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Music

At the Drive-In Have Parted Ways With Guitarist Jim Ward and Fans Aren’t Happy

On the eve of an international reunion tour the influential post hardcore act have announced the departure of original guitarist Jim Ward.

Image: Philip Cosores

On the eve of an international reunion tour, influential post hardcore band At the Drive-In have announced the departure of original guitarist Jim Ward.

In a blunt statement on Facebook the band said, “As our ship prepares for voyage, we announce that Jim Ward will not be joining us on future journeys. We wish him well and are excited to see you soon.”

Ward, co-founded At the Drive-In with vocalist Cedric Bixler, in El Paso, Texas in 1993. The band split in 2001 and briefly reunited in 2012. At the beginning of this year it was announced that the band would again reunite to tour and release new music.

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All North American dates of the upcoming tour have sold out but many fans feel angry and duped to receive news of Ward’s departure so late.

“WTF! Explanation? Maybe finalize that shit before you sell expensive ass tickets?" said one angry Facebook user Tony Jimenez.

“Jim was a huge part of the magic of At The Drive-In, really shitty how you guys marketed this emphasizing everyone will be a part of it. I saw this coming and I'm glad for now that I didn't get tickets. It's not At The Drive-In without Jim", said Nikhil Misra.

Many Facebook users complained that without Ward the reunion would be like Mars Volta shows, the band that Omar Rodríguez and Bixler formed in 2001 after At the Drive-In broke up.

Shady as hell that at the drive in doesnt announce Jim ward will be on the tour until a week before a sold out tour..

— Joe fifth (@joeandcambria) March 18, 2016

It is unclear who will replace Ward on the upcoming At the Drive-In tour.