Former Morbid Angel drummer Pedro “Pete” Sandoval has announced that he is leaving I Am Morbid after a four-year run with the band. He shared the news in a statement on Instagram.
Sandoval said he will not take part in the upcoming tour. He also described the difficulties he faced on the band’s last tour.
“Hey friends, I will not be part of this upcoming tour, and I am no longer part of I Am Morbid,” Sandoval said. “During my last tour with the band, I went through a lot. I became very sick with the flu and I wasn’t physically at my best, but that is not the reason for my decision.”
He then explained that his decision was about his connection to the music.
“The truth is that, for some time now, I haven’t been feeling the same connection with these songs anymore,” he continued. “I Am Morbid has focused on the material from Altars of Madness through Domination. I am very proud of those records and everything I created and contributed to during those years, but my history with Morbid Angel continued far beyond Domination. There is a much larger part of my musical legacy that I haven’t been able to represent with I Am Morbid.”
Sandoval went on to reflect on his time with the band and his bandmates.
“I feel that I’ve given the fans everything I could through I Am Morbid over these past years, and now I need to take a break from this chapter and move forward,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Richie and Bill and their work, and I’m grateful for the time we spent playing together—especially on that last tour, when I was going through such a difficult time physically and wasn’t at my best.”
He also addressed fans who expected to see him on the band’s upcoming European dates.
“Most importantly, thank you to everyone who has been messaging me, sending me love, and telling me you’re looking forward to seeing me in Europe,” Sandoval said. “I don’t want anyone to misunderstand the upcoming tour or expect me to be there when I won’t be.”
He closed the statement with a message to fans about his future.
“You will see me again—just under different circumstances,” he said. “For now, this is all I want to say. Thank you for all the years of support, love and respect.”
Sandoval’s exit comes at a sensitive time for the band. I Am Morbid has a European run planned for late 2026. The timing raises questions about the lineup for those shows.
Sandoval announced his departure on September 30. I Am Morbid is led by vocalist David Vincent. Guitarists Bill Hudson and Richie Brown complete the lineup. The band has become a regular presence on European stages. Sandoval was one of the Morbid Angel alumni in the group.
Sandoval also explained how the situation developed. He said he planned to return after rechecking his physical condition. He then found out that the band had already replaced him.
“Another drummer had already been hired for the tour.”
The band’s focus on Morbid Angel’s early catalog is central to Sandoval’s explanation. I Am Morbid plays material from Altars of Madness through Domination. Sandoval recorded Altars of Madness, Morbid Angel’s 1989 debut album. He joined Morbid Angel in the summer of 1988 after Vincent invited him. His previous band, Terrorizer, broke up as a result.
Sandoval made a second statement a couple of hours after the announcement, this time about Terrorizer. He said the grindcore group will carry on without Vincent. He added that it is better for the two musicians to continue on separate paths professionally.
Further updates may follow.
