Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix opened up about the difficult decision to part ways with former drummer Dave Buckner. He shared an emotional account of the events that led to the split during an appearance on Steve-O’s Wild Ride! Podcast.
Shaddix reflected on Buckner’s struggles with substance abuse and the band’s concern for their longtime friend and bandmate.
“He [Dave Buckner] was going through some heavy life stuff, and this life, you know, it can grab a hold of you and really just take you put you through the ringer,” Shaddix said. “And we were all really worried. I remember calling his mom and just going, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.’ Like I’m trying to help him out here and he just keeps falling.”
The singer acknowledged the severity of Buckner’s situation and the difficult position it put the band in.
“His substances that he partook in were a bit heavier than mine, right?” he continued. “And so it just was frightening to watch my homie go down like that and he got the help he needed. It just came to a point where it was just we needed to move on, right? And it was amicable and but there was a little tension. There was tension for a couple years, but we got through that.”
Despite the initial separation, Shaddix expressed pride in Buckner’s recovery and personal growth.
“He’s just done such a great thing with his life and he’s just such a good dude and been able to be a great father,” Shaddix said. “He was a single father for years and so him being able to be there to raise up his kid like everything happens for a reason in this weird way. And then years later we reconnected. We did a show in Sacramento. He pulled up. He played a song with us and that moment where I was like, ‘All right, the walls are down and now we’re brothers again.'”
Buckner’s departure from Papa Roach marked the end of a 14-year partnership with the band he helped found in 1993. The split became a defining moment in the group’s history as they navigated both personal and professional challenges.
MusicRadar reported that Buckner officially took a break from touring in spring 2007. He subsequently left the band permanently to enter rehab and address his addiction issues. At the time, Shaddix emphasized that the decision was made out of friendship and genuine concern for Buckner’s health. He related it to his own experiences with addiction and recovery.
The band maintained that their relationship with Buckner remained supportive throughout the difficult period. Shaddix stated they “are still friends and still talk on a regular basis” after Buckner’s departure. This reflected a resolution that prioritized personal support over professional differences. The ongoing communication demonstrated the deep bond between the band members despite the challenging circumstances.
After leaving Papa Roach, Buckner focused on his recovery and personal life. He stepped away from the rigors of touring to clean up his act and engage in what the band described as “soul-searching.” His post-departure years were centered on health, personal improvement, and raising his child as a single father. The Sacramento reunion show where Buckner rejoined his former bandmates onstage symbolized the healing of their relationship and the rekindling of their brotherhood beyond the professional realm.
The reunion marks a positive chapter in the relationship between Shaddix and Buckner. It demonstrates that despite the pain of separation, genuine friendship and mutual respect can endure through recovery and reconciliation.
