Phil Demmel is Leaving Vio-lence, Will Continue on as Guitarist for Kerry King’s Solo Project
To say this might be one of the biggest thrash metal news days might be an understatement, what with the whole Kerry King solo project announcement, but we’re not done yet. Just moments ago, Vio-lence guitarist Phil Demmel announced via social media that he was officially leaving the band.
In a wistful, retrospective look at his time with Vio-lence and his decision to finally leave it, Demmel said he wanted to leave the band for a while now. He clarified that his involvement in Kerry King’s band has nothing to do with his choice to walk away from the band he helped create back in 1985.
According to his statement which you can watch on Instagram (transcribed by yours truly), this Sunday will be his final show with Vio-lence, ending a nearly 40 year run in the band.
“I am announcing that this Sunday will be my last show for Vio-lence. The timing is weird, I know. It doesn’t really coincide with the Kerry [King] thing. It’s not ‘oh, that got announced so now I’m quitting this, stopping this, retiring, or whatever.’ It’s been, I guess, in the works for a bit.
“My status in the band was undefined for a while and [the band was] kind of doing things that I felt uncomfortable or fell in to 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 my time is at an end.”
Speaking of where the band is headed, Demmel said that while he will always identify with the band, differences between himself and vocalist Sean Killian have made it so he felt like the odd man out.
“Me and Perry [Strickland] started this band in high school and it’s cool to be going to places we haven’t been… I’m feeling that Shawn is.. I guess we’ve both 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, I felt compelled to make the break and just thought about maybe doing a home show and saying ‘good bye’ but I don’t feel I need that.”
That dynamic in the band is nothing new, as Demmel’s expressed his uncertainty about the band’s future in the past. All that being said, Demmel said he plans on playing the remaining shows on his schedule and then that’s going to be it.
Looking back, Demmel said he’s happy with how things went with the band up to this point and thankful that it’s been a part of his life. That being said, at 56 years old, he said he feels like he wasn’t into doing Vio-lence stuff anymore.
“I feel fulfilled and anything further kind of feels forced. Actually before this tour, I honestly didn’t want to come. So I was committed to it, I wasn’t going to back out, but I think I’m done. I think I’ve done what I want to do with this band.
“June 1, 1985 to February 11, 2024. 39, almost 40 years. So never say ‘never again,’ or you try not to say that but sometimes you do. It’s been life-defining. It’s been a pleasure. It’s been an honor being Phil from Vio-lence.”
So that’s that. After February 11, he’s out. But don’t worry, you’ll see him real soon with Kerry King’s solo band.
