The dramatic second implosion of As I Lay Dying that performed out final 12 months was a quite disturbing ordeal. One after the other, all members of the metalcore band sans vocalist Tim Lambesis all exited the band, with nearly all cryptically citing their morals or perception programs being challenged. Within the wake of that, rumors of infidelity and spousal abuse started to flow into on-line, nonetheless, Tim Lambesis‘ spouse on the time publicly refuted the allegations of home violence.
In early November, Lambesis went on to difficulty this public assertion, providing a obscure clarification of the occasions that transpired, whereas speaking his intentions to as soon as once more rebuild the band. A number of weeks later, leaked dwelling safety footage of Lambesis and his spouse started to flow into on-line, displaying the couple in heated discussions. In these clips, Tim was discovered to turn out to be extraordinarily agitated, pacing, hitting himself repeatedly, and fervently yelling.
In a follow-up assertion to the footage, Tim accused his spouse of assault and verbal abuse throughout their three-year relationship. He additionally indicated that he had initiated a home violence investigation in opposition to her, claiming he had a number of movies of her assaulting him, amongst different issues.
He additionally steered that the leaked footage was in ‘retaliation’ for him serving her with divorce papers a day previous to the leaks. That assertion additionally discovered him describing his erratic conduct within the leaked footage as being ” “anxiousness stuffed reactions and defenses.”
In mid-January of this 12 months, Tim went on to give this interview, providing his facet of occasions that led to the breakup of the band and opening up on his psychological well being struggles. Two days afterwards, footage of Tim performing bodily abusive in the direction of his canine leaked on-line. Later that day, his now estranged spouse Dany Lambesis denied varied allegations made in opposition to her by Tim, whereas additionally accusing him of assorted indiscretions.
The above-mentioned footage of the alleged animal abuse has been again within the information this week, attributable to over 69,000 supporters signing a petition to have authorities get entangled over the incidents. Nevertheless, now one in every of Tim‘s former bandmates in the latest incarnation of As I Lay Dying has publicly spoken out, offering precise particulars on the alleged incident that led to the group’s 2024 implosion.
The band’s former guitarist Ken Susi has spoken at size on the topic with the BREWtally Talking Podcast as a part of a two-hour dialogue, half of which is devoted to his time in As I Lay Dying. That whole episode is offered now under.
Initially addressing the matter and why he’s chosen to talk out about it publicly now, Susi supplied [transcribed by theprp.com]:
“… Tim being a litigious individual, , and silencing all people across the band within the specific state of affairs that we’re all in, it’s clearly clear. The individuals which are near him and who should not talking, and I believe the followers, it’s sort of bizarre why persons are not speaking, However in my view I believe it’s unacceptable for Tim to go on podcasts together with his pals and make false claims about how the band broke up.
I suppose like, consider what you need, however my model of what occurred completely doesn’t align with principally what he’s been on the market saying and placing out statements about, proper? So I actually don’t personally need to get right into a forwards and backwards with Tim Lambesis, and I actually don’t need to reply per se to what he mentioned within the breakup and all that stuff, it’s simply not what I’m right here to do.
However I believe the band simply discovered ourselves able the place we have been basically endorsing and selling any individual with like a historical past… previous accusations and he went to jail and all that stuff and he did what he did.
However like after his incarceration, it was nearly like I did sort of see this coming. In my view, he formulated this like nearly actuality TV, , persona for his fanbase of like him portraying himself as his man of redemption or rehabilitation.
And it actually gave these individuals that basically do consider in that this like sense of, ‘I can get behind this man and and do the factor that , that that he says that he’s. And I can overcome my, the issues that I’ve endured in my life,’ and like giving individuals hope. However to be completely trustworthy with you, it’s as I mentioned, it’s nearly, like well-crafted and effectively thought out. , I actually don’t consider in my view, I actually don’t consider it’s an actual factor in his world. However perhaps he can converse to that.”
Susi would later go on to say:
“However, going again to the band, a number of troubling points sort of surfaced inside the band in his private life — effectively, surfaced in his private life — but in addition with the band, main the band into it. And we have been simply principally supporting any individual coping with critical issues. And we have been unaware of how critical these issues have been on the time.
