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Tim Lambesis

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Tim Lambesis
Lambesis in 2011
Lambesis in 2011
Background information
Birth nameTimothy Peter Lambesis
Born (1980-11-21) November 21, 1980 (age 43)
OriginSan Diego, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • record producer
  • songwriter
Years active
  • 2000–2014
  • 2017–present
Member of
Formerly of
Spouses
Meggan Murphy
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2012)​
Amanda Dubord
​
​
(m. 2017; div. 2020)​
Dany Ciara
​
(m. 2022)​
Criminal information
Criminal statusReleased on parole
Conviction(s)Soliciting murder
Criminal penalty6 years in prison (paroled after 2 years)
Date apprehended
May 7, 2013

Timothy Peter Lambesis (born November 21, 1980) is an American musician and producer, best known as the founding member, lead vocalist, and the sole continuous member of the metalcore band As I Lay Dying.[1] He also has a solo/side thrash metal project in tribute to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian Death Machine, in which he performed all the instruments. He also formed a death metal band called Pyrithion and was the former guitar player for Society's Finest and Point of Recognition. Lambesis was a judge for the 8th and 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[2]

Lambesis was arrested in 2013 after attempting to hire an undercover police officer to murder his wife. He pled guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to serve six years in prison. Lambesis was released on parole in December 2016. Since his release, he has reunited the band As I Lay Dying with his former members and released an album, Shaped by Fire, in 2019.

Early life

[edit]

Timothy Peter Lambesis was born on November 21, 1980 to Nick and Vicki Lambesis. Nick and Vicki founded an advertising firm in La Jolla, CA known as The Lambesis Agency, which handled international clients such as Coca-Cola, Airwalk, SKYY Vodka, Gold Peak Tea, Tacori, Bebe Stores and Campari among others. The agency's work for Airwalk was profiled by Malcolm Gladwell in his book The Tipping Point published in 2000.[3] The company closed in 2019,[4] with Nick co-founding a new agency called Sublym Digital in 2023.[5]

Lambesis grew up in Southern California and was voted "Most Like Jesus" by classmates when he attended Santa Fe Christian School in Solana Beach, California as a teen.[6] He attended Liberty University for a time and majored in religious studies.[7][8][9]

Career

[edit]
Lambesis (center) with As I Lay Dying at With Full Force 2007

Lambesis started his musical career while he was still in high school, playing bass in the first few bands he was in.[10] He and Matt Carlson (drums) formed the band Against the Mark, where Lambesis would become the band's vocalist. The two would get a full band together, including bassist Jon Jameson.[10] The band changed their name to Life Once Lost, but only for a short time, until they entered an indefinite hiatus. Lambesis left in 2000 to join Society's Finest, but only for a brief time, as they did not have plans to tour.[10] Lambesis returned to California to restart Life Once Lost, but with a whole new lineup. The band discovered A Life Once Lost, which caused the band to change their name to As I Lay Dying. Lambesis hired Jordan Mancino, former drummer of Edge of Mortality, and Evan White. In 2001, Lambesis and Mancino joined Point of Recognition and recorded on the album Day of Defeat in 2002. The two quit soon after to further pursue As I Lay Dying.[11]

Over the years, the band went through many lineup changes. Lambesis and Mancino were the only remaining original members and constant members until 2003, when 19-year-old guitarist Phil Sgrosso joined the band.[10][12] The next year, in 2004, the band hired Nick Hipa as the band's lead guitarist. Hipa was playing previously with Evelynn, a band that was signed to Pluto Records, As I Lay Dying's former label.[10] Bassist Clint Norris was, most likely, the band's most consistent bassist until his departure in 2007 and the introduction of Josh Gilbert. The five of them recorded and released An Ocean Between Us, including "Nothing Left", which was Grammy-nominated for "Best Metal Performance".[13] In 2008, Lambesis and Destroy the Runner vocalist Chad Ackerman formed Austrian Death Machine, a parody metal band based around Arnold Schwarzenegger. The two recorded two releases, Total Brutal and A Very Brutal Christmas the same year. The next year saw the release of Double Brutal.

The band wrote and recorded The Powerless Rise, which was released in 2010 to much critical acclaim.[14] In 2011, Austrian Death Machine released Jingle All the Way. Lambesis would release three albums over the next three years; Awakened with As I Lay Dying (2012), The Burden of Sorrow by Pyrithion, a side project with members of Allegaeon and The Famine (2013), and Triple Brutal with Austrian Death Machine (2014). In 2014, all of Lambesis' projects went on hiatus, due to his criminal acts.

