Longtime guitarist of rock act EYEHATEGOD, Brian Patton, has announced that he will be leaving the band. Patton issued a statement today, which can be read below:
"Touring and being away from my family started to get harder after my daughter was born. Then soon after the arrival of my son, I left for a six-week tour. While I was away, both kids had some serious health scares. Being away from my family while that happened, along with an increasingly busy tour schedule, I decided the best thing for me was to step down. To concrete this decision, after a visit with my wife's parents earlier this year, it became clear that my in-laws' health was rapidly fading and they needed our help. So my family and I have moved to Greensboro, North Carolina to care for them full time.
Trust me when I say that this has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. After being in this band for twenty-five years -- over half of my life -- to say that I will miss it is a huge understatement. I already miss it. Ultimately, I want to be at home with my family. But more importantly, I am truly needed at home. I love my brothers in EYEHATEGOD, of course, and wish them nothing but the best. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and the music I have played throughout the years. I hope to see you all soon. I plan on playing again in some form or fashion. But for now, my family comes first."
The band will be continuing their journey as a four-piece, as they gear up to kick off a tour with Black Label Society and Corrosion of Conformity, which kicks off tomorrow. All current dates for the band can be viewed below.
July 18: Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live
July 19: Joliet, IL - The Forge*
July 20: Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
July 21: Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
July 22: Wichita, KS - Cotillion Ballroom
July 23: Sioux Falls, SD - The District
July 24: Madison, WI - High Noon*
July 25: Wayne, IN - The Clyde Theatre
July 26: Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant Street*
July 27: Syracuse, NY - Si Hall at The Fairgrounds
July 29: Montreal, QC - Heavy Montreal*
July 30: Wilmington, DE - The Queen
August 1: Knoxville, TN - The Mill & Mine
August 2: Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte
August 3: Lynchburg, VA - Phase 2
August 4: Inwood, WV - Earth Rocker Fest
August 5: Norfolk, VA - The Norva
August 7: Toronto, ON - Rebel
August 8: Montreal, QC - Metlus
August 9: Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
August 10: Huntington, NY - Paramount
August 11: Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
August 16: Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw*
August 17: Everett, WA - Tony V's*
August 18: Las Vegas, NV - Psycho Las Vegas*
August 19: Austin, TX - The Lost Well*
* = EYEHATEGOD only
EYEHATEGOD
www.eyehategod.ee
www.facebook.com/OfficialEyeHateGod
@EyehategodNola