Austin Carlile quits Of Mice and Men

photo credit: Tom Barnes

Founding member of the American metal core band “Of Mice & Men” Austin Carlile, has announced that he will no longer remain a member of the band as he continues his on-going battle with his health.

The remaining foursome (Aaron Pauley, Phil Manasala, Alan Ashby, and Valentino Arteaga) released an official statement to fans:

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce Austin’s departure from the band for reasons pertaining to his health. As many of you are aware, Austin suffers from a rare connective tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome & has been struggling with the physical demands of touring since the band began.

After his most recent series of surgeries at Stanford University Hospital, following the cancellation of our European headlining tour, his team of doctors informed him of the damage that performing, & more specifically his aggressive vocals, have been causing his body. They warned that if he were to continue on doing so, it would cause permanent & irrevocable damage to his spine & nervous system.

Following the advice from his team of specialists, Austin decided it best that he step away from the band & change his lifestyle to better his health. Though we’re heartbroken that he can no longer continue, his health has always been of utmost importance to us & we support him now in this decision & are proud of his perseverance over the years.

We’ve had an amazing & unforgettable past few years making music & touring the world together & the 4 of us look forward to sharing the next chapter of the band’s story with you. All previously announced shows will proceed as planned & we thank you for your continued love & support. We couldn’t do this without all of you! See you real soon.

–Aaron, Alan, Phil & Valentino”

In October, Carlile attempted to fight through the pain while on tour but the band ultimately cancelled their remaining European tour dates to focus on Carlile’s health. Unfortunately, his health continued to grow worse and last Friday afternoon Carlile broke the news via stating “My heart is heavy… I never thought I would be writing this… Wanted to leave this announcement in the mess that is 2016…” followed by a a farewell letter (see below.)

It’s a sad day for music anytime a prominent member of the band has to say goodbye. However, with the support of his fans and former band members Carlile won’t have to fight this battle alone.

Austin Carlile’s Full Statement:

Via Austin Carlile’s Twitter 

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