Founding Member of Metal Band Abruptly Quits Mid-Tour—Second Member to Exit in Recent Months

For many bands, going on the road can bring a great deal of stress. The constant traveling, living off a bus, and playing in a new city with each show can cause tensions to hit a boiling point. For other bands, touring is a celebration of their hard work and determination. When it came to the band Vitriol, they kicked off their new tour early this year with all four members taking the stage together. But now, it appears Vitriol has only two members left as founding bassist Adam Roethlisberger decided to quit mid-tour.

The last few months have been a whirlwind for the group as not only did Roethlisberger leave but so did guitarist Daniel Martinez. Leaving only singer Kyle Rasmussen and drummer Matt Kilner, the remaining members promised fans they would continue to play. Posting a video on Instagram, explaining the current situation, Rassmussen said, “After our Portland show on this tour, my long-term Vitriol partner Adam, co-vocalist and bass player, decided to call it a day on the band.”

Vitriol Not Ending Their Time On Stage As Lineup Changes

Not wanting to get into the details surrounding Vitriol, Rasmussen continued, “I’m sure many of you want to know why. There are many reasons. It was a very, very turbulent beginning to tour, financially, mentally, everything. When you’ve been working with someone for 12 years, things happen. We’ve had interpersonal pressure for a while now. It is what it is. There are a lot of reasons. He has our love and we’re very sad that he’s gone.”

Rasmussen also made sure to share what the future holds for the band. With fans worried about their upcoming shows, the singer insisted, “Matt and I are keeping this train a rolling. We’ll be finishing this tour as a two-piece. Come on and check it out. Best case scenario – you’re surprised. Worst case scenario – take videos and talk shit about us on the internet.”

Outside of the band going through some major growing pains while on the road, Rassmussen thanked fans for their continued support. “Thank you to everyone who has shared their support and enthusiasm over these last several shows. To the rest of you, we hope to see you out there.”

(WolfBlood, 2023)