AS I LAY DYING's TIM LAMBESIS: 'It Is Part Of My Life's Work To Prevent Others From Going Down Destructive Paths'

AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis says that he is disappointed by the recent cancelation of the band’s concert in Memphis, but insists that he understands and accepts “the resentment some people have towards” the person he “used to be.”

AS I LAY DYING‘s April 5 show at Growlers was called off after the venue faced online backlash for booking a band whose lead singer was famously convicted in 2014 for his role in a murder-for-hire plot against his estranged wife.

This past Tuesday, the venue posted on Facebook that it had canceled the concert and said the decision was made after it had received input from patrons and local bands.

“In this instance,” the post read, “we’ve heard the community loud and clear, and we are going to do everything we can to ensure that we continue forward in providing an enjoyable entertaining environment that all of our patrons feel comfortable in.”

The post noted that while Lambesis has expressed genuine remorse, the venue is against domestic violence and “will always listen to those that have gone through the pain that it has caused.”

On Thursday, Lambesis took to his Instagram to offer his reaction to the cancelation, saying that he wishes the involved parties could have come up with “a more meaningful solution for the fans in Memphis” than to just scrap the concert.

Tim wrote: “While I’m disappointed by the cancellation of our show in Memphis, I understand and accept the resentment some people have towards who I used to be. I stand against that person I became during the darkest period of my past, and it is part of my life’s work to prevent others from going down destructive paths. It’s now been almost six (6) years since I made the biggest mistake of my life, and I consider each day an opportunity to do something positive to turn my life around and to use my experience to help others.

“As I move forward with this purpose, I know there will be obstacles. However, I wish we could have come up with a more meaningful solution for the fans in Memphis rather than just cancel. Perhaps I could visit a recovery center in Memphis, a free event to our fans + those being served at the center, where I can open up for Q&A and all questions are welcome. I look forward to continuing this conversation around recovery, how to prevent others from ending up in a bad place, and how to facilitate healing in the lives of people who have been hurt by others. I welcome the opportunity to address the topic of domestic violence and how I am not on the opposing side of this critical issue.

“Since serving my time I’ve been involved in the following:

* Completed all of the courses necessary to become an addiction treatment counselor in the state of California with hopes of helping others who are struggling with addiction and mental health.

* Worked for a year as a case manager at an addiction treatment facility.

* Spent two years tutoring inmates who never finished high school. Education is the greatest tool we currently have for breaking the criminal cycle of repeat offenders.

* I currently visit prisons quarterly to help inmates without job skills train for their release so that they can become productive neighbors and not a burden on society. Most end up back in prison due to lack of hope or a support system.

“Through AILD, our recent tours have allowed us the opportunity to donate proceeds of sales to organizations that help others — notably Heart Support and families affected by the California fires. Thanks to our fans connecting with this message, we were able to become one of Heart Support‘s main contributors. We strongly believe in their objective to offer emotional support and counseling to young adults caught in cycles of depression, abuse, and addiction, and will continually support charities that further the process of healing for others.

“By listing all of the above, it’s not my intention to gain praise or recognition. I simply want to make sure it’s clear how seriously I take all of these issues.

“Throughout my four-year incarceration and release, I’ve sought meaningful personal change and surrounded myself with family, friends, and counsel. I’m grateful to have earned the support of my bandmates, my wife, family, and fans who’ve also given me this chance. I will continue to move forward in my personal mission to help others and make a positive impact in the world around me, knowing there will be challenges, and believing that the next half of my life will be more meaningful than the first.

“I look forward to continuing a discussion around recovery, mental health, domestic violence and prisoner reform for many years to come.”

In May 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty to paying a San Diego police officer posing as a hitman $1,000 to kill his wife. Approximately two and a half years later — on December 17, 2016 — he was discharged from a California detention facility and was transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations.

In June 2018, AS I LAY DYING played its first show with Lambesis in five years and released a new single. Lambesis also owned up to his crimes in a long apology on the band’s Facebook page after his release.

November saw AS I LAY DYING complete its first U.S. tour in five years and the band followed it up with a European run of shows.

Prior to AS I LAY DYING‘s concert in Munich, Germany on December 8, Lambesis once again took to the band’s Facebook page to say that he has reconstructed his life and rededicated himself to the principles of honesty and commitment to community necessary to garner public trust.

AS I LAY DYING‘s 2018 single, “My Own Grave”, marked the first fresh music from the band since it issued its sixth album, “Awakened”, back in September 2012.

The return of AS I LAY DYING raised some questions, particularly since guitarist Nick Hipa categorically denounced the band’s disgraced frontman as a “sociopathic narcissist in definite need of rehabilitation” in a social-media post back in 2014.

In October, the organizers of Spain’s Resurrection Fest removed AS I LAY DYING from this year’s lineup following an outcry from certain fans.

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While I’m disappointed by the cancellation of our show in Memphis, I understand and accept the resentment some people have towards who I used to be. I stand against that person I became during the darkest period of my past, and it is part of my life’s work to prevent others from going down destructive paths. It’s now been almost six (6) years since I made the biggest mistake of my life, and I consider each day an opportunity to do something positive to turn my life around and to use my experience to help others. As I move forward with this purpose I know there will be obstacles. However, I wish we could have come up with a more meaningful solution for the fans in Memphis rather than just cancel. Perhaps I could visit a recovery center in Memphis, a free event to our fans + those being served at the center, where I can open up for Q&A and all questions are welcome. I look forward to continuing this conversation around recovery, how to prevent others from ending up in a bad place, and how to facilitate healing in the lives of people who have been hurt by others. I welcome the opportunity to address the topic of domestic violence and how I am not on the opposing side of this critical issue. Since serving my time I’ve been involved in the following: • Completed all of the courses necessary to become an addiction treatment counselor in the state of California with hopes of helping others who are struggling with addiction and mental health. • Worked for a year as a case manager at an addiction treatment facility. • Spent two years tutoring inmates who never finished high school. Education is the greatest tool we currently have for breaking the criminal cycle of repeat offenders. • I currently visit prisons quarterly to help inmates without job skills train for their release so that they can become productive neighbors and not a burden on society. Most end up back in prison due to lack of hope or a support system. Through AILD, our recent tours have allowed us the opportunity to donate proceeds of sales to organizations that help others—notably Heart Support and families affected by the California fires… (CONTINUED IN NEXT POST)

A post shared by Tim Lambesis (@timlambesis) on Feb 6, 2019 at 2:42pm PST

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PART 2 CONTINUED… Thanks to our fans connecting with this message, we were able to become one of Heart Support’s main contributors (https://heartsupport.com/). We strongly believe in their objective to offer emotional support and counseling to young adults caught in cycles of depression, abuse, and addiction, and will continually support charities that further the process of healing for others. By listing all of the above, it’s not my intention to gain praise or recognition. I simply want to make sure it’s clear how seriously I take all of these issues. Throughout my four year incarceration and release, I’ve sought meaningful personal change and surrounded myself with family, friends, and counsel. I’m grateful to have earned the support of my bandmates, my wife, family, and fans who’ve also given me this chance. I will continue to move forward in my personal mission to help others and make a positive impact in the world around me, knowing there will be challenges, and believing that the next half of my life will be more meaningful than the first. I look forward to continuing a discussion around recovery, mental health, domestic violence and prisoner reform for many years to come.

A post shared by Tim Lambesis (@timlambesis) on Feb 6, 2019 at 2:44pm PST