Guitarist Mike Reynolds has quit the metalcore band For Today — just one day after posting a string of controversial tweets on homosexuality and religion.
The remaining members of For Today have released the following statement regarding Mike‘s exit from the group:
“Mike Reynolds is no longer a part of For Today. He has decided that now is the time for he and his wife to put their plans in motion to enroll in Bible college, and to begin working toward full-time missions work in the Middle East. Mike will be replaced by longtime friend of the band, and former In The Midst Of Lions guitar player, Sam Penner, who will be appearing with the band as they headline their upcoming Fight The Silence tour.”
In addition, For Today frontman Mattie Montgomery has released a public statement to anyone affected by Mike‘s recent comments regarding homosexuality. The video can be viewed below.
Reynolds took to Twitter on Thursday to offer his response to the news of Pastor Louie Giglio‘s with drawal from President Barack Obama‘s second-term inauguration ceremony after reports emerged of an anti-gay sermon the Atlanta pastor delivered in the 1990s.
Reacting to the report that LGBT advocates responded to Giglio‘s selection by launching a petition calling for Obama to replace him with a pastor who has a history of supporting LGBT equality, Reynolds wrote: “There IS a state church being formed, there is going to be an exclusive acceptance of preachers who advocate the LGBT. [Read more at this location].
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Since the band formed in 2005, For Today has played over 1,100 shows on 4 continents in 19 countries. They are currently signed to Razor & Tie. They have released one EP Your Moment, Your Life, Your Time [Self-Released 2006] and four full-length albums: Ekklesia [Facedown Records, 2008], Portraits [Facedown Records, 2009], Breaker [Facedown Records, 2010]. Their latest album Immortal was released May 2012 via Razor & Tie Records, check our review of Immortal.
Immortal was produced by Will Putney [Lamb Of God, Suicide Silence]and features special guest appearances from Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red and Tommy Green of Sleeping Giant.
Immortal, sold nearly 15,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was issued to major critical acclaim, with Revolver magazine declaring it to be “rife with crafty guitar hooks and scream-along choruses.” Alternative Press commented: “For Today have dialed back the bombast just enough to make their pounding combination of furious punk and vicious metal sound more immediate and live sounding.”
The hardcore-influenced metal band is known for their non-stop touring, high energy live performance, and unrelenting message. For Today will stop at nothing until the name of Christ is proclaimed to the entire world.
For Today will headline Fight The Silence 2013 with support from Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive, Gideon and Upon A Burning Body. Dates & locations are listed below.
Upcoming Shows:
Jan 13 The Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ
Jan 25 Mountaintop Community Church, Birmingham, AL
Jan 26 The 7 Venue, Douglasville, GA
Jan 27 Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
Jan 28 Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Jan 29 Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
Jan 31 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
Feb 01 The Palladium, Worcester, MA
Feb 02 The Lost Horizon, Syracuse, NY
Feb 04 Rocket Bar, Toledo, OH
Feb 05 Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
Feb 06 Mojoe’s, Joliet, IL
Feb 08 The Door, Dallas, TX
Feb 09 The White Rabbit, St Marys, OH
Feb 10 House of Blues, Houston, TX
Feb 13 The Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ
Feb 15 The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
Feb 16 Ace of Spades, Sacramento, CA
Feb 22 Majestic Ventura Theater Half House, Ventura, CA
Feb 23 The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
Feb 24 Senator Theatre, Chico, CA
Feb 26 Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV
Feb 27 House of Blues Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Feb 28 Club Nokia, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 01 Soma, San Diego, CA
Mar 02 Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Mar 03 Tricky Falls, El Paso, TX
Mar 05 Concrete Street Amphitheatre, Corpus Christi, TX
Mar 09 Diamond Ballroom, Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 10 New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, TN
Mar 12 Rocketown, Nashville, TN
Mar 13 Amos’ Southend, Charlotte, NC
Mar 14 The Music Farm, Charleston, SC
Mar 15 The Norva, Norfolk, VA
Mar 16 The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
Mar 17 Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
Mar 19 Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
Mar 20 Paramount Theater, Huntington, NY
Mar 21 The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
Mar 22 Club Infinity, Williamsville, NY
Mar 23 The Sound Academy, Toronto, Canada
Mar 24 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale, PA
Mar 25 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale, P
Mar 27 Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
Mar 28 The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
Mar 29 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
Mar 30 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 02 The Granada Theatre, Lawrence, KS
Apr 03 Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
Apr 04 Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
Weblinks: Facebook / Myspace / Twitter
Related articles:
Pictures ‘For Today’ @ The Matrix, Bochum, Germany [April 2012]
‘For Today’ Drummer Quits Band To Become A Missionary [June 2012]
For Today – Immortal [Album Review]
‘For Today’ To Play ‘Christmas Rocknight’ 2012 , ‘The Unshakeable Tour’ [Sept. 2012]
‘For Today’ ‘Foundation’ Music Video Premiere, The Unshakeable & European Tour Dates [Sept. 2012]
‘For Today’ To Headline ‘Fight The Silence Tour’ 2013 [Nov. 2012]
‘For Today’ Guitarist ‘Mike Reynolds’ “Don’t Be Deceived, Homosexuality Is A Sin” [Jan. 2013]