And once we figured, when the band truly, , it revealed himself and the band figured it out, that’s when, we actually realized that… I consider, and we consider, that he, Tim, was, in want {of professional} assist. And it was one thing that we weren’t capable of present or outfitted to offer to him. ‘Trigger we’re not like therapists and we’re not relationship specialists. We’re, we’re none of that.
We’re simply band dudes, like seeking to play gigs and have an excellent time. And we have been actually sort of, a number of us felt rather a lot remorse once we discovered precisely what was happening, when the band evaporated. It was principally… what I’m making an attempt to say is it needed to cease.”
After relaying that he had a longtime relationship with Lambesis relationship again many years from touring collectively and working in related circles previous to becoming a member of As I Lay Dying, Susi went on to say:
I’ve, completed a number of excursions with [As I Lay Dying, when Susi was in Unearth] and at these occasions, I at all times thought Tim was an excellent individual. And there’s lots of people that say that in that point.
And I used to be keen to face behind any individual at that time as a result of there’s layers of friendship and years of friendship and conversations that you’ve backstage and assembly households and doing issues.
And, , the experiences you’ve got with these individuals which are sort of like, ‘ what? This man tousled.’ And I’m right here to say, yeah, these individuals which are saying that stuff on-line are 1000% proper. However you simply don’t know the complete story.
And I’m saying that they’re technically proper. I ought to have identified higher. However then once more, I’m the kind of individual, that I might quite give any individual a second probability. The second probability is the one, proper?
And for those who fail me from there, I might quite have given any individual a second probability than to not give them an opportunity in any respect, as a result of that’s not how I’m made, ? I might quite simply sort of say I consider this individual might be rehabilitated.
I preferred this individual earlier than they have been incarcerated. I’ve a number of pals that went to jail and received out and are stellar individuals.
So if I miss a possibility or, , or if I don’t assist any individual in that point, then I’m a jerk.”
After revealing that he reached out to former As I Lay Dying guitarist Nick Hipa previous to changing him within the band, Susi defined that Hipa gave him the gist of what he was strolling into. As such, talking on this podcast, Susi relayed he “wasn’t dumb” to a few of the issues lurking inside As I Lay Dying.
When it was offered by the podcast’s host that Tim had not less than positively impacted some individuals together with his journey and that some occasions good issues can outweigh the band, Susi went on to say:
“On this specific use case state of affairs, in my view, the dangerous issues outweigh the nice issues tremendously. And it’s not one thing that I’m going to endorse, assist, condone. Like, I don’t need to be part of something that he has happening sooner or later. I don’t need to be pals with him.
He’s… there isn’t a room for reconciliation between the 2 of us. I don’t respect what he’s completed and I’ll by no means respect it. There’s very particular issues that occurred in my own residence that I’m not pleased with. There’s no quantity of excellent that he can do shifting ahead to vary my opinion. And that’s for me.
We will all sit right here on-line and say, ‘Oh, I’ve a buddy and he went to jail and he did effectively, and blah, blah. Effectively guess what? On this state of affairs, that’s not the case.”
Later within the dialog, Susi shared:
“There was a lot dangerous footage that popped up on-line and I used to be, I believe the entire band was like, ‘holy crap, that is what was happening.’ Like we had no concept, however we’re glad we walked away sort of sort of vibe.
It’s like for these individuals within the remark part being, ‘Oh, , this man didn’t hit that canine too arduous’ or, ‘This man didn’t freak out that tough’ or ‘He barely touched her.’ And I’m sort of like, how a lot do you’re keen on this band?
As a result of the fellows within the band don’t find it irresistible as a lot as you do at this level. what I’m saying? Prefer it’s time to cease. And the one method I might, me personally, Ken Susi, would ever assist that individual venture is that if he wasn’t part of it. Apart from that, I’m completed.”
Later within the dialog, talking on the kinship he felt with different members of the band who served in its most up-to-date incarnation, together with Ryan Neff and his former Unearth bandmate Nick Pierce, Susi said:
“…We have been prepared. We have been dedicated to this. We have been positively excited and dedicated. And that was all ruined. It was all fucking ruined for no fucking motive. Effectively, not, I’m not saying… no, there’s a motive. There’s no motive for the dangerous actions.
After which within the one, the well-known factor that I say to all people is all Tim actually needed to do is get out of jail and simply scream to a fucking mic and be cool. And that was arduous.”
