Underoath rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Smith has announced that he is no longer a member of the band. Smith joined Underoath in 2003 and has remained an active member ever since. It appears that there was a rift between the guitarist and his bandmates, which ultimately led to Smith being told he was no longer going to be in the band. Smith took to his Instagram to make the announcement, which has been included below.
“After 20 years of music and friendship, I was informed that I’m no longer a member of Underoath. This saddens me to say, but unfortunately is where we have ended up. I appreciate everyone who, at any moment in their lives, have felt inspired, accepted, comforted, and energized by the music we created and the shows we performed together. It has been my honor and privilege to be a part of your lives in that way though we may have never met or shared our stories face to face. Your dedication, grace, and love for this band have allowed us to exist this long. The memories I have from this ride are more than anyone could ever expect in a lifetime, and I genuinely thank you all for being a part of it.”
Underoath have just released a new song titled “Let Go”, and are currently on the road with Periphery and Loathe. It is unclear whether this lineup change will affect their upcoming shows, as Underoath have yet to release a statement on the removal of Smith.
