Heavy Metal Musician Quits Band After 20 Years: Why Mike Spreitzer Left DevilDriver

Guitarist Mike Spreitzer has announced his exit from heavy metal band DevilDriver, citing a desire to be 'a full-time musician.'

By Stephen Andrew

DevilDriver guitarist Mike Spreitzer is moving on. The musician has quit the heavy metal band after 20 years and explained in a lengthy Instagram statement exactly what led him to leave.

"After 20 years of playing guitar for DevilDriver, I have decided it is time to go my own way. Since around 2014, DevilDriver gradually started to feel more like a part-time jod," Spreitzer said in the statement, shared by Metal Injection. "Our touring schedule is not what it used to be and I want to get back to being a full-time musician. In addition, the mere creation of my side project was met with a heavy amount of negativity from a specific individual that made things extremely uncomfortable for me."

"Ever since I was six years old I wanted to play in a metal band and live the majority of my life on a tour bus with my friends traveling from city to city," added Spreitzer, who joined DevilDriver in 2004 following the exit of the band's founding guitarist, Evan Pitts. "Show up, set up, perform, leave, and repeat.

Related:

"I miss the camaraderie with my band and crew. I miss my bunk. I miss waking up and walking to a coffee shop with whoever would join me. I miss playing guitar all day in the dressing room before the show. I miss laughing my ass off every day with the guys," Spreitzer went on to say. "I miss the summer festival runs where I get to see all my friends from other bands that I have toured with over the last two decades. I miss the aroma of the venues. I miss the putrid smell of the bathrooms in a European dive bar. More than anything else, I miss the look of joy on everyone's face while you lovingly kick the crap out of each other in the crowd.

"I've waited patiently for DevilDriver to become full-time again," Spreitzer continued. "I respectfully understand that since 2019 serious issues had to be dealt with that were out of anybody's control resulting in keeping the band off the road. We had a pandemic, there were family emergencies, and health issues that had to be addressed. But these dilemmas started in 2019. DevilDriver became part-time long before this unfortunate chain of events. I would rather not sit at home waiting for this to become a full-time job any longer.

"In an attempt to fill the downtime, I started Verona on Venus," Spreitzer added, referring to his musical side project. "It was never my intention to make VoV a priority over DevilDriver. The only way I can see myself touring as much as I would like is by getting Verona on Venus up and running or perhaps an opportunity to join another band.

"To all the DD fans out there. I love you with all my heart," Spreitzer told fans. "You are some of the most dedicated humans I have ever met. The vitality in all of you has been the brightest light in my life. You filled my soul with happiness. I am forever grateful for every single one of you and will never forget your unwavering devotion.

Spreitzer finally concluded, "I wish Dez, Jon, Alex and Davier the very best." At this time, the remaining members of DevilDriver do not appear to have commented on Spreitzer's exit.

Trending Now: