Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying speaks out for the first time since band split: ‘I don’t seek pity’

Tim Lambesis Addresses Band Departures

As I Lay Dying’s Tim Lambesis has conducted his first interview since the exit of his former bandmates.

Last October, the band’s bassist Ryan Neff, guitarist Ken Suzy, and drummer Nick Pierce, who joined the group in 2022, announced their departure, citing “personal morals.”

In the following month, longtime guitarist Phil Sgrosso, who had been with the band since 2003, also left, making Lambesis the only remaining member of the group.

At that time, Sgrosso commented on the departures, stating that the band no longer provided “a healthy and safe environment for everyone involved—be it creatively, personally or professionally.” After observing some concerning patterns of behavior, he felt he could no longer allow actions that might negatively affect others in this space.

That same month, footage surfaced on social media showing a heated argument between Lambesis and his wife Dani. Lambesis accused Dani of domestic violence and claimed that she timed “these public attacks” to align with the moment he served her divorce papers.

Lambesis Reflects on Personal Relationships

Now, appearing as a guest on fitness trainer Justin Wenzel’s podcast—marking his first interview since all of his As I Lay Dying bandmates departed and the contentious video surfaced—Lambesis discussed how his relationship with Dani influenced his behavior, which he believes led to his bandmates’ exits.

“I wasn’t going to talk about it because I didn’t want anyone to know how unhealthy it was, as that would lead them to tell me to leave the relationship. I was trying to find a way to fight and stay, so I just held back,” he explained.

He went on to say, “The irony is that my relationship ended at the same time that these guys kind of gave up on their own. I don’t hold them accountable, but the decision coincided with their feeling that there was no longer a solution.”

The frontman also self-reflected, admitting he typically isolates himself when dealing with mental health issues. He expressed that he does not blame his former bandmates for not stepping in and recognized his troubled past, including his imprisonment for attempting to hire a hitman to kill his ex-wife, explaining that this is not what the group would want to confront again.

“I think this criticism is justified because I have had many opportunities to step back and heal from this, but I never wanted to discuss it,” he stated, adding, “Twelve years ago, I was arrested, and in the last 12 years, I may have acknowledged that loss only once or twice.”

Following his release from prison in December 2016, Lambesis posted a lengthy apology on As I Lay Dying’s official Facebook page.

The singer then reunited with As I Lay Dying in 2018, releasing their first new song in six years with “My Own Grave” and announcing a homecoming that summer. Longtime guitarist Nick Hipa departed from the band in 2020, followed by drummer Jordan Mancino and bassist Josh Gilbert in 2022.

Last year, his side project Austrian Death Machine saw drummer Brandon Short announce his departure on Instagram, citing, “For the sake of my mental well-being and personal beliefs, and in light of recent events surrounding As I Lay Dying.” He continued: “The repeated promises, the endless cycle of ‘I’ll do better’ – words that once gave me hope – have become a broken record with no real change. Instead, I found myself trapped in stereotypes that undermined my confidence and my well-being. This cycle has infiltrated my personal life, affecting my mental health in ways that I can no longer ignore.”