Five Finger Death Punch will complete their European tour without frontman Ivan Moody. In a press release, the band announced that they have recruited Bad Wolves vocalist Tommy Vext to fill in for Moody, whose "struggles with substance abuse are widely known."
In the press release, Moody said: “I am embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I have fallen off the wagon again. I was on shaky ground prior to our performance in Tilburg, and although a lot of the events of that show were out of my control, the shame of not delivering pushed me over the edge. It would not be fair to my bandmates or my fans to continue to perform in my current condition. One of the worst parts of addiction is the loneliness you feel, so having the support of my band and all the knuckleheads is what drives me. I am committed to getting better so I can get back out on stage as soon as possible.”
MORE: Five Finger Death Punch Comment On Tilburg Gig, Vow To Continue The Tour
Footage of Moody announcing he is leaving FFDP onstage emerged after a chaotic show in the Netherlands. Tommy Vext performed the first two songs at that show.
Guitarist Zoltan Bathory, who was the first to comment on Ivan's announcement, said: “As a band, we are committed to supporting Ivan's road to recovery. We are as baffled and saddened as anyone to watch our brother continue to struggle. Almost everyone in the world knows someone who struggles with addiction, and can relate to how the self-destruction of someone they care about is very difficult to watch. Five Finger Death Punch has every intention of playing the dates we’re committed to and beyond. The band is bigger than any one member.”
Watch footage of Moody saying he is leaving the band below:
Original article by Sam Valorose at iHeartRadio