After rebuilding the band’s lineup following a significant amount of departures over the past year or two, Bad Wolves have been met with another personnel change. Guitarist AJ Rebollo, who joined the multi-platinum alternative metal outfit in 2023 as a touring member and has remained on since, has just stepped down from the group.
His decision comes about in the wake of the band’s announcement this morning (August 28th) that that they would be moving ahead with the release of a cover of Dolly Parton‘s hit song “Jolene“. The group had originally been awaiting the country icon to lay down her parts to guest on that cover, though her brief battle with cancer that claimed her life this week led to her guest appearance falling through.
Of course, a similar situation happened for Bad Wolves with their hit cover of The Cranberries‘ “Zombie“, which was scheduled to feature guest vocals from The Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan. However, she too passed away before she could complete tracking her parts, with the band subsequently launching their cover soon after her death and donating some $250,000 in profit from the track to her family.
While a press release issued this morning found Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin discussing the decision to move ahead with releasing this new cover of “Jolene“, putting forth the proceeds to Parton‘s Dolly Parton Imagination Library book-gifting foundation, it would appear that decision was made by the label, rather than having the full support of the band.
Rebollo said of that in a newly issued statement this evening, August 28th:
“I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition. We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly‘s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.
With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here. The amount of hate, negativity. and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.”
Rebollo‘s complete statement regarding the matter and his decision to step away can be read below:
“This will be a long one. so if you don’t want to stay for the whole thing, the main point is – I am making the decision to step away as a member of Bad Wolves. In short. I can no longer in good faith remain a member and co-sign the decisions constantly being made FOR this band by the label. among other issues I have with the inner workings of the business.
When I stepped into the picture, a part of me knew what I was getting into, but the full extent of it was unknown to me. I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition. We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly‘s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.
With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here. The amount of hate, negativity. and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.
Coming from Issues made me appreciate the autonomy we had as a band. We were fortunate enough to have worked with a label that cared for us, not only as musicians. but as people. They trusted our vision. never pushed anything on us that we didn’t want to do for ourselves, and ultimately felt like team members, not bosses. That’s been a dynamic that I have strived for within Bad Wolves for quite some time. There are some undeniably incredible people at Better Noise, but I will not stand by as yet another decision is being made for us that we are entirely opposed to, one that we — as the faces of this band — will receive the brunt of the scrutiny and ridicule for.
While the donation to her Imagination Library is an incredible choice to do something good with the profits. I can’t help but feel there is ill intent behind the decision to release the song.I would like to acknowledge and thank the label and John specifically for helping me sustain a living as much as possible while being off the road. There was a level of care there that is definitely not lost on me. but I have never been one to allow my art and decisions within the music world to be compromised, and I have no interest in being a vessel for what I believe to be terrible decisions.
Music is my job, my livelihood, and most importantly. my passion. Stepping away from this is absolutely terrifying as I am sacrificing what little I have left when it comes to stability within the music world. I do not know what the future holds for me regarding that.
This is not. by any means, some sort of call to arms against anyone, nor do I wish ill will on anyone involved in the label’s decision making. I absolutely loved the time I got to spend with the band. I love them all (the old and new members) as bandmates, people. and friends. I loved creating this upcoming album with them as I think it is a genuinely incredible piece of art, but this is a decision I just have to make.”
