Bassist Mike Leon has announced his departure from CKY, citing what he describes as ongoing "unprofessionalism" and "lack of accountability" from the band’s leader, Chad I Ginsburg.
In a candid statement shared with fans, Leon confirmed he will not be participating in the band’s upcoming shows and detailed the circumstances that led to his exit.
"Hey everyone, I want to let you know that my time with CKY has come to an end. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the band, and getting the opportunity to play with them was a dream come true. I genuinely enjoyed my time there, and it was fun… until it wasn't."
Leon explained that logistical and business disagreements — which he says were "primarily driven by the actions of the band's leader" — created internal strain.
"For full transparency, I will not be participating in the band's upcoming shows. As unfortunate as this is, given the circumstances, I believe this was the right move to make. The differences regarding logistics and business decisions, primarily driven by the actions of the band's leader, created internal issues that made an already stressful environment increasingly difficult to work in."
According to Leon, the problems weren't new. "This unprofessionalism and lack of accountability was known well before I joined, and persisted throughout my time with the band, making day-to-day operations a constant challenge. The love I had for the band blinded me to the red flags my peers and the band's previous history had warned me about, especially surrounding the frontman, yet I chose to believe things would be different."
The bassist didn't mince words when describing the atmosphere behind the scenes. "In all of my years of working in this industry, I have never experienced this level of toxicity from an individual, and it stings extra having been perpetrated by the very band that first inspired me to start my career as a musician.
"Music should be a source of joy, but the environment became a source of stress that ultimately outweighed the positive aspects of being part of the band I grew up loving. I will continue creating music, and I sincerely thank all of you for your unconditional support."
Leon's departure marks another lineup shift for CKY, whose history has been punctuated by internal turbulence over the years. As of now, the band has not issued a public response to his statement.
