CKY bassist Mike Leon has confirmed he is leaving the band and will not appear at upcoming shows, citing internal issues and what he described as “toxicity” from frontman Chad I Ginsburg. Ginsburg has disputed that account publicly, saying Leon was dismissed the night before his statement.
Leon shared the news in a series of Instagram slides, explaining his absence from the band’s scheduled live dates and outlining the reasons behind his decision.
“For full transparency, I will not be participating in the band’s upcoming shows.
“As unfortunate as this is, given the circumstances, I believe this was the right move to make. The differences regarding logistics and business decisions, primarily driven by the actions of the band’s leader, created internal issues that made an already stressful environment increasingly difficult to work in.”
What Mike Leon said about leaving CKY
Leon said the situation within the band had become unlike anything he had experienced during his career in the music industry.
“In all of my years of working in this industry, I have never experienced this level of toxicity from an individual.”
Chad I Ginsburg disputes the claims
Ginsburg responded via Instagram Stories shortly after Leon’s statement circulated online. He rejected Leon’s version of events and said the bassist had actually been fired.
“I don’t know what Mike Leon is talking about in his post.
“However, I do know the facts, and the facts are, Mike — and you know them too — is that we fired you last night because you hate dogs and you didn’t want to tour with the dogs and you wanted more money and you weren’t happy with anything ever.”
Ginsburg also described Leon’s claims as “crazy” and challenged him to provide proof of the allegations.
What happens next for CKY
The band has not issued a further official statement following the exchange. It is not yet clear who will handle bass duties for CKY’s upcoming live shows.
Leon’s departure follows other tensions connected to the band’s recent touring activity. British group BLACKGOLD previously withdrew from a CKY tour, saying they experienced “disrespect” and “narcissism” from Ginsburg. In 2024, Alien Ant Farm vocalist Dryden Mitchell removed CKY from a tour after alleging Ginsburg punched him during the run.
Main photo: @andre.chile
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