More than a year after his exit from the controversial metalcore group As I Lay Dying, drummer Slice Pierce has finally shared insights into the reasons behind his departure during a recent discussion with Metallic Drummers United.
Pierce’s exit came amid the tumultuous disbandment of As I Lay Dying in 2024, which saw key members such as bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff, guitarist Ken Susi, and later guitarist Phil Sgrosso, all part ways with the band. This mass exodus highlighted ongoing tensions between members and vocalist Tim Lambesis, who had previously served time for attempting to orchestrate the murder of his then-wife.
The departing musicians cited a toxic atmosphere largely attributed to Lambesis’s conduct as their primary reason for leaving. While susi had previously shed light on these issues, Pierce had remained relatively quiet—until now.His revelations come at a significant moment, coinciding with anticipated comments from Lambesis’ ex-wife regarding her own experiences.
Pierce stressed that even though they initially decided to give Lambesis another opportunity, they ultimately regretted that choice. His statements clearly indicate where he believes responsibility lies for the band’s decline.
“We were genuinely optimistic,” Pierce recalled. “We understood some of the hurdles we faced due to Tim’s past… and we were ready to offer him that second—or perhaps even third—chance.We entered this phase hoping for positive outcomes,believing Tim had truly changed.”
Pierce characterized their early jam sessions as exhilarating and creatively rewarding, emphasizing the strong rapport among himself, Susi, Neff, and Sgrosso: “After our first song together and realizing our potential as a unit, we thought ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ … Everyone was absolutely on fire.”
This initial excitement was short-lived.although Pierce firmly believes in second chances—drawing inspiration from friendships with individuals overcoming addiction or past mistakes—he feels that Lambesis ultimately squandered his opportunity: “We extended that second chance; it represented my personal quest for redemption too. He completely wasted it through some truly poor choices.”
Pierce recounted how personally devastating the fallout was: “I learned about the band’s dissolution on my birthday—it felt like an utter catastrophe. Within just 24 or 48 hours, I transitioned from preparing for a European tour to realizing everything was crumbling—all as of Tim’s decisions.”
While he acknowledges not wanting to dwell excessively on these matters, Pierce expressed his frustration openly: “My mistake—I trusted this guy again just like everyone else did. So yes… it’s unfortunate—it happens.”
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