Former As I Lay Dying drummer Nick Pierce recently spoke out about his experience with the band and frontman Tim Lambesis. He shared his perspective in an interview with Metal Drummers United.
Pierce explained his decision to join the band despite knowing about Lambesis’s troubled past, including his 2014 prison sentence for solicitation of murder. He also addressed why he ultimately decided to leave and his concerns about the band’s future.
“We were all pretty stoked. Like we partially knew some of the predicaments that we were getting into with the pretense of Tim’s past and we were willing to give him that second — or second and a half chance — or whatever you want to call it,” Pierce said. “It was like we didn’t hear what had happened with Jordan or with Josh there was no talks about any of that. So we kind of blindly went into it hoping for the best and hoping that Tim had changed, and had changed for the better, and realized that he had lost members in the band after going through all of this other stuff he had in his life.”
Pierce emphasized that while he believed in giving people second chances, Lambesis failed to live up to expectations.
“It was different, and taking that risk and taking, you know, whatever associated person that we knew were involved at the time, we didn’t realize, you know? Like I know I’m going to catch sh*t for this online, so I have to pretense it that we knew Tim had a past. Like don’t get us wrong. I have other friends that have f*cked up in their lifetime and made mistakes, right? Everybody gets a second chance,” he continued. “We gave Tim that second chance. That was my second chance to Tim. He f*cking blew it. Completely f*cking blew it.”
The drummer concluded with a warning for future band members and expressed hope that Lambesis would seek professional help.
“I wish Tim would get the help that he needs, but he’s not. He’s going to keep on his path. I hope the rest of the guys in his new formula don’t find out like we did,” Pierce said. “I wish him the best of luck, but I really wish he would go get some f*cking help. Beyond that, I really don’t want to say much because the internet and everybody else knows what the f*ck happened.”
Pierce’s departure marks another chapter in As I Lay Dying’s turbulent recent history. The band has seen multiple lineup changes and ongoing controversies surrounding Lambesis.
Blunt Magazine reported that Pierce joined the band in 2022 alongside guitarist Ken Susi and bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff. That lineup completely unraveled in 2024. Pierce became the third member to exit, citing the need to retain his “personal health and integrity.” His departure followed a series of events that included leaked footage involving Lambesis and his then-wife Dany Ciara. This sparked public accusations that continued into early 2025.
The band’s instability has been a recurring theme in recent years. The PRP noted that since last year’s mass exodus of bandmates, Tim Lambesis has once again rebuilt the As I Lay Dying roster with an entirely new group of musicians. This pattern of lineup changes has become characteristic of the band’s post-2014 era.
Despite the ongoing controversies and member departures, Loaded Radio confirmed that Lambesis has spent 2025 rebuilding the roster with an all-new lineup. He has already begun performing live again. The band has resumed touring activities, including what some have described as controversial performances, as Lambesis continues to move forward with his musical career.
The recent developments have also involved personal disputes beyond band dynamics. The PRP revealed that Lambesis issued a statement following his ex-wife’s tell-all interview. He claimed that “old stories resurface only when my life and career move forward again.” This statement came in response to renewed scrutiny of his past actions and current behavior. It highlights the ongoing challenges facing the band’s reputation and stability.
