In a recent interview with Metalirium, My Dying Bride guitarist Andrew Craighan opened up about the band’s current status and the surprising absence of longtime vocalist and co-founder Aaron Stainthorpe.
Craighan commented on the band’s decision to bring in Finnish vocalist Mikko Kotamäki of Swallow The Sun for My Dying Bride’s upcoming live appearances in 2025. Mikko had already performed with the band earlier this year, and according to Craighan, he was the unanimous first choice when the need for a replacement arose due to Stainthorpe’s unavailability and lack of communication.
“Despite all the problems, the band was willing and ready to perform the remaining shows in 2024,” Craighan explained. “But, unfortunately, there was no willing singer. The band only discovered this at the very last minute, which led to the cancellation. Given that the album had just been released, the band was not prepared to be sidelined. As a result, a meeting was organized to discuss the possibility of a replacement. Mikko was the unanimous first choice.”
When asked about Aaron’s current involvement with My Dying Bride, Craighan was candid: “As Aaron has, in truth, distanced himself from the band, we are only aware of his activities through social media and online interviews.” He added that while Aaron publicly claims to still be part of the band, there has been no direct contact since April 2024. “The band contacted him in March 2025 to enquire about his intentions with My Dying Bride, but he has not responded,” Craighan continued. “We first learned through social media that he was on a hiatus from MDB. Although he states online that he is still part of the band, he has not engaged with us since April 2024.”
The situation has left the rest of the band uncertain about the future. “In response to your question, the band does not know what his plans with MDB are,” Craighan said.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
