Jesse Leach, former and current Killswitch Engage vocalist, shared his story in a recent interview with Rock Feed.
The conversation focused on the band’s breakthrough album ‘Alive or Just Breathing.’ Leach reflected on the challenging period that ultimately led to his departure.
“It was a lot of struggle. A lot of just wanting to put out a record that was the next level for us,” Leach said. “It came with a lot of baggage. It came with a lot of insecurity. The person that I was back then is so different from who I am now. I had a hard time making eye contact with people. I didn’t really know how to use my instrument. It captured a raw right sound, and people liked that. But long term, I got destroyed by not having proper technique and knowing how to use my instrument.”
The album’s unexpected success created overwhelming challenges for the young vocalist.
“And we all say this in the band, we were at the right place at the right time that then that album just exploded. For me to like walk away from it is insane to think about. But it all seemed to work out in the long run,” he continued. “I was numb. I didn’t even know who I was. So when I left this band, I was a lost man for years. I was drinking. And I was like, I didn’t know who I was. I went through a real identity crisis. But none of that would have happened if I didn’t leave the band. I needed to leave to figure out who I was.”
Looking back at his younger self’s decision, Leach expressed mixed emotions.
“In retrospect, I wish I could have smacked that 23-year-old kid in the head and said, ‘Yo, what are you doing?'” he admitted. “I just put out a record with these deep lyrics, and it caught fire, and the world started to pay attention. And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m not ready for this.’ Yea,h I’m so not ready for this. People stopping me in the streets and wanting to know who I am or take a picture. I couldn’t handle it.”
Leach eventually rejoined Killswitch Engage in 2012. He had worked through his personal struggles during his time away from the band.
