American Aquarium is Going Through Some Changes
BJ Barham, lead singer for American Aquarium announced this past Sunday, April 2nd that he and his bandmates have split up, but the band will continue on!
BJ took to Instagram to say that following guitarists Ryan Johnson and Colin DiMeo both leaving the band back in January,...bassist Bill Corbin, drummer Kevin McClain and pedal steel guitarist Whit Wright have also “decided to move on to the next chapter in their lives and pursue other ventures.”
Barham went on to say...“There is no ill will, and I sincerely wish them nothing but the best of luck on whatever path life decides to take them down, and I hope you will, too. What we had for the last few years went beyond friendship. These guys are my family, and I will always look back to this version of the band fondly.”
Back in January when Barham announced Johnson and DiMeo’s leaving the band, he said that the band was not over but rather picking up a new guitarist and heading into the studio to record new music. According to his Sunday Instagram post, that plan hasn’t changed as Barham comments that...“American Aquarium isn’t going anywhere.”
BJ goes on to explain.....“I started American Aquarium in my college dorm room back in 2005 with the hopes of building a band to bring my songs to life. Over the last 12 years, I’ve played 3,000+ shows with 26 different members of American Aquarium. We’ve been to 13 countries, 46 states and have recorded 9 albums under the American Aquarium name,” later adding, “Like most things in life, band members change; however, these songs and my dreams of playing them for folks every night do not … If you’ve ever met me, you know that there isn’t an ounce of quit in me, so after my annual summer solo tour in May / June, I will be hitting the studio with a new group of musicians to work on American Aquarium’s seventh full-length record, entitled 'Things Change', and will be playing full-band AA shows throughout the rest of 2017 and into the new year.”
Barham concludes on Instagram...“This band is a living organism, and like all living things, it’s ever evolving,” “If this is where you get off the AA roller coaster, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for the years of love and support you have shown me and the boys. If you’re sticking around, rest assured that I will continue to work as hard as I always have to write and perform the most honest music I’m capable of.”