When Alexisonfire's George Pettit released a press statement last Friday (August 5) about the band's breakup, he highlighted that the split wasn't exactly amicable. The screamer specifically pointed to Dallas Green's outside duties with the City and Colour project as being a big part of Alexisonfire's decision to part ways. A recent interview with Green finds the musician accepting the villain role, but admitting he's ready to move on with his life.
"I knew that no matter how George framed it, I was going to be looked at as the villain. And that's fine," Green told Spinner.
But while he's okay with being the bad guy, the artist ultimately knew he couldn't go on being in both bands. Piggy-backing tour after tour took a toll on his sanity, he said.
"That's why I'm leaving, because it's killing me. As much as they saw me always on tour and always putting records out back to back to back, I don't think they really understood that I was literally never home," Green said. "When people would ask me when I'd make the decision, I'd joke, 'When I have a nervous breakdown.'
"But I have already had those. I was in the hospital with pneumonia. I've lain in the bus crying uncontrollably at night. I was living this unbelievably blessed life, but I had no idea how to enjoy it because I was running myself ragged trying to appease my commitments to Alexisonfire, but also trying to appease all the people that were showing interest in City and Colour. It just got to a point when I had to make a decision. A very hard decision. But after ten years, my heart ... well part of my heart is there, but most of my heart is with this."
While Pettit pointed to the possibility of some final shows, Green believes they already took place. It remains to be seen whether the band will in fact get together for some farewell concerts, but between the rumoured singing role guitarist Wade MacNeil may have taken in UK hardcore outfit Gallows and Green's commitments to his solo project, it just might not be in the cards.
"Like George said, we've talked about doing some final shows. But to me, I've already played my last Alexisonfire show. In my heart, the last show was in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2010," Green said.
"I knew that no matter how George framed it, I was going to be looked at as the villain. And that's fine," Green told Spinner.
But while he's okay with being the bad guy, the artist ultimately knew he couldn't go on being in both bands. Piggy-backing tour after tour took a toll on his sanity, he said.
"That's why I'm leaving, because it's killing me. As much as they saw me always on tour and always putting records out back to back to back, I don't think they really understood that I was literally never home," Green said. "When people would ask me when I'd make the decision, I'd joke, 'When I have a nervous breakdown.'
"But I have already had those. I was in the hospital with pneumonia. I've lain in the bus crying uncontrollably at night. I was living this unbelievably blessed life, but I had no idea how to enjoy it because I was running myself ragged trying to appease my commitments to Alexisonfire, but also trying to appease all the people that were showing interest in City and Colour. It just got to a point when I had to make a decision. A very hard decision. But after ten years, my heart ... well part of my heart is there, but most of my heart is with this."
While Pettit pointed to the possibility of some final shows, Green believes they already took place. It remains to be seen whether the band will in fact get together for some farewell concerts, but between the rumoured singing role guitarist Wade MacNeil may have taken in UK hardcore outfit Gallows and Green's commitments to his solo project, it just might not be in the cards.
"Like George said, we've talked about doing some final shows. But to me, I've already played my last Alexisonfire show. In my heart, the last show was in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2010," Green said.
