VICES I ADMIRE

Tavis Says Goodbye to Vices

Dear friends, family, foes, and all in between:

I have made the tough decision to leave Vices I Admire and put my musical aspirations aside. This does not mean I won’t write, record, and perform music; it just means that you’ll be more likely to find me at an underground open-mic unannounced than on a theater stage again. When I set out to pursue music, it was because I had failed to fit in at college and decided to focus on the one thing I knew I was good at. I left for California with my guitar, and stopped in Colorado to drop off the rest of my stuff with my parents. During that brief stay I was recruited by Speakeasy Tiger and never left for Cali. Since then, I’ve spent the past 5 years working with bands and working my way up, the highlight of my career being the stint I was able to do on the Warped Tour. And although there is always intense gratification from getting to play my heart out to so many people, I have lost so many more thousands of dollars pursuing this than I can sustain. In other words, this starving artist just can stand to starve anymore. Also, the endless hours of rehearsal, performance, and practice have replaced any social/dating life I used to have, and it’s time I rebuilt these relationships and maybe trick a girl into dating me again.

As for Vices I Admire, I have nothing but respect for these fine gentlemen and the immense amount of talent pouring out of their ears. The songs we wrote together are massive, and hopefully they’ll still be able to get those out to you because they are dope on a rope. There is no malice between any of us; I want that to be known. They are great guys. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to work a full-time job and would have endless hours to work with them. Unfortunately, the amount of time I need for my day-job to barely afford rent leaves my schedule with just a few hours a few times a week to be with them. This is a disservice to them and to myself as well, as it leaves them ill-equipped to rock your faces off more often, and leaves me ill-equipped to have a social life. 

Thank you to every band, fan, promoter, DJ, booking agent, manager, etc, etc, etc, that ever gave me and my bands a chance. You helped a silly kid live out some rock n’ roll dreams. I love music too much to stop playing, but I hope you all understand why I can no longer pursue it in the same fashion I have in the past. Again, thanks.

All  the best,

Tavis Alley