With the release of the new studio album Broken Crown Halo due on April 1, Italy’s Lacuna Coil have dropped a Valentine’s Day bombshell by announcing the immediate retirement of guitarist Cristiano ‘Pizza’ Migliore and drummer Cristiano ‘CriZ’ Mozzati. Changes in personal and family life and commitments has been offered as the reason for the departure.
Vocalist Cristina Scabbia has issued a statement fully supporting the decision of the two departing members, “I believe this being THE most friendly split (I cannot even call it so, cause it sounds bad) happened to a band. Not a fight, no ego problems, no anger: a decision taken in the most serene way from Criz and Pizza and fully accepted from the rest of LC.
No, you will not read any angry articles on Blabbermouth, sorry :))”
The two departing members have been with Lacuna Coil for 16 years and have been involved in the writing and recording of the new album. In separate announcements, both expressed their sadness at leaving, and their wishes for the band’s future success.
The band has a string of US concert dates lined up through February and March as the beginning of the touring cycle to support their seventh album.
Ryan Folden, who has previously toured as the live drummer, has been confirmed as the stickman for the tour. There has been no word as yet for who might fill the guitar role. The timing of the announcement would seem to give the band the opportunity to settle a live line up and approach the next touring cycle without distractions.
The official band announcement :
“Dear friends,
It is with a heavy heart that we share this news with you today: Our two brothers Cris ‘Pizza’ Migliore and Cristiano ‘CriZ’ Mozzati have decided to retire from LACUNA COIL.
Both Pizza and CriZ have had big changes impact their lives recently – we know how stressful and difficult it can be to balance both real life and the life of a professional touring musician, and we have nothing but total respect for their decisions to focus on their families and lives at home.
We have such incredible memories of traveling and exploring the world together with Pizza and CriZ, and we want to wish them both all the best as they begin these exciting new chapters in their lives. We will never forget the important roles they played in this band, or the incredible times we shared together.
THANK YOU PIZZA AND CRIZ! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!
Cristina, Andrea, Marco, and Maus.
LACUNA COIL”
