has never had any contact with her whatsoever, in writing, in conversation, or otherwise. They are complete strangers, and Vicky does indeed admit that herself, as well as the fact that her statements against Alissa are merely speculative.”
Alissa adds: “I want to give her the benefit of the doubt that she is just confused or misinformed. I don’t know anything about her and as such, don’t have any ill will towards her.”
The management goes on to say that “Alissa has had ZERO contact with the rest of the band since 2013 and has more than moved on for years now.”
Alissa adds: “The only contact i’ve had with them in any way was when I encountered the bass player at a metal show in Montreal a few years back and had nothing but a handshake with him. That was the ONLY contact I have had with that band in any way shape or form since we parted ways. I cannot stress enough that I am extremely happy and extremely busy with my current projects and don’t have time to dwell on the activities of others.”
According to Kult, “Alissa does not work for a record label, agency, management, promoter or any other position in the music industry. The only role she has is that of a freelance singer and she has no power over what paths other bands take in their careers.”
Alissa confirms: “I do not have any time, energy or interest to invest in trying to control someone else.” She adds: “Women in metal ALL stick together, no matter what. She and I are both just trying to have our music heard and I know firsthand how emotional and difficult it can be because i’ve been through it all, working my way from the ground up for years.
“I have no negative feelings towards her. I think she just misspoke and got emotionally carried away.
“She is welcome to contact me at any time. I am happy to help her in any way she needs and I sincerely wish her the best.
“I am proud of my fans for taking the high road and not engaging in harassing others. Please do NOT harass Vicky or her band. People make mistakes and we can forgive them. Thank you.”
Kult Management also adds that it feels “compelled to make sure the public knows that ALL of these accusations are completely false. For decades now, we have championed the unity between women in metal and within the metal scene in general and we will continue to do so, here.
“It seems Vicky has gotten quite emotional over things she either believes to be true or has invented for some reason. We are not angry at her; we are here to help her and clarify anything she needs. We are happy to jump on a phone call with her to set her mind at ease and we are sorry she is dealing with a lot of stress at the moment. So far she has not responded, but the offer still stands.”
Kult also provided statements from The Agonist’s current and former record labels, both of whom have also denied Vicky’s claims of interference from Alissa.
Napalm says: “Alissa has never interfered, commented nor was she involved in or was the reason for any business decision. The Agonist’s current album has been licenced to Rodeostar Records, a company that is a completely separated and independent entity from Napalm Records.”
Century Media states: “The Agonist were signed to Century Media for four albums, all of which have been delivered by the band and released by the label. With the delivery of the fourth contractual album, ‘Eye Of Providence’ (featuring the band’s new singer Vicky Psarakis, released in February 2015), the deal was fulfilled. The decision not to renew the contract was not in any way influenced by Arch Enemy, the band’s management or their singer Alissa White-Gluz.”
Arch Enemy commence a North American tour with Amon Amarth and At the Gates at the end of this month. Dates are here.
