Asking Alexandria’s last remaining original member Ben Bruce announced his departure from the band in 2024. But after all those years, why did he made this decision?
Ben Bruce Puts Family First
As reported by Loudwire, Bruce wanted to prioritize his family life.
Bruce’s departure announcement included a heartfelt explanation. “I’ve spent my entire life dedicated to music. It’s been my first love since about the age of 2,” he shared. He then revealed the challenging reality of touring life. He explained that missing important moments in his children’s lives and dealing with family medical situations led to his decision to step away from the band.
“The time I have spent with all of you has been the time of my life,” Bruce said about his band and fans. He thanked fans for their support, but kept his priority straight: “It’s so important for me to be there for them as they grow, and to be here for my family as they need me to be.”
The Band is Supportive of Bruce
The departure appears to be amicable. According to Ultimate Guitar, the band keeps their strong brotherhood as a priority due to their long-standing principle of putting family first.
As bassist Sam Bettley puts it, “Here’s the thing: we’re all brothers, and we’ve been brothers since, it’s been 15 years now. And when we started doing this, obviously we were all young, and we were kids, really. And throughout the years, we’ve all got families. We’ve all got kids. I’ve got two boys — four and about to be two — and he’s got a family, and he’s got kids.”
What Happened To Asking Alexandria?
Bruce was the final remaining original member of Asking Alexandria. Discussions on Reddit indicate there were creative differences regarding the band’s musical direction. Bruce reportedly expressed concerns about the evolution of their sound.
Metal Injection reports that the band had been working on new material before Bruce’s departure. They released their eighth studio album ‘Where Do We Go from Here?’ in 2023.
Bruce’s exit following this release places the band at a crossroads. Cameron Liddell remains as the sole guitarist. Questions now arise about the future direction of their sound.
