SUFFOCATION drummer ERIC MOROTTI has announced his departure from the New York death metal legends in a blistering statement posted on his birthday, pulling no punches about his reasons for leaving.
Morotti wrote:
"There comes a point in your life where you pick YOU. You must choose to change, evolve, or be stuck in the same routines forever. Today. On my birthday. I have chosen to step away from SUFFOCATION to prolong my health, myself, my integrity. I will not work with toxic, abusive drug addicts. Let alone allow them to boss me around. I've been belittled and stepped all over for too long."
MOROTTI went on to contrast his experience with his current situation alongside SANGUISUGABOGG, with whom he is currently on the road supporting LAMB OF GOD across the USA:
"I've been having an absolute blast with SANGUISUGABOGG and have been shown what it's like to be part of a real family — no egos, no power trips. Just bros that love music and being together."
MOROTTI joined SUFFOCATION in 2016, appearing on their albums …Of The Dark Light (2017) and Hymns from the Apocrypha (2023). SUFFOCATION have confirmed that JOHN LONGSTRETH — renowned drummer of technical death metal act ORIGIN — will fill in for immediate live commitments.
SUFFOCATION, formed in 1988 in Long Island, New York, are widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of brutal death metal. The band has yet to issue a formal response regarding permanent replacement plans.