In a significant development for fans of The Amity Affliction, the band has officially announced the departure of their founding bassist and co-vocalist, Ahren Stringer. This decision comes after a prolonged period of internal challenges and public speculation.
Official Statement from The Amity Affliction
On February 14, 2025, the band released a statement addressing the situation:
“We are aware our fans have been waiting for us to comment on the situation between Ahren and the band.
This will be our only statement.
We have been choosing to stay silent until now, as we wanted to handle this privately with respect to all involved. Unfortunately, it has become clear to us that this is no longer possible and we owe it to you, our fans, to comment.
Ahren will no longer be touring or recording with The Amity Affliction.
We acknowledge that we have all had our fair share of issues over the years. But sadly, over time the relationship between Ahren and the band has completely broken down while he has been dealing with challenging elements of his personal life.
The band have had to cancel tours and pass on many opportunities in hopes of supporting Ahren, but moving forward we find it impossible to continue to tolerate certain behaviours that have been directed at ourselves and those close to us. Ahren has made it very clear on numerous occasions that he does not enjoy or want to continue touring.
We still have a lot to give as a band and we’re excited to continue touring and sharing new music with you. We also understand that we need to prove ourselves to you all, and thank you for sticking with us.
The music we’ve created with Ahren will forever bind us and we are thankful for the good times we had together. We wish Ahren all the best in his personal and professional future.
We look forward to seeing you all on tour.
Joel [Birch], Dan [Brown], and Joe [Longobardi]”
This message highlights the band’s intention to move forward while acknowledging the challenges they’ve faced.
Ahren Stringer’s Response
Following the band’s announcement, Ahren Stringer took to social media to share his perspective. On February 15, he posted on his Instagram Stories:
“Not tryna start anymore shit BUT I have been kicked out of my band. I will NEVER play with The Amity Affliction (who blocked me btw) love you all x.”
This candid response underscores the depth of the rift between Stringer and his former bandmates.
Frontman Joel Birch’s Reflection
In the wake of these events, lead vocalist Joel Birch offered his thoughts, focusing on personal growth and resilience. He shared:
“I’m extremely disappointed that I even have to write this, but here we are. I find the sharing of my personal life online to be disgusting and so this will only be a short post, I won’t be discussing anything about anyone else but myself, it’s not who I am.
Alcoholism is soul-destroying, but there is always a hard choice to be made when you are facing down your addiction, and I made that hard choice and changed my life for the better.
That’s it. I won’t be saying another word about anything or anyone, I know who I am, as do my friends who have watched me grow into a much better person than I was while drinking. Thank you in advance for understanding.”
Birch’s statement emphasizes his commitment to personal development and his desire to avoid further public disputes.
The Road Ahead
The Amity Affliction has expressed their determination to continue creating music and performing for their fans. While the departure of a founding member marks a significant transition, the remaining members are committed to their artistic journey. As they move forward, fans can anticipate new music and upcoming tours, reflecting the band’s resilience and dedication.