In 2017, Lambesis resurrected As I Lay Dying, initially rumoured with all new members.[15][16] After consolidation with the old members, the band reunited in form of the old lineup. On June 7, 2018, the band released a new single, "My Own Grave".[17][18] On April 12, 2019, As I Lay Dying released another single, "Redefined", and on September 20, 2019, the band released their seventh studio album, Shaped by Fire, although three of the four reunited members would depart gradually afterwards. In 2021 he announced that he and guitarist Joey Alarcon of Wolves at the Gates are working on a new side project, Born Through Fire.[19] The debut album "Purify and Refine" was released in 2023.[20]

In October 2024, all members of As I Lay Dying, new and longterm, quit the band along with the touring manager, alluding to moral and safety reasons and leaving Lambesis the only member of the band, along with cancelling the scheduled European tour for their new album Through Storms Ahead. Lambesis addressed the sudden deterioration in a statement posted on social media, admitting to creating an unhealthy environment within the band and supporting his bandmates' decisions to leave; despite the mass exodus, Lambesis stated he will continue As I Lay Dying and that the upcoming album will still be released on November 15, 2024.[21]

Personal life

[edit]

Lambesis is a bodybuilder[7][22][23] and started his own YouTube fitness channel.[24] He is also heavily tattooed. His tattoos include a "rocking Jesus," and cyborg Arnold Schwarzenegger,[25] a Koi fish swimming upstream, which represents a quest for meaning and fulfillment, Hebrew writing, a cross, Jesus Christ in clouds, and his largest (completely covering his back), a samurai fighting a tiger, which represents the battle between reason and instinct.[26]

Lambesis married Meggan Murphy in June 2004.[8] They have two daughters and a son, all adopted from Ethiopia.[27][28]

Lambesis has previously stated on multiple occasions that he is a Christian.[22][29] During an August 2010 radio interview on The Full Armor of God Broadcast, Lambesis said "I can only really write about what I'm passionate about in life, so naturally my faith, my belief in the teachings of Jesus and his resurrection come across in our lyrics."[30] He was described as a "follower of Jesus" once more.[31]

Starting in 2012, Lambesis has made several statements indicating a change in his religious beliefs: in a post on his personal Tumblr page explaining some of the lyrics from the As I Lay Dying album Awakened (released September 2012), Lambesis stated that his studies of theology had led him to the conclusion that "tradition and truth are often at odds with each other". While he noted that he "didn't hate all religious belief" and was "still inspired by the words of [Jesus]", he was finding it "very difficult for to outline exactly who it is that's worth siding with", and was increasingly regarding "the god of tradition and ritual that I grew up with as less and less of a probable truth". He also quoted the book Pagan Christianity by George Barna and Frank Viola, noting that both "Protestant and Catholic denominations have poisonous roots".[32]

In August 2012, Lambesis sent an email to his wife, Meggan Murphy-Lambesis, while on tour with As I Lay Dying in which he stated he no longer loved her, had engaged in an extramarital affair, and "no longer believed in God".[33][34] They separated the same month.[35] She filed papers in San Diego Superior Court one month later in September 2012 seeking a dissolution of their marriage, according to an online court database.[36] In divorce papers, Meggan stated that Lambesis was obsessed with bodybuilding, spending "endless hours at the gym", and was wasting "thousands of dollars on tattoos". She also alleged that he had become "dangerously distracted" while watching their children, including falling asleep while they played in their pool, and had taken two last-minute trips to Florida to see an extramarital girlfriend.[37][38] When not on tour, Lambesis lived in Del Mar, California.[39][40] Murphy and their children live in Encinitas.[8][41]

Solicitation of murder

[edit]

On May 7, 2013, Lambesis was arrested in Oceanside, California, for attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife Meggan Murphy,[42][43][44] and, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, was charged with soliciting "an undercover detective to kill his wife."[8][45] Lambesis approached someone at a gym and asked if he knew anyone who would kill his wife.[46] Lambesis met with the undercover agent posing as a hitman, code name "Red", according to Deputy District Attorney Claudia Grasso.[46] "Red" asked Lambesis if he wanted his wife of eight years gone, and Lambesis replied, "Yes, that's what I want."[46] He then gave [the] undercover agent an envelope containing US$1,000 for expenses, pictures of his wife, her address, the code to get through a gate, and the date on which to kill her.[46][47] Lambesis had directed the detective he believed to be a hitman to kill his wife while he was with his children so he would have an alibi.[48] He agreed to pay $20,000 for the hit.[47]

