‘NOT a Mutual Decision’
as Rock Split Gets Messy 🎤🔥
Well then… this one has gone from a straightforward band departure to a full-blown rock ’n’ roll game of “hang on, that’s not what happened.”
Former Mötley Crüe vocalist John Corabi has spoken out following his latest exit from The Dead Daisies, making it crystal clear that leaving the hard-rock supergroup was not his decision.
The Dead Daisies had previously issued a statement saying it had come to their attention that Corabi had decided to leave the band.
Corabi has now firmly rejected that version of events.
In a message addressing the rumours surrounding his future, the singer wrote:
“It was NOT a mutual decision to leave the band I was recently in.”
Oof.
That is not exactly the sort of sentence you post when everybody has hugged, exchanged Christmas cards and agreed to remain mates down the pub.
🌼 The Dead Daisies Announce Corabi’s Departure
The drama began when The Dead Daisies confirmed that Corabi had left the band following his latest three-year run as frontman.
Their statement suggested that the departure had been initiated by the singer, saying:
“It has come to our attention that John Corabi has decided to leave The Dead Daisies.”
The band thanked Corabi for his contribution and wished him well for the future, presenting the announcement as another line-up change in the constantly evolving history of The Dead Daisies.
Corabi’s response, however, has placed a rather large, leather-booted question mark over that account.
By stating that the decision was not mutual, Corabi appears to be saying he neither resigned from the group nor agreed to the circumstances of his departure.
In other words, somebody’s version of events has hit a bum note, mun.
🎤 Corabi Shuts Down the Rumour Mill
Alongside addressing The Dead Daisies situation, Corabi also moved quickly to dismiss rumours linking him with other major rock bands.
He confirmed that he is not joining Quiet Riot, despite the band recently announcing that it was searching for a new vocalist for future live performances.
He also rejected speculation that he could be returning to Mötley Crüe, the band he famously fronted during the 1990s while Vince Neil was absent.
Corabi recorded Mötley Crüe’s self-titled 1994 album, a darker and heavier release that initially divided fans but has since developed a fiercely loyal following.
Despite the internet immediately attempting to place him into every available frontman position in rock, Corabi made it clear that neither Quiet Riot nor Mötley Crüe is currently on his agenda.
The singer instead appears focused on his own music and his recently released solo album, New Day.
🤔 Corabi Had Already Questioned His Position
The announcement may have surprised fans, but Corabi had already publicly admitted that he was unsure what was happening behind the scenes with The Dead Daisies.
During a recent interview, he explained that the band had originally planned to take a year away while he worked on his solo material.
Corabi had signed a deal with Frontiers Music and was preparing to release and promote his own album. According to the vocalist, The Dead Daisies’ management had initially supported the arrangement.
However, confusion reportedly began when plans involving former Dead Daisies vocalist Glenn Hughes started appearing.
Corabi said he and bassist Michael Devin had been left “scratching their heads” over the band’s future and their own involvement.
He stressed that he had no personal issue with Hughes, whom he described warmly, but admitted that the lack of communication had left him unsure whether he was technically still employed by The Dead Daisies.
Days later, the band announced that Corabi had supposedly decided to leave.
Corabi’s new statement suggests the singer sees things very differently.
🔥 Corabi’s Second Spell Comes to an Abrupt End
John Corabi originally joined The Dead Daisies in 2015, replacing founding vocalist Jon Stevens.
His powerful, gravel-soaked voice quickly became a major part of the band’s sound, appearing on three studio albums during his first spell:
- Revolución in 2015
- Make Some Noise in 2016
- Burn It Down in 2018
Corabi left the band in 2019 when The Dead Daisies changed musical direction and recruited Deep Purple and Black Country Communion legend Glenn Hughes as vocalist and bassist.
Hughes went on to appear on Holy Ground and Radiance before leaving the group in 2023.
Corabi then returned for a second run, bringing his swaggering blues-rock vocals back into the fold.
During that spell, he appeared on Light ’Em Up, released in 2024, and the blues covers collection Lookin’ For Trouble, recorded at the legendary FAME Studios and released in 2025.
The reunion had initially appeared to be a happy one, with Corabi speaking enthusiastically about the fun and chemistry returning to the band.
That makes this latest ending feel particularly sudden.
🎸 A Band Built Around Changing Line-Ups
Line-up changes are hardly unusual for The Dead Daisies.
Since forming in 2012, the group has operated with a rotating cast of major rock musicians, with guitarist and founder David Lowy remaining the central figure.
Over the years, the band’s ranks have included musicians connected with Guns N’ Roses, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, Deep Purple and The Rolling Stones.
That revolving-door approach has allowed The Dead Daisies to continually evolve, but it has also meant that few line-ups remain together for long.
Corabi, however, became one of the voices most strongly associated with the band.
For many fans, his soulful growl, cheeky stage presence and classic-rock swagger represented the definitive Dead Daisies sound.
His second departure is therefore unlikely to be treated as just another routine reshuffle.
🌼 What Happens to The Dead Daisies Now?
The Dead Daisies have not yet announced who will replace Corabi as their next permanent vocalist.
The group is reportedly planning extensive touring across Europe and the United States in 2027, meaning a decision will presumably need to be made before those dates begin.
Could Glenn Hughes return for another chapter?
Will the band recruit another recognisable name from the hard-rock world?
Or will The Dead Daisies introduce a completely new voice?
With this band, trying to predict the next line-up is like trying to predict Welsh festival weather. You might pack suncream, waterproofs, snow boots and a canoe — and still somehow get it wrong.
🎶 What Comes Next for John Corabi?
Corabi certainly will not be sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
His latest solo album, New Day, arrived in April 2026 and represents the singer’s next major musical chapter.
He has also been performing with John Corabi and Friends, a project he has described as effectively starting again from the ground up.
Despite a career that includes Mötley Crüe, The Scream, Union, Ratt and The Dead Daisies, Corabi appears determined to build momentum around his own name and music.
The singer has spent decades developing a reputation as one of hard rock’s most dependable and respected frontmen.
He has the voice, the songs, the stories and the battle scars.
Whatever the truth behind his Dead Daisies departure, there will be no shortage of fans ready to support his next move.
🤘 The Riff Report Verdict
Band break-ups and line-up changes are rarely as simple as the official statement makes them sound.
One side says Corabi decided to leave.
Corabi says it was not mutual.
Unless further details emerge, fans will inevitably be left wondering exactly what happened behind closed doors.
Communication appears to have broken down somewhere along the road, and the difference between the two accounts is far too large to ignore.
Whatever went on backstage, John Corabi’s contribution to The Dead Daisies deserves recognition. His voice helped shape some of the band’s strongest records, and his return gave the group another blast of gritty, no-nonsense rock ’n’ roll energy.
The Dead Daisies will undoubtedly continue with another heavyweight line-up.
Corabi will undoubtedly continue making music.
But judging by that capitalised “NOT”, we probably have not heard the last word on this particular rock ’n’ roll divorce.
What do you reckon, butt? Is there more to this story than either side is currently revealing? Let us know your thoughts and keep following The Riff Report for more riffs, rumours and backstage chaos. 🤘🔥🌼
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