As The Amity Affliction closes in on the final dates of an extensive US tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of their 2014 album Let The Ocean Take Me, the Gympie post-hardcore icons have announced their bassist and clean singer Ahren Stringer will be leaving the tour early to focus on his mental health.
In a social media post, they shared the news of Stringer’s imminent return to Australia.
“We regret to inform you that Ahren will not be joining us for the remainder of our North American tour dates,” the band wrote. “Tim Beken, known from True North, will step in for the upcoming shows until Ahren’s return.”
Stringer’s departure is attributed to his need for support in dealing with addiction, prioritising his mental health and wellbeing.
The band expressed their gratitude to fans, stating, “This tour has been our best US tour ever, and we look forward to seeing you on the road. Feel free to bring signs of support for Ahren, which we can send to him at home. He needs as much support as we can possibly give him.”
They concluded:”Thank you for understanding and please respect Ahren’s privacy as well as ours. This is a heartbreaking matter that we will be working through internally as we look forward to his recovery and return.”
In his own solo post, Stringer’s co-vocalist and songwriting partner, Joel Birch, confessed that he felt “crushed” by the decision but acknowledged that the band have “made the right move for our dear friend’s health”.
“This fucking sucks, but we carry on, and we owe a huge thank you to True North for loaning us Tim temporarily,” Birch continued. “Ahren is not being replaced, ever, everything is temporary. Thank you for understanding.”
The Amity Affliction are scheduled to bring their Let The Ocean Take Me anniversary tour down under this November with US horror rock icons Ice Nine Kills.
If you or anyone you know needs help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Further Reading
The Amity Affliction Announce 2024 Australian Tour With Ice Nine Kills
Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2022: 100-1
The Amity Affliction Pay Tribute To Sean Kennedy In New Single ‘Like Love’
