Vio-Lence singer Sean Killian recently spoke about tensions with former guitarist Phil Demmel. He revealed that Demmel wanted him to shelve the band despite their continued success. The comments were made during an interview on Robbs MetalWorks.
Killian addressed Demmel’s request to end the band. He explained his refusal to comply with the suggestion.
“[Phil Demmel] wanted me to shelve the band. And then we sold out the Whisky [A Go Go in February 2023] in L.A., and he brought it up in the green room after we played. And I was, like, ‘No, I’m not shelving anything,'” Killian said. “‘Cause we never really toured back in the day, so there’s so many places around the world that haven’t seen Vio-Lence or heard it live. For him, it’s a garage thing that — I don’t know… He’s kind of a selfish guy. And if you’ve seen some of his interviews. He even brings it up himself.”
When asked about why Vio-Lence’s previous reunion in 2001-2003 didn’t last, Killian provided additional context about the band’s history and his relationship with Demmel.
“Well, we actually were writing music at the time, so we had Perry [Strickland] on drums and Phil [on guitar], Deen [Dell] playing bass, me singing and we had Ray Vegas playing guitar to fill in, ’cause Robb [Flynn, former Vio-Lence guitarist] was already taking off with Machine Head. And we wrote some music and then Robb, he came to Phil and tapped him and said, ‘You wanna play [with Machine Head]?’ And then Phil called me and I was, like, ‘Look, dude, I’m just a guy that loves to play music. You’re a musician,'” he continued. “I’ve never told him, ‘You can’t do this’ or ‘you can’t do that,’ ’cause he’s filled in for Lamb Of God [in later years] and a bunch of stuff.”
“And I’ve always supported him a hundred percent. But when he told me that he wanted me to shelve it [two and a half years ago], that’s when I was just kind of, like, ‘This relationship…’ Like [The Mentors legend] El Duce would say, ‘This relationship is over,'” he said.
The tensions between Killian and Demmel reflect the complex dynamics that have shaped Vio-Lence’s career since their formation in the mid-1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene.
Vio-Lence emerged as part of the influential Bay Area thrash movement that produced legendary bands like Metallica, Exodus, and Testament. Wikipedia noted that the band developed alongside Exodus and other pioneering thrash acts. They established themselves as a significant force in the underground metal scene. The Bay Area scene was known for its intense live performances and dedicated fanbase. This often resulted in violent pit activity that became synonymous with the genre.
Phil Demmel’s departure from Vio-Lence in the early 2000s marked a turning point for both the band and his career. After leaving Vio-Lence, Demmel joined Machine Head in 2002. He became a key guitarist and contributed to some of the band’s most successful albums. His tenure with Machine Head lasted over 15 years. During this time, he helped the band achieve international recognition and commercial success.
The current iteration of Vio-Lence has been active since their reunion. They focus on bringing their classic thrash sound to new audiences worldwide. Killian’s determination to continue touring stems from the band’s limited touring history during their original run in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band’s recent sold-out performance at the Whisky A Go Go demonstrates that there remains significant interest in their music. This is particularly true among fans who never had the opportunity to see them perform live during their initial period of activity.
The relationship between former bandmates often becomes complicated when different members pursue varying levels of commitment to reunion projects. Demmel’s current focus on Machine Head and other musical endeavors appears to conflict with Killian’s vision for Vio-Lence’s future. This creates the tension that has now become public through these recent interviews.
