Protest the Hero on Bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi’s Departure: “We Are Open to His Involvement Down the Road”
Earlier this week Protest the Hero announced from the stage that bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi was officially out of the band. Arif sat out the last tour too while he worked on a theater production back home, so it seemed as if the touring lifestyle just wasn’t for him anymore. Now Protest the Hero have released an officially official really real statement on the matter, and that definitely seems to be the case… except they’re leaving open the possibility for Arif’s eventual return, just in case:
The cat’s out of the bag. Despite what you may of read already, here’s the real scoop:
Arif has decided that the touring schedule we have signed up for to support Volition is more intense than what he is prepared to commit. He is actively involved with other projects at home and being a full time band member isn’t a practical thing. Though he has and will be missed out on the road with his brothers, everything was left on a positive note and we are open to his involvement down the road and only time will see how it all plays out. In the meantime, our longtime friend and tourmate Cam McLellan will be filling in on bass duties for the rest of the cycle. As an amazing musician, co-writer and producer of Volition, he is more than capable to pick off where Riffy left off. Don’t fret, Cam’s working on his giant happy smile and well placed high kicks during our set!
As far as touring goes, well, that makes a whole lot of sense. The touring lifestyle of a band like Protest the Hero is certainly intense. I can never blame anyone for not wanting to do it!
As far as the “we are open to his involvement down the road” stuff, well, it’s certainly a possibility (maybe in a writing capacity or an eventual return to touring?), but, reading behind the lines here, it doesn’t seem likely. To me it feels a lot like a gentle break-up with a long-time girlfriend, leaving open the possibility of occasional sex or dating again in the future “when our lives line up better,” but really, in your heart, knowing it’s probably not gonna work out. It’s good to know that everyone parted ways amicably, though, not that it ever seemed otherwise: all the PTH guys are totally rad, stand-up dudes.
Protest the Hero are on tour with Battlecross, The Safety Fire and Intervals right now; dates here.