Expressing his frustration relating to Lambesis‘s actions and blowing second possibilities and past [Lambesis was previously sentenced to prison in a murder-for-hire scheme involving his ex-wife back in 2014,] Susi supplied:
“This isn’t even his second probability. That is his third, 4th, fifth… So these guys, , we deserved. We did all the appropriate issues. We have been within the shit. We fucking performed the exhibits. We we, we received the acceptance of the fanbase once more.
The entire band simply had a mass exodus and we, the second iteration of the band, recovered that, clearly with the staff in place and it labored. Individuals have been liking us. Individuals have been giving us exhibits. They have been asking us again on festivals. It wasn’t simply Tim. and Phil [Sgrosso, ex-As I Lay Dying guitarist] mentioned it, ‘step down, go away.’ Like please, are you aware what the followers need?
And , if persons are going to touch upon this, do the followers need to see a band with out him? I don’t know. However to be trustworthy with you, I believe it might be good to, to see what that may be. However he’d by no means give it up over his lifeless physique. He wouldn’t, he feels he’s completed no incorrect.
He can go get fucking YouTube guitar gamers and drummers and shit and and make them signal NDAs or do regardless of the fuck he’s going to do. Have at it, dude. I simply refuse to suppose anybody’s going to comply with that after, the 4th fifth strike on you. They will’t love the band that a lot. There’s there’s a restrict to those issues.”
Susi additionally went on to vent his frustration on how Lambesis seemingly dismissed the varied members that exited the group final fall. That is additionally the place Susi outlined his facet of an incident alleged to have taken in his dwelling that led to the group disintegrating final 12 months:
“I’m not going to defame anyone, however I’m going to exit and say that Tim, personally together with his statements after the band, have simply depicted me and the opposite bandmates as unstable… It defamed my character. The man wrote one thing alongside the strains of like ‘Phil give up, give up later, and the band took Phil‘s took facet and others rushed to statements when once they have been frightened about rumors that have been circulating.’
Like that was on November 4th, proper. He wrote that on his on the non-public As I Lay Dying web page to a fan that was commenting about stuff. That was extremely incorrect. I believe the 25 years that I’ve been in bands, I’ve been fairly fucking vocal and trustworthy to individuals… I wouldn’t give up over a rumor. Christ. I used to be within the band with a man that loads of rumors circulated about. However the factor is these rumors have been truly fucking true.
If you wish to know what precisely occurred and why the band broke up is as a result of we have been at Metalfest and we had the best fucking time in my kitchen. We had all of the the all of the band, all of the members, all of the crew, all people and some individuals have been staying at a resort. After which me, being an excellent host, after the competition.
Now, thoughts you, him [Tim] and his spouse, they weren’t they weren’t vibing on tour. issues… We have been uncertain if his spouse was even going to come back to this quick weekend of exhibits, However I’m going to say, they have been staying in a resort down the road and I supplied, I mentioned, ‘Hey, you’re going to go get a tattoo. My spouse works from dwelling. I received to go to Fishman. In case your spouse needs to only chill all day, my spouse and your spouse are pals. You’re welcome to only keep right here and save the cash. And you need to use one in every of our automobiles. You don’t should hire a automotive.’
Like simply go do your factor. However what ended up taking place is, my spouse and I are having a child. She’s placing a bassinet collectively proper now as past the past the display. However we [had] simply introduced to my complete household that we’re having a child. We received my mom crying, my father crying. Tim‘s spouse is witnessing this, taking video in our home, it was a joyous event the day after Metalfest.
After which inside 2-3 hours later, there was like an incident the place now thoughts you, I’m simply going to select up the, I’ll choose up the fucking digital camera proper now. I received these large honking safety cameras all around the home, and a label on the entrance door saying you’re being filmed 24/7, proper?
And this man like comes into my home in the course of the evening, corners his spouse in my kitchen and spits in her face. After which retracts 4 or 5 steps again and has some sort of episode, which I’ve by no means seen out of any individual earlier than in my whole life.
After which begins screaming and working round my home for assist. And it alarmed my spouse. She awoke and she or he’s like, ‘What’s happening?’ And I’m like, ‘I’ve heard him scream for assist earlier than.’ I’m going to go see what’s happening.
