Brian Burkheiser recently opened up about his departure from I Prevail. He shared details about the final phone call that ended his time with the band in an interview with Rock Feed.
The former I Prevail member discussed the emotional conversation that marked the end of his journey with the band he had dedicated his adult life to.
When asked about the point where the conversation shifted to a future without him as a member of I Prevail, Burkheiser provided insight into that difficult final call.
“So, we have one final phone call. It was I tried to, you know, to say my piece a little bit. But I wasn’t going to beg to and I think what what hurt the most too, it was really framed is it was my decision, which sometimes you get backed into a corner and you get presented things that you I had a kid on the way. I have my wife. I had my family,” Burkheiser said.
He continued to describe the complex emotions surrounding his departure from the band.
“There’s a lot of mixed emotions. I do think there was a side of me that was relieved in some ways to say I’m going to surround myself with some other people going forward now and maybe this, you know, divorces happen, breakups happen, but there was a lot of despair, a lot of sadness that came from cuz as much as I lost the relationships of those guys, I lost my baby in a lot of ways,” he explained.
Burkheiser also reflected on the personal impact of leaving the band that had been central to his life.
“I looked at that band as it was everything to I mean, I spent my entire adult life in it. Knowing that was gone hurt me a lot. And I think I I had to stay quiet, too. That was the hardest part. A lot of my friends I didn’t say anything to. I got to tell my mom and dad. I obviously had to. There was legal stuff that I had to tell lawyers and stuff. It just got tough, man,” he concluded.
The departure marked the end of a significant chapter for both Burkheiser and I Prevail. The split had deeper implications than initially apparent to fans.
AOL reported that Burkheiser’s exit from I Prevail occurred in May 2025 after what was described as a complex legal battle. The band publicly framed the departure as mutual. However, Burkheiser’s recent revelations suggest the circumstances were more complicated than the official narrative indicated.
The aftermath of leaving the band took a severe toll on Burkheiser’s mental health. Blunt Magazine revealed that the former vocalist spiraled into a manic episode during a writing trip to Beverly Hills following the split. This ultimately led to a seven-day stay in an inpatient psychiatric ward.
The departure represents a significant shift for I Prevail, as Burkheiser was one of the founding members of the band. Oreate AI noted that the band has assured fans that they will continue with Eric Vanlerberghe as the lead singer. They are maintaining their musical direction despite the founding member’s departure.
Despite the challenges he faced, Burkheiser has begun moving forward with his career. Blunt Magazine confirmed that he has returned to music with a new track titled “Phases.” This marks his first musical release since leaving I Prevail and signals his commitment to continuing his artistic journey independently.
