Vitriol’s Kyle Rasmussen Opens Up After Band Members Depart Mid-Tour

In a shocking turn of events, Kyle Rasmussen, the frontman of the metal band Vitriol, is speaking out following a dramatic split with his bandmates, who recently announced their departure via social media. The trio—guitarist Keith Merrow, drummer Andy Vincenzetti, and bassist Brett Leier—left Rasmussen at a gas station while returning home mid-tour, citing his behavior as the reason for their exit.

Details of the Departure

In a since-expired Instagram Story, Merrow expressed his frustration, stating, “Myself, Andy, Brett, and Matt will not take Kyle’s cowardly and weak outbursts of misplaced anger. We gave everything we had, and now we have left you with nothing. Mass exodus. This was the darkest day of my music career to date.”

This incident is not the first of its kind for Vitriol; the band has faced similar challenges before. In 2024, founding bassist and co-vocalist Adam Roethlisberger departed, followed by bassist Daniel Martinez, leaving the group to finish a summer tour as a two-piece.

Kyle Rasmussen’s Response

In a lengthy video exceeding 40 minutes, Rasmussen took to Vitriol’s social media to dispute the claims made by the departing members. He confirmed that due to the split, the current tour will be “discontinuing.” “It was important to me to see how Keith, Brett, and Andy decided to handle this in the following day. Unfortunately, they chose to double down and share information that simply is not true,” he stated.

Rasmussen recounted the events leading up to the fallout, describing a tense interaction between himself and Merrow. He explained that after a night of drinking, he was resting in a private bedroom when Merrow approached him with concerns about their RV as they prepared to cross the Canadian border. According to Rasmussen, the conversation escalated, leading to his heated response. “I didn’t threaten him physically. I didn’t touch him. He leaves. I try to go back to sleep,” he explained.

Rasmussen acknowledged that while he “blew a lid” in the moment, he did not foresee the situation deteriorating to the point where the other members would pack up their belongings. He recounted that things escalated further when Merrow allegedly used aggressive language and physicality in an attempt to remove him from their vehicle, prompting police involvement. Despite the chaos, Rasmussen noted that the responding officer was compassionate and helped him find temporary accommodation.

Life After the Split

In light of the recent events, Rasmussen has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him, his girlfriend, and their dog in traveling back to Portland, Oregon, from New York. He reflected on the future of Vitriol, stating, “The most important thing in my life is this message that I’m communicating with Vitriol, and I’m always going to find a way to do that. I have to assume that Vitriol is going to take a nice break for the foreseeable future until I figure out what the next move is.”

Responses from Remaining Members

Following the announcement of the split, Keith Merrow took to Instagram once again, simplifying the rationale for their departure: “Me, Brett, and Andy left Vitriol because Kyle sucks. That’s it. It doesn’t require an absolutely psychotic 2 part video series to explain.” He added that they could no longer tolerate what he described as Rasmussen’s abusive behavior, mentioning that many others had also left the band due to similar issues.

In a more optimistic note, Merrow stated, “The silver lining in this situation is that I met Brett and Andy. We’re continuing together as a band under a different name because we love each other.”

Conclusion

The fallout from this incident highlights the often tumultuous nature of life on the road for musicians and the personal conflicts that can arise in close quarters. While Rasmussen grapples with the loss of his bandmates, he remains determined to continue conveying his message through music. As for Merrow, Vincenzetti, and Leier, it appears they are ready to move on to new beginnings without Rasmussen.

FAQs

What led to the departure of the band members?

The departure was reportedly due to ongoing conflicts over Rasmussen’s behavior, with the members expressing their frustration through social media posts.

Will Vitriol continue after this split?

Rasmussen indicated that the band would take a break for the foreseeable future while he considers the next steps.

How has the situation affected Rasmussen personally?

Rasmussen has launched a GoFundMe to help him and his family return home and has expressed a desire to continue his musical journey despite the challenges.

What are the remaining members of Vitriol planning to do?

Merrow, Vincenzetti, and Leier plan to continue making music together under a new name, emphasizing their bond and commitment to their new project.