Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo has officially announced his departure from the heavy metal outfit. The decision arrives after a series of creative and business disagreements with the band’s record label, Better Noise Music, reaching a boiling point over the impending release of their Dolly Parton cover, “Jolene“.
Having joined Bad Wolves in 2023 following his tenure with the metalcore act Issues, the guitarist released a comprehensive statement detailing his exit. He explained that he could no longer participate in a project where major artistic decisions were dictated by external business forces without the musicians’ consent.
In his Instagram post, AJ Rebollo stated:
“This will be a long one, so if you don’t want to stay for the whole thing, the main point is – I am making the decision to step away as a member of Bad Wolves. In short, I can no longer in good faith remain a member and co-sign the decisions constantly being made FOR this band by the label, among other issues I have with the inner workings of the business.”
“When I stepped into the picture, a part of me knew what I was getting into, but the full extent of it was unknown to me. I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition. We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly‘s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.”
The controversy stems from the recent announcement by Better Noise Music confirming that the heavy metal rendition of “Jolene“ will be released as planned. The late country music icon had agreed to provide guest vocals for the track shortly before she passed away following a brief battle with cancer.
While the label announced that proceeds from the single will be donated to Dolly Parton‘s Imagination Library, the guitarist felt the timing and execution completely disregarded the band’s collective hesitation.
“With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here. The amount of hate, negativity, and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.”
“Coming from Issues made me appreciate the autonomy we had as a band. We were fortunate enough to have worked with a label that cared for us, not only as musicians, but as people. They trusted our vision, never pushed anything on us that we didn’t want to do for ourselves, and ultimately felt like team members, not bosses. That’s been a dynamic that I have strived for within Bad Wolves for quite some time. There are some undeniably incredible people at Better Noise, but I will not stand by as yet another decision is being made for us that we are entirely opposed to, one that we – as the faces of this band – will receive the brunt of the scrutiny and ridicule for. While the donation to her Imagination Library is an incredible choice to do something good with the profits, I can’t help but feel there is ill intent behind the decision to release the song.”
He concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude for the financial support he received during his tenure but reaffirming his commitment to his personal integrity. He also clarified that his departure does not reflect any bad blood with his fellow bandmates.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the label and John specifically for helping me sustain a living as much as possible while being off the road. There was a level of care there that is definitely not lost on me, but I have never been one to allow my art and decisions within the music world to be compromised, and I have no interest in being a vessel for what I believe to be terrible decisions.”
“Music is my job, my livelihood, and most importantly, my passion. Stepping away from this is absolutely terrifying as I am sacrificing what little I have left when it comes to stability within the music world. I do not know what the future holds for me regarding that.”
He concluded: “This is not, by any means, some sort of call to arms against anyone, nor do I wish ill will on anyone involved in the label’s decision making. I absolutely loved the time I got to spend with the band. I love them all (the old and new members) as bandmates, people, and friends. I loved creating this upcoming album with them as I think it is a genuinely incredible piece of art, but this is a decision I just have to make.”
Established in 1995 by Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library serves as the primary initiative of The Dollywood Foundation. The global nonprofit is committed to fostering a lifelong love for reading among children by delivering free, high-quality books to registered kids from birth until they reach age five. Operating without family income restrictions, the organization ships out more than three million books directly to children’s homes every single month.
Parton died on Tuesday 25 August at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, with her family around her. She was 80.
The news was officially shared via a statement from her PR firm, True Public Relations, accompanied by a deeply personal video message from her nephew, Bryan Seaver.
Born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton rose from humble Appalachian roots to become one of the most recognized and influential figures in entertainment history. Her big breakthrough came in 1967 when she joined country star Porter Wagoner on his syndicated television series, a partnership that launched her into the spotlight before she transitioned into a massive solo career in 1974.
In the emotional video statement, Seaver revealed that delivering this message was a task Parton had entrusted to him years prior.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he said.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” Seaver continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Parton’s career spanned over six decades, leaving an indelible mark on music, film, and philanthropy. Known for timeless classics like “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5,” her quick wit and signature sparkle masked one of the sharpest songwriting minds in American history. Beyond country music, her generosity reshaped lives around the globe through initiatives like the Imagination Library, which has gifted over 200 million books to children.
Even late in her career, Parton continued to redefine her artistic boundaries. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor she initially tried to decline out of respect for the genre’s origins. True to her character, once inducted, she declared she would earn the title.
That promise resulted in her 49th solo studio album, Rockstar (2023), a star-studded rock record featuring collaborations with iconic musicians including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler, Elton John, and Stevie Nicks. The album debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, proving that no matter the genre, Parton possessed an innate ability to unite audiences across generations and styles.
