Vitriol founder Kyle Rasmussen, his partner Maggie, and their dog Ghost are officially back on the road—this time heading home to Oregon—after a successful crowdfunding effort raised more than four times its initial target.
The technical death metal vocalist found himself stranded in Redwood, New York, earlier this week after his entire backing band—guitarist Keith Merrow, bassist Brett Leier, and drummer Andy Vincenzetti—abruptly quit and departed with the tour vehicle following a severe interpersonal conflict.
Left with a substantial amount of musical equipment, merchandise, and no transport, Rasmussen launched a GoFundMe campaign with a modest goal of $2,500 to cover travel costs. The metal community responded in force, raising $10,869 by the time the campaign was referenced in press reports.
On Tuesday, November 25, Rasmussen issued a statement via the campaign page expressing gratitude for the financial lifeline, noting that the surplus funds would help resolve debts incurred by the now-cancelled tour.
“Hello, everyone. Maggie and I have been beyond moved by the response to our GoFundMe. I set our initial goal at 2.5k, hoping to only make it home. After being donated 4x that amount, we will be able to purchase an affordable used car, rather than throwing money away on a cross-country rental. This is beyond helpful, as we are a carless household. We have plenty to keep us safe and comfortable. Any additional donations will be put toward paying off debts from this tour; merch, RV, management, and PR fees. Thank you very, very much. We are out of crisis.
“With deep love and appreciation, Ghost, Maggie, and Kyle“
However, plans shifted slightly regarding the vehicle. In a video update posted yesterday, November 27, Rasmussen revealed that they ultimately opted to rent a vehicle to accommodate their cargo. Standing in Redwood, New York—a location he sarcastically referred to as “Vermont” to mock his former bandmates’ earlier geographical error regarding where they abandoned him—Rasmussen detailed the logistics of their escape.
He said (as transcribed by theprp):
“Hello, everyone. Here we are in a beautiful, thriving, Redwood, New York — or Vermont — I suppose, it’s all in the eyes of the beholder. I have good news for anyone who is interested in seeing Maggie, Ghost, and myself, make it home safely. The outpouring of support has been beyond overwhelming. I know that might sound like a tired thing to say, but I don’t know what else to say.
“If any of you are wondering why we weren’t just getting a train, or a bus home, you’re looking at it. We have about three weeks worth of merchandise loosely smashed into this Jeep, which is the largest vehicle that Hertz had available for us. I have all my equipment, all of our luggage. With that being said, we, of course, have our dog, which complicates things further.
“Massive, massive shout out to Felder’s Convenience. If you’re ever rolling through Redwood, New York on your way to Canada, check out Felder’s Convenience. They got deli, they got pizza, they got gas, they got cigarettes, they got coffee, they got everything you need. He even has an out-of-season ice cream shop, that he was kind enough after witnessing this whole snafu go down — he was kind enough to offer to keep all of our equipment and belongings safely in this building until we were able to come back and retrieve it. So MVP. Relying on the goodwill of people this entire time has been extremely humbling.
“That’s about it. We’re about to hit the road. The Maggie Ghost and Kyle tour begins now. We’re about to head to Chicago. And then after that, Denver, to kiss that beautiful Dave Otero on the mouth. I’m coming for you, buddy. Okay, give me more c*****e [mimics sniffing noises.]”
The split that precipitated this journey was acrimonious. The departing members issued statements alleging that Rasmussen was verbally abusive and prone to “cowardly and weak outbursts,” claiming they left for their own mental well-being. Conversely, Rasmussen alleged that the breakup was fueled by a “c*****e bender,” sleep deprivation, and that Merrow had threatened him with violence before leaving him and his family behind. The three exiting members have since announced plans to form a new band without Rasmussen.
Despite the collapse of the tour and the lineup, Rasmussen appears defiant regarding the future of Vitriol. In the caption accompanying his latest video, he reaffirmed that the band is not over.
“Ghost, Maggie and Ghost tour begins now. Thankyou to everyone who went above and beyond with their generosity. Maggie and I are perfectly secure and won’t have any issues making our way home. Any extra funds that remain after our journey home will go towards paying off various debts that Vitriol has been saddled with making this tour happen. The future not only looks bright for the three of us, but for Vitriol as well.
“You can’t kill what is already dead. I’m coming to smooch ya, @daveotero”
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