THY ART IS MURDER // Vocalist CJ McMahon Quits Band

Dec 22, 2015 / WORDS Mark Acheson / PHOTOS Marianne Harris / Thy Art Departs

UPDATED: Vocalist CJ McMahon has quit Thy Art Is Murder primarily due to financial concerns.

He has linked financial pressures and the mental strains of touring to his departure.

In a personal statement CJ revealed the band has been broke for years, and his future endeavours to start a family has meant calling it quits with the Sydney deathcore outfit.

“… Touring has taken a massive mental, emotional and physical toll on me. One of the biggest reasons is money, we have been broke for years and being 32 years old I can’t live like this anymore.”

CJ said the band has earned between $16,000 – $18,000 each over six or seven years.

“I feel there is something massively wrong with this, I will not live like this anymore.”

“I’m sorry to my fans that I have to go, I loved you all and I thank you for believing and supporting me.”

The band released a statement via Facebook this morning:

After much conjecture and ambiguity on his behalf, it is with a heavy heart that we must announce today that CJ is no …

Posted by Thy Art Is Murder on Monday, December 21, 2015

“For some people, it comes to a turning point in their life where that income is no longer enough for their personal goals, and that point has come for CJ. We would like to wish him all our best as he leaves the band and moves onward to start a family and new life with his loving fiancée.”

The band has just finished its North American tour with Australian pals Parkway Drive.

The departure of CJ won’t slow down the band however, with members stating that 2016 will hold some of the biggest tours of their lives.

“Thy Art is what we have done with all of our adult lives and we have put absolutely everything we have into the band and the friendship between the four of us. That friendship and drive to create extreme music is what has kept us together through thick and thin. Unfortunately not everyone can share this fire.”

CJ McMahon is also the proprietor of Evil Soul Apparel, an alternative clothing brand. The band released third album Holy War to much acclaim in June this year, earning a #7 position on the ARIA albums chart. McMahon took over the vocalist spot from Brendan Van Ryn in 2009.

—