Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo has left the band, according to a statement posted to Instagram on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
Although, Rebollo attributes his exit to a number of factors relating to band business, his decision ultimately was spurred by the band’s record label moving forward with the release of a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” in the immediate aftermath of the beloved country singer’s death.
Bad Wolves has been signed to Better Noise throughout its recording career.
Earlier Friday, the label announced in a press release that Bad Wolves’ cover of “Jolene,” which originally was to have a vocal contribution from Parton herself, would be released on Monday, Aug. 31, with proceeds going to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. (The program provides free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth to age 5, regardless of family income, mailing each book directly to the child’s home. Today, the program mails more than 3 million books to children each month.)
“I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time,” Rebollo wrote, “but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition. We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly‘s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.”
Rebollo joined Bad Wolves as a touring guitarist in 2023 and became a full band member in 2025.
“With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here,” Rebollo wrote. “The amount of hate, negativity. and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.”
The situation with the “Jolene” cover is eerily similar to the one band found itself in when it released a cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries in 2018. Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan was scheduled to record vocals for the track but died before that could happen. “Zombie” became Bad Wolves’ breakthrough single, and the band later donated $250,000 in proceeds to O’Riordan’s family.
Bad Wolves also has been in the news this week after being booted from Skillet’s fall 2026 tour after Skillet fans made a variety accusations against Bad Wolves’ new singer, Sara “Killboy” Skinner.”
Bad Wolves’ current lineup also includes drummer/founder John Boecklin and bassist Derek Bolman. The band has released four albums to date, two each with original vocalist Tommy Vext and his replacement, Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz. A new album debuting the band’s new lineup has been recorded. The single “Paint It Red” is out now.
Rebollo’s full statement on his departure is below:
“This will be a long one. so if you don’t want to stay for the whole thing, the main point is – I am making the decision to step away as a member of Bad Wolves. In short. I can no longer in good faith remain a member and co-sign the decisions constantly being made FOR this band by the label. among other issues I have with the inner workings of the business.
“When I stepped into the picture, a part of me knew what I was getting into, but the full extent of it was unknown to me. I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label’s decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition. We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly‘s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it.
“With the label completely disregarding numerous decisions we make out of passion, and ultimately just unknowingly exhausting the band’s attempts to fully enjoy being here, I am no longer happy here. The amount of hate, negativity. and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity.
“Coming from Issues made me appreciate the autonomy we had as a band. We were fortunate enough to have worked with a label that cared for us, not only as musicians. but as people. They trusted our vision. never pushed anything on us that we didn’t want to do for ourselves, and ultimately felt like team members, not bosses. That’s been a dynamic that I have strived for within Bad Wolves for quite some time. There are some undeniably incredible people at Better Noise, but I will not stand by as yet another decision is being made for us that we are entirely opposed to, one that we — as the faces of this band — will receive the brunt of the scrutiny and ridicule for. While the donation to her Imagination Library is an incredible choice to do something good with the profits. I can’t help but feel there is ill intent behind the decision to release the song.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the label and John specifically for helping me sustain a living as much as possible while being off the road. There was a level of care there that is definitely not lost on me. but I have never been one to allow my art and decisions within the music world to be compromised, and I have no interest in being a vessel for what I believe to be terrible decisions.
“Music is my job, my livelihood, and most importantly. my passion. Stepping away from this is absolutely terrifying as I am sacrificing what little I have left when it comes to stability within the music world. I do not know what the future holds for me regarding that.
“This is not. by any means, some sort of call to arms against anyone, nor do I wish ill will on anyone involved in the label’s decision making. I absolutely loved the time I got to spend with the band. I love them all (the old and new members) as bandmates, people. and friends. I loved creating this upcoming album with them as I think it is a genuinely incredible piece of art, but this is a decision I just have to make.”
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