JASON HOOK has been “completely separated” from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH since 2020

In a new interview with Anne Erickson by Audio Ink Radio,FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook was asked if he is still in contact with any of his former bandmates. He replied: “I text with Stefan (Moody, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Singer). He’s pretty much the only one I really communicate with.”

As for the possibility of a new band, MATT BLACKplays shows with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, Jason said: “That would be their business. I guess they probably wouldn’t do that. But you never know. Whatever.”

He added: “I don’t know what’s going on in their heads. I’ve just lost touch with the whole thing since 2020.”

Hook previously announced his departure from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Earlier this month in an interview with the TODDCast podcast. He said at the time: “Yeah, when it happened, it was actually – I think it was about time, on both sides. There were problems.

“I’m a leader, and there are some leaders in this camp,” he explained. “And I felt the urge to lead without having my hands tied behind my back. And so it got to a point where it wasn’t working for me anymore.”

When asked how much of this was simply the search for a new challenge, Hook said: “Well, I’m always looking for a new challenge, but the thing is, we work so hard to get to this level of success. It’s kind of like… I’m under no illusions either. You can’t just do it over and over again; it’s a one-off thing. And with something like this, you would work very hard and get to that level, and then it’s kind of like a maintenance program. And so the heavy lifting was already done.

“But I got back to a point where I wanted to be in control of the things I was doing,” he added. “So it was time for me.”

Also earlier this month Hook Talkin’ Bout Rock revealed that the surgery to remove his gallbladder in December 2019 was an eye-opening experience for him in terms of his relationship with his bandmates at the time. HookThe operation took place just a few hours after FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH had to postpone a show in Duluth, Minnesota. The last two concerts of FIVE FINGERSThe fall 2019 tour has also been postponed: at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska and at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

“It was terrible,” Hook recalled. “In most cases, our body only listens to our brain, and I experienced a enormously I was under a lot of stress during that phase of the situation and it caught up with me. Because I was wondering, “How does something like this happen?” I’m super healthy, I take care of myself and blah, blah, blah, blah. And all the analysts and doctors say, “Well, stress can play a big role.” I say, “Well, that makes sense.” And it kind of freaked me out too because I realized that you can die in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere and that’s how it ends.”

He continued, “I didn’t feel like I was surrounded by anyone who cared about me. I was like, ‘Go see if he can play.’ And then I was like, ‘I can’t. I have to go to the hospital.’ And then everyone left. So, it’s OK. But right after that, we were supposed to fly to Europe and start everything over again, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to die like this.’ I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but I saw what it was. And quality of life is everything.”

Last October, Hook told The Mistress Carrie Podcastabout his departure from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH more than four years ago: “There’s no animosity. There’s nothing. It’s like anything. Over time, relationships and policies change. Extreme success, popularity, finances affect egos and personalities and roles and all that stuff.”

Hook added that being in a band is harder than being married. “Because if there’s a problem in a marriage, you just have to sort it out between the other parties,” he explained. “In a band, you can get along fine with this guy, but with (one of the other guys) it’s still a mess. With him it’s OK. With this guy it’s a mess. Of course it’s a lot harder. It’s like having four wives.”

In October 2020 FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH confirmed the official separation from Hook eight months earlier during the band’s sold-out European tour. He has since been replaced by the renowned British virtuoso Andy Jameswho made his recording debut with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH At “Broken world”a song that was included in the second part of the group’s greatest hits collection, “A Decade of Destruction – Volume 2”.

After recovering from emergency gallbladder surgery in late 2019 Hook had to leave halfway FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH‘s European tour to resolve further complications.

Jasonwho joined FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in 2009 on his departure from the band: “As for the reason for my departure… well, there really isn’t just one. I’ve played in bands all my life and I think I’ve done all the good I could here. It’s time to pass the baton and move on to new challenges.”

MATT BLACK will release his debut album, “The dark side of the brain”on 19 July about Fearless records.

“The dark side of the brain” was produced by Hook And Chris Collier (GRAIN) and was awarded both Hook‘s home studio and The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hook is connected with MATT BLACK by Singer Wes HortonBassist Nick Diltz and drummer Rob Pierce.

MATT BLACK made his live debut on August 24, 2023 at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California as the opening act for GODSMACK.