Former Bad Wolves lead singer Tommy Vext recently opened up about his relationships with his former bandmates. He revealed that he was unable to reconcile with one particular member. The discussion took place during an interview on Coffee And Cleavage.
Vext addressed the complexities of band dynamics and personal relationships within the music industry. When asked about what actually breaks a band apart, specifically whether it’s money, ego, or unspoken resentment, the vocalist provided insight into his own experiences.
“I think it’s all the above. I mean, I’ve sort of made amends with all of my former band members minus one,” Vext said. “I tried to and it’s just you know it’s like some people are committed to victimhood you know. There was one guy in the band who was like a vehemently leftist and like he’s a communist. He couldn’t understand that I walked away from that side of the aisle. I don’t believe that I’m a victim in America because of the color of my skin. That hasn’t been my experience.”
The singer elaborated on his personal philosophy regarding adversity and victimhood. He drew from his own difficult upbringing.
“Other people may have experienced that and I’m not trying to take away their experience. I can only speak about what I know. Now that what I know doesn’t mean that that doesn’t happen to other people, but I also have been through a lot. You know what I mean? I was born my mother was a crackhead. Like I was abandoned. Me and my twin brother were abandoned at the hospital when I was born. Like I’m not a victim of these things. They’re just things that happened,” he continued.
Vext explained how his approach to life’s challenges differs from his former bandmate’s perspective.
“I learned to turn them around and say these things happened for me. So, because my the trials of my life were so much different than his, I’m not afforded the luxury of pretending to be the victim of everything. And he didn’t understand that. For whatever reason, he feels like that’s enough that we should never talk again,” Vext concluded.
These recent comments provide additional context to the controversial departure that shook the metal community in early 2021. Vext’s exit from Bad Wolves was marked by public disputes and conflicting narratives about the reasons behind the split.
Louder Sound reported that Vext announced his departure from Bad Wolves in January 2021. He initially claimed through a now-deleted Instagram Live video that his conservative political beliefs created rifts with his bandmates and their label Better Noise. The vocalist later elaborated that he faced threats, blackmail, and smear campaigns after sharing controversial views. These views included denying systemic racism in the United States and promoting various conspiracy theories.
However, the band disputed Vext’s characterization of the split. Kerrang revealed that Bad Wolves members Doc Coyle and John Boecklin stated in a January 2021 Facebook Live session that the departure was “not about cancel culture” or politics. They described it as “something that had to take its course” after past differences. The band emphasized that music should be a unifier and sought to avoid further drama surrounding the situation.
The controversy extended beyond political differences. Metal Injection documented that additional factors contributed to the tension. These included a restraining order obtained by Vext’s ex-girlfriend amid domestic allegations, his support of QAnon theories during the pandemic, and the resulting negative press that affected the band’s image. These issues culminated in legal disputes, with Vext suing Better Noise and manager Allen Kovac for breach of contract in July 2021. The label countersued over unreleased music.
Following the settlement reached in late 2021, Bad Wolves moved forward with new vocalist Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz from The Acacia Strain. They released their album “Lifelife” later that year. Meanwhile, Vext pursued a solo career. The transition proved challenging as he continued to engage in public feuds with his former bandmates through social media well into September 2021.
