Given the turbulent nature of touring and the perils of the music industry as a whole, it’s not uncommon for many bands to carry some substantial debt. However, news reports have been emerging about Australian metalcore band The Amity Affliction‘s situation, suggesting that debt is also part of a larger dispute between the band and their ugly split with vocalist/bassist Ahren Stringer.
The group officially announced they had parted ways with Stringer back in February of 2025. Stringer would soon go on to claim he was kicked out of the band and had initiated legal action against his now former bandmate Joel Birch over rights to The Amity Affliction trademarks.
Now, according to new reporting from Blunt, corporate filings for the band’s internal business have apparently come to light. The aforementioned publication state that those documents show that the band’s internal business arrangement was carrying roughly $646,000 AUD in debt last year, leading to a formal debt restructuring process being initiated.
According to Blunt, Stringer still remains onboard as a co-owner and director at the band’s company amid the matter, despite his firing from the group last year. His continued role is allegedly the result of the situation regarding his ousting yet to be addressed in a manner satisfactory to both parties.
Blunt further report that the documents they obtained indicated the majority of that debt was owed to the Australian Taxation Office. The publication stated that the band’s company had agreed to a plan that will see them repay $512,000 going forward that is generated by future income.
Blunt also noted that Birch and Stringer have both signed off on that restructuring plan, which is expected to have a term of roughly three years. As it generally stands, many bands operate on an internal partnership of sorts, where key members (generally band founders) are entitled to a certain share of income and control over the creative decisions. As is often the case, they are also expected to collectively shoulder the debt incurred by the band via an internal business arrangement.
When breakups occur without the business end being resolved, ugly situations can occur. Look no further than Mötley Crüe, Fear Factory & Static-X for past examples of band business arrangements going awry with former members.
While the general solution often finds the band partnership buying out the share of the departed member for a lump sum and allowing a relatively clean break via a settlement of sorts, Blunt speculate the amount of debt allegedly involved with The Amity Affliction prevents such a measure from taking place with Stringer at present.
