AJ Rebollo has left Bad Wolves. The guitarist confirmed his decision in a personal statement on 28 August, saying he could no longer remain in a band where major decisions were repeatedly being made for its members by their label.
The immediate dispute concerns Bad Wolves' version of Dolly Parton's Jolene. Rebollo says the band asked Better Noise Music not to release it after Parton's death made the planned collaboration with her impossible. The label nevertheless announced the cover for 31 August, with proceeds going to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
This was bigger than one release
Rebollo described the cover as the final issue in a longer argument over control. He said decisions made outside the band had left its members carrying the resulting abuse online, and contrasted that experience with the autonomy he had during his time in Issues.
He also thanked people at Better Noise and Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin for supporting him while the band was off the road. His statement was not framed as an attack on his bandmates: Rebollo said he loved making the forthcoming album with them, but could not continue under the current arrangement.
The cover is now out; the accounts still conflict
Better Noise released Jolene on 31 August and says Dolly Parton had approved the arrangement and intended to add vocals before her death. The label says proceeds will support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. That is Better Noise's account; it does not erase Rebollo's separate claim that band members asked for the release to be stopped.
Rebollo and Better Noise still give different accounts of the decision to release Jolene. Neither statement resolves that disagreement.
