News: Vitriol Gas Station Tour Cancellation

26 November 2025 rocknews

Vitriol Dramatically Cancel Tour After Frontman Is Abandoned at Gas Station

Vitriol Dramatically Cancel Tour: The world of extreme metal is no stranger to chaos, but the events unfolding around Portland technical death metal outfit Vitriol have escalated into one of the most bizarre breakups in recent memory. Following a catastrophic internal dispute, the backing members of the band have quit en masse, leaving the founder stranded on the roadside and forcing the remaining dates of the scheduled run to be scrapped.

As news spreads that Vitriol dramatically cancel tour dates across North America, fans are piecing together a story involving a roadside abandonment, a viral Instagram call-out, and a “drugged-out temper tantrum.”

The “Mass Exodus”

The incident became public knowledge earlier this week when renowned guitarist Keith Merrow, who joined the band earlier in 2025, posted a scathing statement to his Instagram story. He revealed that he, along with bassist Brett Leier and drummer Andy Vincenzetti, had reached a breaking point with frontman and founder Kyle Rasmussen.

In a move that has since gone viral within the metal community, the trio made the collective decision to quit the band mid-tour. However, they didn’t just quit; they reportedly left Rasmussen, his girlfriend, and their dog at a gas station in the middle of the night before driving the tour vehicle home.

Merrow’s statement was blunt and capitalized for emphasis:

“HE F***ED AROUND AND FOUND OUT… SORRY VITRIOL FANS. WE HAD TO ABANDON HIM AT A GAS STATION IN VERMONT. MYSELF, ANDY, BRETT, AND MATT WILL NOT TAKE KYLE’S COWARDLY AND WEAK OUTBURSTS OF MISPLACED ANGER.”

Merrow described the event as the “darkest day” of his music career, confirming that the internal environment had become too toxic to continue.

Why Did Vitriol Dramatically Cancel Tour?

The decision to abandon the tour was not made lightly. According to the departing members, the split was the result of a specific altercation that threatened the safety and mental well-being of the crew.

Rasmussen has since responded to the allegations via a lengthy two-part video statement on the band’s official social media channels. While he disputed the geographical location—claiming he was left at a gas station in upstate New York rather than Vermont—he confirmed the core details of the abandonment.

Rasmussen admitted that the conflict arose from what he described as a “drugged-out temper tantrum” on his part. He acknowledged a history of being “impossible to work with” and stated that the altercation led to the police being called, after which his bandmates departed with the RV and equipment. Rasmussen has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to transport himself and his family back to Oregon.

A History of Instability

This isn’t the first time personnel issues have plagued the band. The news that Vitriol dramatically cancel tour plans comes just over a year after former bassist Adam Roethlisberger quit mid-tour in 2024. At that time, Rasmussen admitted that Roethlisberger’s departure was “the straw upon the camel’s back of a long and difficult working relationship.”

With the departure of Merrow, Leier, and Vincenzetti, Rasmussen is once again the sole remaining member of the project. The rapid turnover suggests a pattern of volatility that has made sustaining a touring lineup nearly impossible for the highly technical act.

Vitriol Dramatically Cancel Tour – What Comes Next?

For the immediate future, the Vitriol brand is effectively on hiatus. Rasmussen has indicated he will be taking time away to assess the situation and his own behavior.

Meanwhile, the departing trio is not leaving the music industry. Merrow, Leier, and Vincenzetti have already announced plans to continue working together. In a follow-up post, Merrow stated:

“The silver lining in this situation is that I met Brett and Andy. We’re continuing together as a band under a different name because we love each other.”

While a new project rises from the ashes, the immediate headline remains the chaotic implosion of a rising death metal star. As Vitriol dramatically cancel tour obligations and refunds are processed for disappointed fans, the story serves as a stark reminder of the fragile human element behind the heavy music.