DevilDriver Guitarist Mike Spreitzer Quits: “It Is Time To Go My Own Way”
After two decades as the guitarist in DevilDriver, guitarist Mike Spreitzer took to social media late last night to announce that he was walking away from the groove metal/metalcore outfit. He joined the band in 2004 and was featured in every release since 2005’s The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand.
In his rather lengthy statement, Spreitzer said the decision to leave the band was his own. He also said that unfortunately, the band hadn’t been as active as he would have liked, leading him to seek opportunities in other projects. Yet when he began working on other side projects, he said he was met with some hostility within DevilDriver.
“After 20 years of playing guitar for DevilDriver, I have decided it is time to go my own way.
“Since around 2014, DevilDriver gradually started to feel more like a part-time job. Our touring schedule is not what it used to be and I want to get back to being a full-time musician. In addition, the mere creation of my side project was met with a heavy amount of negativity from a specific individual that made things extremely uncomfortable for me.
“Ever since I was six years old I wanted to play in a metal hand and live the majority of my life on a tour bus with my friends traveling from city to city. Show up, set up, perform, leave, and repeat. I miss the camaraderie with my band and crew. I miss my bunk. I miss waking up and walking to a coffee shop with whoever would join me. I miss playing guitar all day in the dressing room before the show. I miss laughing my ass off every day with the guys. I miss the summer festival runs where I get to see all my friends from other bands that I have toured with over the last two decades. I miss the aroma of the venues. I miss the putrid smell of the bathrooms in a European dive bar. More than anything else, I miss the look of joy on everyone’s face while you lovingly kick the crap out of each other in the crowd.”
Unfortunately for Spreitzer, he said the band never fully got back off the ground. At least not in a meaningful enough way to satisfy his professional needs. And even though unexpected things got in the way of the band getting back out on the road in any meaningful way, he said he wanted to strike things out on his own.
“I’ve waited patiently for DevilDriver to become full-time again. I respectfully understand that since 2019 serious issues had to be dealt with that were out of anybody’s control resulting in keeping the band off the road. We had a pandemic, there were family emergencies, and health issues that had to be addressed. But these dilemmas started in 2019. DevilDriver became part-time long before this unfortunate chain of events. I would rather not sit at home waiting for this to become a full-time job any longer.
“In an attempt to fill the downtime. I started Verona On Venus. It was never my intention to make VOV a priority over DevilDriver. The only way I can see myself touring as much as I would like is by getting Verona On Venus up and running or perhaps an opportunity to join another band.
“To all the DD fans out there, I love you with all my heart. You are some of the most dedicated humans I have ever met. The vitality in all of you has been the brightest light in my life. You filled my soul with happiness. l am forever grateful for every single one of you and will never forget your unwavering devotion.
“I wish Dez, Jon, Alex and Davier the very best.”
As recently as this past June, the band had begun teasing that they were working on something with their former drummer John Boecklin. Who knows what that could have been and how it’s affected by Spreitzer’s withdrawal.