However finally, I’m not 20-years-old. I’m not going to show a blind eye to home violence. I’m not going to show a blind eye to love improper conduct. , when shit occurs, you fucking deal with it. And in that state of affairs, I didn’t know what occurred. I separated them, I introduced them right down to my studio. I requested him particularly what the fuck is happening.
And I, is there something I have to know? And he was identical to, ‘Oh my marriage’, this and that. And I’m like, ‘cool.’ I’m going upstairs. I requested Dany what’s happening. She tells me the reality.
I truly pull up the digital camera footage in entrance of her and I see precisely what was mentioned. He spit on me. He threw a match. I used to be making an attempt to calm him down the entire 9. And to be completely trustworthy with you, that’s what fucking occurred.
Afterward, , he tried to vary. I went again downstairs. I mentioned, ‘I’m dissatisfied in you.’ And he’s like, ‘I didn’t spit on her face. I spit at her ft.’ And I’m like, ‘Why are you spitting in my home basically?’ For those who’re going to lie about it, ? And the trustworthy to God reality is, you’re not going to insult me. I requested him to depart instantly. He left. And at that time, the remainder is historical past.
If Tim, needs me to love… After I give up the band, he despatched a message by means of his spouse, by means of his spouse’s cellphone, saying he would sue me if I ever launch that footage as a result of he didn’t know — he was filmed with out his consent, or he was posting up like, Dany would sue me, his spouse.
However like, finally I’m not fucking scared. I’ve the receipts. With Tim‘s permission, if you wish to verify if I’m a reputable supply, if you wish to see if I’m a upstanding individual, I’ll launch it. If you’d like me to launch it, that’s high quality. Tim, like I’ve no downside with it.
However I’m not going to sit down right here and allow you to say issues like, ‘Oh, Phil left the band.’ Otherwise you have been actually distant from the band and , everybody was like making an attempt to drag you again in, however you have been simply on this place and blah, blah. You, , you’re making a lie. You’re making a lie for the fanbase. And it makes me look dangerous. It makes the fellows look dangerous. You probably did one thing incorrect. It’s a must to come clean with it.
And to be trustworthy with you, I despatched the video to Phil and I simply mentioned, ‘Phil, you’re the different like working officer on this band. You might be technically HR. , I desire you don’t share this with anyone.’ However I simply mentioned, ‘I’ve to give up the band. I’m out of right here. I don’t need to cope with this kind of shit.’ After which I additionally mentioned that we had like, , cash on the road for a tour and pyro and all this different shit.
I mentioned, I’ll end the tour, I’ll do the European Tour, so long as like this man has assist or he goes to get assist, ? I actually didn’t need to be part of the venture anymore, however I did perceive like how a lot cash was on the road for these guys. It’s a giant funding once you go abroad with scrims and pyro and all this different crap, and the deposits which are laid down.
And I didn’t need to go away them excessive and dry, although the the severity of the difficulty was like so critical, however I used to be keen to see by means of that. However by the point it went into the As I Lay Dying, like band circle, that’s when issues imploded.
No one wished to be part of it anymore. They didn’t care in regards to the funds. They didn’t care about something. And and that’s actually what went down, , it’s what it’s. What am I going to say? I’m telling the reality. I simply, I simply don’t just like the ‘the band broke up due to communication issues and everybody adopted Phil‘ or, , Tim… Tim actually blew up the excursions that I used to be purported to be on, proper? With all of the earnings that I used to be going to make on that. I by no means received paid on royalties for the songs that I did write, or assist write, on the document.
, he threatens me, clearly, once more, I mentioned, with a lawsuit, if I speak about or, , ship footage round that he clearly knew as a result of I’ve cameras in my frequent areas and an indication on the entrance door that he’s being filmed. And, , principally mendacity [about me online.]
I’ve been on this enterprise for 20 years, proper? 20 years, and truly longer than him. And to painting the band and us, like for leaving the way in which he did. I simply don’t suppose it’s cool. And it’s what it’s.
Simply don’t abuse your spouse in my fucking home and put my integrity on the road. And somebody must say one thing. I don’t. I don’t really feel like that is the.. I didn’t come on the present to to mean to take action. However since we’re within the second, I’m going to fucking say it in your present over anyone else’s as a result of I like you as an individual, and other people do should know. Don’t subscribe to one thing that’s not good. However once more, I’ve the receipts.”