The Amity Affliction fans have been waiting months to find out if Ahren Stringer will return to the band for the Australian tour.
The Amity Affliction @ Good Things Festival (Credit: Nicole Matthews)
The Amity Affliction are returning to Australia this November, celebrating the tenth anniversary of their excellent fourth album, Let The Ocean Take Me. And, if you follow bassist and singer Ahren Stringer on Instagram, you might have seen one of his Instagram Stories he posted today, in which he said he’ll be back on stages with his bandmates for the tour.
In May, the Aussie metal group were finishing up a lengthy US tour when they posted that Stringer would be departing the tour, writing that he needed mental health support.
“In what is the most heartbreaking news, we have to tell you that Ahren won't be joining us on the remainder of our North American tour dates,” the band wrote on social media, revealing that True North’s Tim Beken would cover for Stringer until he returned.
Writing that Stringer’s departure was “in the best interest” of his mental health and wellbeing, the band said he’d return to Australia for support in dealing with addiction.
The band continued, “This tour has been our best US tour ever, and we look forward to seeing you on the road. Please feel free to bring signs of support for Ahren that we can send to him at home, now more than ever he needs as much support as we can possibly give him.
Stringer took to social media a day later and claimed he’d been “booted” from the tour.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
He wrote, “I was booted from the tour with no warning whatsoever I did absolutely nothing wrong but I wish you guys all the best in the future.”
Fans have been showing their love for Ahren ever since while asking when he’d return.
Earlier today, Stringer responded to a Rolling Stone Australia report that suggested he’d be back on tour with the band in Europe next week. He wrote on his Instagram Stories, “I’m absolutely not going to Europe. Total lies.”
He quickly followed it up with another Story, writing: “I will be playing the Australian tour though. Don’t fall for the click bait.”
The Music has reached out to representatives for The Amity Affliction and Live Nation Australia for comment.
Source: Ahren Stringer’s Instagram Stories
The Amity Affliction will bring their Let The Ocean Take Me tenth-anniversary tour to Australia this November, performing in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. In addition to the tour, The Amity Affliction are set to headline the Heavy stage at this year’s Big Pineapple Music Festival on Saturday, 19 October.
Let The Ocean Take Me was released in June 2014. It was well-received at the time—The Music declared the release “proof that sometimes passion and honesty can turn a decent album into a great one.”
Last May, the band released their self-produced eighth album, Not Without My Ghosts, via Pure Noise Records. It was another instantaneous success, debuting at #2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. You can find The Music’s cover story interview with Ahren Stringer in promotion of the album here.
Friday 8 November – Meanjin/Brisbane, Riverstage
Saturday 9 November – Eora/Sydney, Hordern Pavilion – SOLD OUT
Thursday 14 November – Naarm/Melbourne, John Cain Arena
Friday 16 November – Kaurna/Adelaide, The Drive
Saturday 17 November – Boorloo/Perth, Red Hill Auditorium
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or other mental-related illness, we implore you to get in contact with Beyondblue or Lifeline:
Beyondblue: 1300 224 636
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call-Back Service: 1300 659 467
Beyondblue and Lifeline both also offer online chat/counsel. Check their respective websites for operational hours and details.