It was an unexpected bit of news earlier this month when co-founding member and drummer of Vio-lence drummer Perry Strickland was no longer a part of the Bay Area thrash band. Prior to that revelation in an Instagram post, it was assumed that he’d been in the studio with the band working on new material and preparing for an upcoming tour.
With the news now out of the bag and some shows coming up, the remaining members of Vio-lence posted an Instagram video introducing the band’s fill-ins at drums and guitar. According to the band, Exmortus drummer Adrian Agullar will take Strickland’s place while Voidbringer and Interloper guitarist Miles Dimitri Baker will sit in for Phil Demmel, who won’t be able to play in the band’s Asia and Oceania in early March.
Strickland had been with the band since its inception in 1985 with lead guitarist Phil Demmel. Over the years, there’d been multiple lineup changes, with Strickland leaving for the first time in 1993. He then came back for short stints from 2001 to 2003, then again in 2018, and then finally he rejoined in 2019 until his most recent departure.
The band’s first show with this newly announced lineup will be at the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood this Saturday, February 25.