Evanescence parts with guitarist, drummer

Evanescence abruptly parted ways with guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray over the weekend, with Gray quitting after LeCompt was reportedly fired. Both musicians and singer Amy Lee issued statements about the split. Lee wrote, "John and Rocky were in Evanescence for four years and we shared some great times together playing live, but they were ready to move on and so we have parted ways...Terry (Balsamo, guitar), Tim (McCord, bass) and I are very excited to play live with some amazing new musicians and we will rock harder than ever. Stay tuned for more news on that front. And don't worry about the tour, guys. Nothing will be cancelled and we will see you soon!"

Gray and LeCompt's statements were decidedly different in tone. According to Blabbermouth, Gray posted a message in which he wrote, "Amy Lee's management emailed me last night to tell me that, in their view, the contract I signed to record, perform and tour with the group says that I'm not allowed to have any free speech in regard to Evanescence. The way they spin it, I'm not even allowed to say I quit the group, I guess."

Meanwhile, LeCompt wrote, "Around 3:30 p.m. yesterday (Friday, May 4th) I received a call on my cell from Amy. This call wasn't from a friend who appreciated me but from an enemy who was prepared to hurt me and my family. Without any warning or negotiations for my future, I was fired for no good reason...I have now become just another of the people fallen by the wayside on the revolving door of her life."

LeCompt added, "I'm not going to sit here and be negative because that is not who I am. What I will say is that I know that many of you think she is some genius or savior of some kind. I just want you to know that my family and I will forever remember her as being about as deep as the shallow end of a child's wading pool and her lyrics about as deep as the two-dimensional surface that they were written on."

Gray and LeCompt are the second and third members of Evanescence to depart the group since the arrival last October of its second major label album, The Open Door. Bassist Will Boyd exited shortly after its release. Lecompt and Gray will continue to play together in a new band called Machina.

Co-founder and guitarist Ben Moody left in the fall of 2003. Lee is now the group's sole original member.

Evanescence is next scheduled to play live at the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio on May 19th. The band is also slated to co-headline the Family Values tour with Korn, beginning on July 20th in St. Louis.
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