Founding Member and Vocalist Carla Harvey Exits Butcher Babies
After 15 years, femme-forward metal favorites Butcher Babies announced the departure of the group’s co-vocalist and founding member Carla Harvey. In a statement released on the bands’ various social media platforms, the band wrote:
“As you may have already guessed, it is confirmed that Carla Harvey and Butcher Babies have officially parted ways. Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band. We are grateful for the incredible memories we’ve made together and the impact she has had on our music and our fans. We will miss her greatly and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
“We deeply appreciate your support over the past 15 years. We feel incredibly fortunate to keep making and playing music as our career, and we are excited for this new era of Butcher Babies! See you on the road.”
Based on that statement, it would seem that the band and Harvey are parting on good terms, or at the very least that’s what the face they want to show to the public. Harvey made a separate statement on her own Instagram, however, and her statement seems to have artfully avoided saying anything positive about her bandmates:
“Over the last 6 months You may have noticed my absence from BB posts. After 15 years of dedication, I wanted to let you know that I will not be rejoining the band for any future endeavors. I am super proud of my work with Butcher Babies…2 EPS, 5 Full lengths albums and countless tours with our metal heroes! To all of our incredible BB friends and fans…you have provided me with some of the greatest experiences of my life! I have loved every second of writing and performing all over the world for you! I have loved meeting you. WOW. I still can’t believe this kid from Detroit got so lucky. I am not done making music and performing. I WILL see you soon.”
So based on that statement, maybe there’s some shit that went down, and maybe not — who knows? Either way, it seems like both Harvey and the Butcher Babies intend to continue on their separate paths and make more music in the future.
Harvey’s departure is likely to be a major disruption to the band as Butcher Babies have always been known for the dual leadership of co-vocalists Heidi Shepherd and Harvey. While bands replace members all the time, Shepherd and Harvey’s unique dynamic as tag-team frontwomen was a bit part of the band’s identity. It seems more likely that the band will replace Harvey rather than just continue with Shepherd alone.
However, Butcher Babies have a lot of shows scheduled for this year, including a tour with Cradle of Filth, and it’s unclear if Harvey will be replaced at those shows:
July 27 – Steenwijk, NL @ Stonehenge Festival
July 31 – Wacken, DE @ Wacken Festival
Aug 1 – Efurt, DE @ From Hell
Aug 2 – Munich, DE @ Backstage Halle w/ Converge
Aug 3 – Szekesfehervar, HU @ Fezen Festival
Aug 5 – Wroclaw, PL @ A2 w/ Cradle of Filth
Aug 6 – Katowice, PL @ P23 w/ Cradle of Filth
Aug 7 – Graz, AT @ PPC w/ Cradle of Filth
Aug 9 – Weinham, DE @ Cafe Central
Aug 11- Eindhoven, NL @ Effenaar
Aug 10 – Cologne, DE @ Gebaeude 9 w/ Soil
Aug 13 – Bochum, DE @ Matrix w/ Cradle of Filth
Aug 14 – Dresden, DE @ Schlachthof w/ Cradle of Filth
Aug 16 – Sulingen, DE @ Reload Festival
Aug 17 – Jezero Sadska, CZ @ Rock of Sadska
Tour with Cradle of Filth:
Oct. 27 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy
Oct. 28 – Bournemouth, UK @ O2 Academy
Oct. 29 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
Oct. 31 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
Nov. 1 – Swansea, UK @ Patti Pavilion
Nov. 2 – Manchester, UK @ Damnation Festival
Nov. 3 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Nov. 5 – Belfast, UK @ Limelight
Nov. 6 – Dublin, UK @ Academy
Nov. 7 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3
Nov. 8 – Newcastle, UK @ NX11/10 Hamburg, DE @ O2 Markthalle
Nov. 15 – Stockholm, SE @ Fryshuset Klubben
Nov. 16 – Gothenburgm SE @ Brewhouse
Nov. 19 – Ljubliana, SI @ Kino Siska
Nov. 20 – Milan, IT @ Live Club
Nov. 22 – Barcelona, ES @ Salamanda
Nov. 23 – Madrid, ES @ But
Nov. 24 – Libson, PT @ Lisboa ao Vivo
Nov. 26 – Bilbao, ES @ Santana 27
Nov. 28 – Lyon, FR @ La Rayonne
Nov. 29 – Pratteln, CH @ 27
Nov. 30 – Vaureal, FR @ Le Forum
Dec. 2 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rockhal
Dec. 4 – Berlin, DE @ SO36
Dec. 7 – Leige, BE @ OM
Dec. 8 – Tilburg, NL @ Poppodium
