Former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen has finally opened up about his departure from the legendary death metal band. He shared his reasons in a recent interview on The Growl Podcast.
Owen explained that his decision to leave the band in 2004 was influenced by multiple personal and professional factors. These factors created a difficult situation for him at the time.
“Oh, it was a combination [of things]. My life was changing at that time. I got divorced and my mom passed away. And I never really told the Cannibal guys why I left — I never told those guys, but it was ’cause I had to get away from one of those guys,” Owen said.
The guitarist revealed that internal band dynamics also played a significant role in his departure.
“Managerial stuff was going on in the band, and it’s, like, ‘Hey, that guy’s taking over the band, so I’m out.’ [It was] a combination of that and, like I said, life changes. This decision shouldn’t be that hard. It’s, like, three things going on right now. So I never really told ’em. [Laughs] I just had to get out. It was a toxic environment for me. And look at how it’s turned into an even more toxic environment the past few years,” he continued.
This marks the first time Owen has publicly discussed the specific reasons behind his exit from Cannibal Corpse after years of speculation among fans.
Owen’s departure marked a significant transition period for both the guitarist and the band. This led to new chapters in their respective musical journeys.
Owen quickly found a new home in the death metal scene following his exit from Cannibal Corpse. Wikipedia reported that Owen joined the controversial death metal band Deicide. He recorded four studio albums with them before departing in 2016 due to a dispute over writing credits. His time with Deicide allowed him to continue his death metal career while distancing himself from the toxic environment he described at Cannibal Corpse.
The guitarist’s career took another interesting turn when he reunited with a familiar face from his past. Metal Blade Records confirmed that Owen joined Six Feet Under as their second guitarist in 2017. This reunited him with former Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes. This collaboration brought Owen full circle, working again with someone who understood the dynamics of their former band.
Meanwhile, Cannibal Corpse moved forward with their own changes following Owen’s departure. Blabbermouth noted that guitarist Rob Barrett officially rejoined Cannibal Corpse as Owen’s permanent replacement in 2005. Barrett had previously been with the band before, making his return a familiar transition for the group.
Owen’s revelations about the “toxic environment” and his cryptic references to getting away from “one of those guys” provide new insight into the internal struggles that have long been speculated about by death metal fans. His comments about the environment becoming “even more toxic” in recent years suggest that the issues he fled from may have persisted or worsened within the band’s dynamics.
