The Offspring drummer Pete Parada announced this week that he was forced out of the band because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Parada stated that since he is “unable to comply with what is increasingly becoming an industry mandate – it has recently been decided that I am unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour”.
Parada caught the virus last year and experienced only mild symptoms. He explained the reason he refuses to get the vaccine due to a childhood bout with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which has progressively gotten worse over his lifetime.
Although heartbroken, Parada stated that he has “no negative feelings towards my band. They’re doing what they believe is best for them, while I am doing the same. Wishing the entire Offspring family all the best as they get back at it!”
Parada performed on The Offspring’s latest release “Let the Bad Times Roll”, which was released in April.
The band has not made an announcement on whether Parada’s leave will be temporary or permanent. They have also not revealed who will be the replacement drummer for their upcoming tour that starts on August 8th.