Earlier this week, Primus revealed That longtime drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander, left the band via email, citing that he “lost the passion for playing.” Today, the former member explained why he left rolling stone.

Despite telling the magazine that he “feels great,” he added that he is “dealing with all the aches and pains, but I’m doing things to strengthen my body, my relationships and my mind… I’m the one I think I’ve been. happier than ever. I’m not looking at this as, ‘I can’t function anymore, I have to quit.’ “I feel good, I feel strong, but I have had to make these changes to get to this point.”

“A lot of times you do something you love for a long time and sometimes the passion becomes a job, and sometimes that job doesn’t feel like it’s who you are anymore,” he continued, continuing:

Over time, I started to realize that it was affecting my physical life, my mental life, and my family life, and my heart just wasn’t in it. When I found out that I’m struggling with all of these things, I had to sit down and think about what exactly I’m doing. I don’t think I ever chose my path in life, I think I always thought “I’m a drummer, I’m just going to make music”, and things came to me, accepting whatever happens.

Regarding informing the band about his departure, he said that “I wrote this letter from my heart to those guys, to let them know (that I was leaving)… It was very heartfelt, it was very loving, I said positive things about how much I appreciated them and how much admiration there was,” he explained. “That’s why it was very surprising that only certain parts were released to everyone.”

He considered holding out for the Primus shows in Oakland, but ultimately came to the conclusion that he wasn’t feeling well:

I wouldn’t be authentic to myself. I would be doing it with everyone thinking it was a farewell, but I’m leaving now. And I really, really don’t like playing drums, where every time I play drums I’m like, “Ugh, this isn’t where I want to be.” It doesn’t feel good, it feels terrible in the body.

Alexander’s next step is to work with musicians through his online drum school Stick Academy. The article ends with his full statement on why he left the band. Read it below.

I know there are a lot of questions about why I left Primus and I feel it’s important to share my story, both for me and our fans. Walking away from Primus has been one of the most challenging decisions of my life, but ultimately it came down to love: for myself, my family, and the life I want to create in the future. I chose a path of love.

Regarding what I said to the band about ‘losing the passion for playing’, I did say that. But I also said, “All these tours left me feeling empty. My body hurts constantly.” This context is important. I also told them that they deserve someone who wants to be there. And I meant it. As far as “abrupt” goes, I guess there’s never the perfect time to let go of something you’ve been a part of for so long. Bands have their own inner workings and are a relationship. Sometimes it doesn’t feel balanced and other times it doesn’t work.

Over the past few months, I have been in a place of deep healing and intensive mental health rehabilitation, learning to confront the struggles I have faced for years. In this period of loneliness, I began to see with new clarity what no longer serves me, the people and situations that do not support my well-being, and the parts of my life I need to let go of to find peace and peace. stability.

When I first joined Primus, I was 24 years old. Now I am almost 60 years old and I am not only a drummer, but also a husband and father. Being a drummer for almost four decades has taken its toll on me. As I said before, my body hurts. My hands hurt. My back hurts. Ten years ago, I had open heart surgery and I’m still dealing with the aftermath.

For many years of my life, I slept, breathed and lived music, giving it everything I had and often at the expense of my physical and mental health. Playing drums is a strenuous profession, and combined with touring and performing, it can be exhausting on every level. But I love playing drums and always will. Just as I will always have a lot of love and appreciation for our fans, the music we made, the places we went and everything I learned along the way.

When we were young musicians, it was a different world than today. We didn’t focus on how this life affected us, it just wasn’t talked about, and I think we lost a lot of incredible musicians over the years because of that. I no longer feel the need to hide the fact that over the past year I have been unhappy and found myself in an emotionally dark place. I desperately missed my family while on tour and felt very alone.

My decision to leave the band was based on a deep need to prioritize my physical and mental health. I want to give my family the presence and energy they deserve and take care of myself in a way that allows me to thrive.

I see this next chapter as a positive new beginning that can hopefully inspire others to speak and live their own truths, even when it’s difficult. I wish the band to continue to be successful; And to the fans who have supported me, I want to thank you for your compassion and kind words. Your support has been a source of strength for me, and as I close this chapter, I am excited to explore a new path forward, one based on love, respect, and health.