November 3, 2011 11:50

Drummer Chris Pennie quits Coheed And Cambria

Sticksman departs the prog rockers after four years behind the kit

Photo: Phil Wallis

Coheed And Cambria have announced that drummer Chris Pennie has left the band.

Pennie, who is also a former member of mathcore metallers The Dillinger Escape Plan, revealed he had left the band this morning (November 3) after four years behind the kit.

Pennie, who is also working as part of new projects Return To Earth and Fight Mannequins has issued a statement about his departure, indicating that he wished to focus on his new projects and could not do that while he was still in the band.

He wrote:

I am very thankful for the years that I shared the stage with the guys and want to thank the amazing, supportive fans that I’ve met while on tour, but there are a lot of exciting projects on the horizon, in addition to Return To Earth and Fight Mannequins, that I feel require my absolute 100 percent commitment and attention. I feel that this is the right time to make that happen.

The band themselves also posted a message about the drummer's departure, writing: "Tough decisions were made today that will help shape this band for the coming years. We extend our deepest appreciation to Chris Pennie for an incredible journey."

Coheed And Cambria are currently without a bassist and drummer, after they parted ways with four-string man Michael Todd earlier this year.

Todd left the band after he was charged with armed robbery following an incident in July. The bassist is due to stand trial in the coming months after he allegedly entered a pharmacy in Massachusetts and told the cashier he would detonate a bomb unless he was given a large amount of the painkiller Oxycontin.

Coheed And Cambria are currently working on the follow-up to their 2010 album 'Year Of The Black Rainbow'.