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AARON STAINTHORPE Talks ‘Heartbreaking’ Dismissal From MY DYING BRIDE And Formation Of TOWARDS THE SINISTER
Aaron Stainthorpe, sacked in 2025 as My Dying Bride's frontman after 35 years, has launched a new band, Towards The Sinister, with three of his former bandmates. The group reunites him with guitarist Calvin Robertshaw, bassist Ade Jackson and drummer Rick Miah, and aims to recapture the sound of My Dying Bride's first four doom metal albums, which they helped write. The move follows what Stainthorpe describes as a painful and unexpected dismissal driven by long-standing tension with co-founder Andrew Craighan, who has since brought in Swallow The Sun's Mikko Kotamäki as the new singer.
Towards The Sinister is rounded out by second guitarist Chris Revett, keyboardist Mark Deeks and violinist Emma Allington. Stainthorpe told Blabbermouth the project grew organically from a pub reunion with his old bandmates in October last year, sparked by supportive messages he received after his firing was announced, with online speculation about a reunion eventually pushing the group to formalise plans. The band intends to play small warm-up shows in England before moving on to European festival dates next summer, with new material also in the works.
In short
- Aaron Stainthorpe forms Towards The Sinister after My Dying Bride firing.
- Band reunites him with three former My Dying Bride members.
- Small UK gigs planned, European festivals and new music to follow.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
After 35 years together, a band may legitimately need to pursue a fresh creative direction, particularly when long-standing interpersonal tensions undermine collaboration. The remaining members of My Dying Bride had the right to evolve their sound and bring in a frontman they felt could realise their artistic vision, and such changes, though painful, are sometimes necessary for a band's continued vitality.
The case against
Aaron Stainthorpe's role as founder and voice of My Dying Bride for 35 years, combined with his co-authorship of the band's most celebrated work, gave him a reasonable claim to stability and respectful treatment. The apparent suddenness of his dismissal and the suggestion that personal tension rather than artistic necessity drove the decision raise legitimate questions about whether long-serving members deserve greater dignity when difficult changes are made.
Explained simply
Aaron Stainthorpe is the lead singer of My Dying Bride, an influential British doom metal band that has shaped the genre since the 1990s. He has fronted the group for 35 years, making him a defining figure in the band's sound and identity.
In 2025, tensions with co-founder Andrew Craighan led to Stainthorpe's departure from the band. Craighan subsequently hired a new vocalist from Finnish band Swallow The Sun as Stainthorpe's replacement.
Stainthorpe has since formed Towards The Sinister with three former My Dying Bride bandmates who contributed to the band's early albums. The new group intends to perform small warm-up shows in England before moving to European festivals, with new material also in development.
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