In May 2024, the founding bassist and co-vocalist of the Australian metalcore/post-hardcore band The Amity Affliction, Ahren Stringer, announced that he was ?booted? from their upcoming tour. Recently, Stringer has made an official statement regarding his dismissal from the band, which was followed by a public response from the band itself, addressing the situation for their dedicated fanbase.

Official Statements from The Amity Affliction and Ahren Stringer

On February 14, The Amity Affliction took to their Facebook and Instagram platforms to share a heartfelt statement:

We understand that our fans have been eagerly awaiting our comments regarding the situation involving Ahren and the band.

This will be our only public statement on the matter.

We chose to remain silent until now as we aimed to resolve this privately with respect for everyone involved. However, it has become apparent that such privacy is no longer viable, and we owe it to you, our loyal fans, to speak up.

Ahren will not be participating in future tours or recording sessions with The Amity Affliction.

We recognize that we have all faced our share of challenges over the years. Unfortunately, the relationship between Ahren and the band has deteriorated significantly, particularly as he has been grappling with personal struggles.

We have had to cancel tours and forgo numerous opportunities to support Ahren, but moving forward, we find it increasingly difficult to accept certain behaviors directed at us and those close to us. Ahren has repeatedly indicated that he does not wish to continue touring.

We still have much to offer as a band, and we?re thrilled to move forward, touring and sharing new music with all of you. We fully understand that we need to earn your trust, and we appreciate your continued support.

The music we created with Ahren will forever unite us, and we are grateful for the memorable moments we shared. We wish Ahren the best in all his future endeavors.

We look forward to seeing you all on tour.

Joel [Birch], Dan [Brown], and Joe [Longobardi]

You can view their full post below:

On February 15, Ahren Stringer responded via Instagram Stories.

According to Lambgoat, his statement expressed: ?Not trying to stir up more controversy BUT I have been kicked out of my band. I will NEVER play with The Amity Affliction (who blocked me, by the way) love you all x.?

The official X account of the State of the Scene Podcast shared an image of Stringer?s story, commenting: ?Ahren Stringer says that The Amity Affliction have blocked him on social media in a new IG story.?

You can view that post (including Stringer’s statement) below:

Understandably, fans have expressed mixed feelings regarding this formal separation.

For instance, one user on X commented: ?His voice is the only thing that made them unique. Good luck being irrelevant now.? Another account remarked: ?That?ll be it for Amity Affliction lol, you can?t kick out the person who makes your sound unique. This is reminiscent of what happened to OM&M [Of Mice & Men] after [Austin] Carlile left. RIP.?

Conversely, Iridium vocalist Danny Lewis shared his perspective in response to The Amity Affliction?s post:

To those saying no Ahren, no Amity, please reconsider. A band is not defined by a single member. Yes, Ahren has a distinctive voice and his vocals are indeed exceptional. However, to suggest that without him, the remaining members should abandon their lifelong efforts to grow the band is unreasonable. Ahren will certainly be missed, but a band is a collaborative effort, and they must make decisions they believe are in their best interest. It?s a regrettable situation for everyone involved, and I wish both parties well.

READ MORE: 25 New Rock + Metal Tours Announced This Past Week (Feb. 7-13, 2025)

Understanding the Circumstances Behind This Change

As previously mentioned, The Amity Affliction announced in May 2024 that Stringer would not be joining them for ?the remainder of [their] North American tour dates.? They elaborated:

Tim Beken, whom many of you may recognize from True North, will be stepping in for all upcoming shows until Ahren is able to return. This decision was made in the best interest of Ahren?s mental health and well-being. He is going back to Australia to confront his struggles with addiction and seek the necessary support… Please feel free to bring signs of encouragement for Ahren that we can send to him at home; he needs our support now more than ever.

You can view their complete post below:

Following this announcement, Stringer remarked: ?I was booted from the tour without any warning. I did absolutely nothing wrong, but I wish you guys all the best moving forward.?

Later, in September 2024, Stringer shared a hopeful update on Instagram, stating:

I know you all have been waiting and wondering about the future of the band and my well-being. First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank you for your unwavering support and kind words of encouragement. I am proud to announce that I am happy, sober, and thriving!

Regarding my future with The Amity Affliction,
I will definitely be performing at the Big Pineapple Music Festival and on the upcoming Australian tour.

However, after these performances, I will be taking some much-needed time off from the band throughout 2025 to focus on my personal growth, consider my future with the band, and spend more quality time with my loved ones!

Rest assured, The Amity Affliction has my full support to continue touring in my absence. Jonathan Reeves will be stepping in for me, and I have complete confidence that he will deliver an outstanding performance for you all!

Thank you immensely for your understanding and support.

I eagerly anticipate seeing all of you and providing the best Amity shows we?ve ever performed! Your energy and support mean everything to me, and I can?t wait to share this experience with you!

With love,
Ahren x

You can view his post below:

However, just last month, Stringer provided another update on Instagram while selling some art prints. He noted: ?Once again, these will be the last Amity paintings I?ll ever create, so grab them while you can.?

This led someone to question whether Stringer was indeed leaving The Amity Affliction, to which Stringer replied: ?[W]asn?t my choice.?

You can view that post below:

Considering all these factors, it?s clear that the end of this chapter has been evident for several months.

The Legacy of Ahren Stringer with The Amity Affliction

Ahren Stringer co-founded The Amity Affliction alongside former guitarist and backing vocalist Troy Brady back in 2003. Their band name was inspired by the deep trauma and connection they experienced after losing a mutual friend in a tragic car accident.

Over the years, Stringer has taken on various roles within the band, transitioning from rhythm guitar to bass around 2007. Nevertheless, he has been an integral part of The Amity Affliction, having contributed to all their studio EPs and LPs. Throughout the numerous lineup changes the band has undergone, he has remained the sole consistent member, solidifying his legacy within the group.