Earlier this week, we published an exclusive interview with new Suicide Silence vocalist Eddie Hermida. Eddie went through the events that led him to becoming the new vocalist of the band and as he puts it, "being asked to step away" from All Shall Perish.
After we published the interview, All Shall Perish founding member Mike Tiner reached out to us asking to give his side of the story to explain that the band had no choice but to "fire" Eddie after the demands made from his new band, Suicide Silence. Here is our email conversation:
Mike, what was your initial reaction when you found out Eddie was joining Suicide Silence?
It was a totally mixed bag. At first, it was excitement because this means our friends in Suicide Silence were going to be coming back into the scene. But then it made me wonder: 'What does this mean for All Shall Perish?' Suicide Silence is a bigger band than All Shall Perish and have a monstrous touring history and just a busy work schedule all around. I started to wonder how Eddie being in both bands would work. And that's when I got confused.
You reached out because you wanted to give your side of the story regarding Eddie leaving. What happened?
I reached out after reading what Eddie had said because I felt it necessary for the fans to know the truth about what's going on.
I first heard of Eddie potentially joining Suicide Silence in March while we were on tour in Japan. When he first brought it up, he made it seem as if he was only considering recording with them, but then as he further explained everything, it became very clear that he wanted to join Suicide Silence. Everyone in that room had the same reaction: 'How are you going to possibly have time to do both bands?' Eddie reassured us a dozen times over that both bands would be able to coexist and work together with one another, with him as the vocalist of both bands.
As we had always trusted Eddie before, after a lot of long conference calls, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and decided to wait till there was an actual scheduling conflict and cross that bridge then. We already had Metallica's Orion Music and our own MTL: South of the Border Tour on the books, so we went ahead with Eddie for those shows, and they all turned out very well. It seemed like maybe everything would actually work out OK. Then, after Eddie was officially in Suicide Silence (but before it went public), we got an offer from Death Angel to play two or three shows with them, all in California. Eddie in particular wanted to do these shows and pushed hardest for them, so we confirmed them. Then a week or two later he tells our management that he actually can't do the shows…because of Suicide Silence.
That's when Suicide Silence's management informed us of all of the things All Shall Perish would and would not be "allowed" to do. All Shall Perish could not play a show until Eddie was well "established" as the new singer of Suicide Silence. Suicide Silence's management told us that they would have to be well into their new album and touring cycle before All Shall Perish could be seen again with Eddie.
That is easily a year of All Shall Perish not being "allowed" to do anything; possibly more than a year. There were other rules, too, but this one was huge. When we heard this, we immediately all got on the phone with Eddie and asked him how him being in both bands could ever work, especially after this whole Death Angel thing. Eddie still insisted it could work but also maintained that Suicide Silence would be his priority. We asked Eddie if he was quitting and he said, "No, I'm not. If you want me out of All Shall Perish, you'll have to fire me."
Now, I ask all of you reading this, both All Shall Perish fans and Suicide Silence fans: what would happen if you worked at Starbucks and you told your boss that you took a job at Coffee Bean across the street, that Coffee Bean would be your new priority and that you wouldn't be able to pickup a single shift at Starbucks for at least a year or more, followed by: "But I'm NOT quitting!"
Did Eddie "quit" All Shall Perish or was Eddie "asked to leave" All Shall Perish? You tell me.
Will All Shall Perish have auditions for vocalists? How do you plan on filling the position? Has any headway been made?
The band has talked about many ideas including auditions and a couple people in particular but no idea has been decided on nor have any been set in motion. Before Eddie left for Suicide Silence, we already had about half an albums worth of material that we now have to rework, but we will. This setback won't kill us. We should have more answers soon and when we know, you will too.
What is your message to fans who are skeptical about the band's future?
All Shall Perish is no stranger to this kind of situation. We have come back every time we every time something or someone has tried to knock us down. We have come back and gotten better every time and this time is no different. So don't worry: WE got this!
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Our hope is that both bands are able to continue on and find success in their own ways. Suicide Silence and All Shall Perish are two bands that mean a lot to us and we hope they both end up on their feet.
How do you guys feel about this situation? Leave your comments below.
