SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera says that the band’s guitarist, Marc Rizzo, was actually fired from the group “due to personal reasons.”
Max addressed Rizzo’s departure during the latest episode of “Max Trax”, a twice-weekly Internet video series which sees the iconic metal frontman discuss the inspiration for many of the songs spanning his nearly 40-year music career.
He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Right now, for the tribe, I wanna address something that is going on with SOULFLY. Of course, it’s about Marc Rizzo. He did not leave the band. We decided to part ways with him due to personal reasons. I wish Marc the best on his career. I wanna thank Marc for the 18 years with SOULFLY.”
Max also discussed last Thursday’s (August 5) announcement that Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) will play guitar for SOULFLY on the band’s upcoming U.S. tour, which kicks off on August 20 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“I’m very excited that we’re bringing our friend Dino to play guitar with us for the next U.S. tour,” he said. “The show must go on. Dino is an O.G riffmaster. One of my favorite riff [writers]… He’s on ‘Eye For An Eye’ [a song from the first SOULFLY album]; that’s how long me and Dino go back. I got them signed; FEAR FACTORY, I got them signed [to Roadrunner Records], because I loved their demo so much and I showed it to Monte [Conner, former Roadrunner A&R executive].
“Dino’s gonna come here [to Phoenix, Arizona to rehearse with the band],” he continued. “We’re gonna start practicing. We might even throw a couple of Dino classics in there for the set for you guys. And we’re playing a brand new SOULFLY song for the future for the next record; we’re gonna play it on this next tour. So be there to watch two legends, Max Cavalera and Dino Cazares, on a stage together. It’s gonna be a sick tour starting August 20th.”
On Friday (August 6), Rizzo confirmed that he had in fact parted ways with SOULFLY to focus on his solo projects, saying: “I’m just going full forward with my solo project. It’s just better for me. It’s more of a healthier environment for me and my family. And being home more, and do my solo project, which I’m super stoked about. I’ve also got [my new band] HAIL THE HORNS. We’re releasing the video that we did for a KISS cover today. I’ve got REVENGE BEAST. I’ve got ACOUSTIC VENDETTA. Things are good. And I’m doing a lot of good shit. I’m going full forward with my solo project. That’s really where my heart is at, where I get my writing credit, where I get credit for my work and all my hard work gets proper credit. It’s a healthier environment.”