Carcass performed their first gig of 2018 at the Netherlands Deathfest this weekend, and some astute fans noticed that guitarist Ben Ash was not performing with the band.
Bootleg footage from the event confirms this fact:
Fans reached out to Ash and wondered why he wasn't present. Ash wanted to quell any fears about his health and well-being by announcing that he's left the band. In a new statement, Ash said:
At the start of 2018, I've decided to come away from the touring circuit, and focus on getting back into an educational role, and focus a bit on study and individual music projects. From the footage that I saw of the band playing Netherlands Deathfest, I knew they'd knock it out of the park. They sounded killer. And the chap that is in the place I was, is doing a crackin' job.
He also thanked the roadies and tour managers that worked with him all throughout his "five year stint with the band."
You can watch his entire video statement below. Anybody recognize his replacement?
[Thanks for the tip, Rodrigo Fredes]