On May 9, 2013, Lambesis pled not guilty to a felony charge of solicitation of murder and was ordered held on $3 million bail despite prosecutors deeming Lambesis a "flight risk" and "danger to the public".[46][48] Lambesis' bandmates, representatives from management and Metal Blade Records, and band attorney Ian Friedman were in attendance at his arraignment.[48] According to the District Attorney of the case, an audio recording of the transaction between Lambesis and the undercover detective exists and was reportedly used at the trial.[48] A readiness conference was set for June 10, 2013, and a preliminary court date was scheduled for July 10, 2013.[46][48] During the month of his initial arrest, Lambesis pled "not guilty" and his lawyer stated: "His thought processes were devastatingly affected by his steroid use."[49] A new bail hearing was held for Lambesis on May 17, 2013, at which defense attorney Tom Warwick had bail reduced from $3 million to $2 million. Lambesis was released on bail on May 30.[50][51][52] Lambesis was ordered to wear a GPS monitor, was subject to strict travel restrictions, and was unable to see or communicate with his wife and three children.[53] As a result, As I Lay Dying's mid-2013 tour with Killswitch Engage was cancelled.[54]

On February 25, 2014, Lambesis changed his plea from "not guilty" to "guilty"[49][55][56] and was sentenced to six years in prison on May 16, 2014, and credited with 48 days for time served.[57]

While on house arrest, Lambesis made a lengthy post on his personal blog in which he stated that (due to the ongoing criminal case) he was unable to "explain more about my case or to explicitly state what my current worldview is", but noted that "after my incarceration, I found myself re-evaluating topics that I had previously sworn I would never waste my time looking at again." Lambesis stated that "I grew up in a Christian home and held that belief myself for many years. In the process of sincerely trying to defend that belief in a scholarly way and shortly after finishing my degree, I felt that it was unreasonable to call myself a Christian in light of the evidence. Many As I Lay Dying fans picked up on the not-so-subtle hints at my worldview change in a couple songs on Awakened. It was never really hidden."[58] In June 2014, Lambesis came out as an atheist, claiming that he, along with other members of the band, just kept pretending to be Christian just to sell records,[59] a claim called slanderous and defamatory by then guitarist Nick Hipa.[60] He even recalls feeling awkward when asked for their testimonies and when fans ask to pray with them.[59] According to Lambesis, his renunciation of Christianity made it easier to have an affair.[61] However, since his arrest, the band has released a statement that Lambesis "has spent much of the last year re-evaluating what originally convinced him to abandon belief in God. After much brokenness and repentance he sees things differently, considers himself a follower of Jesus, someone submitted to the will of God, or whatever you want to call it," adding, "That's for him to talk about when he's comfortable and only time will tell if he is sincere."[62]

In 2016, after two years in prison, Lambesis filed a lawsuit against two Southern California detention centers[which?] for gross negligence in denying his request for anastrozole, a drug he'd been prescribed to fight the side effects of withdrawal from steroids. The lawsuit alleges that as a result of the failure to provide him with the drug, Lambesis developed breasts and underwent severe emotional distress. His request for punitive damages of $35 million was dismissed in September 2016, but his claims of medical negligence have yet to be tried.[63]

Life after prison

[edit]

He was released on parole on December 17, 2016.[64][65][66] He married Amanda Dubord in April 2017.[67] They divorced in 2020, after which Lambesis married Dany Ciara in 2022.

In December 2020, Lambesis claimed that he had accidentally spilled gasoline on himself while trying to add it to a bonfire. He suffered burns over 25 percent of his body and was hospitalized.[68]

Discography

[edit]
Lambesis in 2005

with As I Lay Dying

as/with Austrian Death Machine

as/with Pyrithion

  • The Burden of Sorrow (EP, 2013)

with Born Though Fire

  • Purify and Refine (2023)

Guest appearances

[edit]

Credits as record producer

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Comfort Betrays' Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Independentmusicawards.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Tipping Point: Chapter Six - Summary & Analysis". litcharts.com.
  4. ^ Griffin, Rick (December 19, 2019). "Lambesis Agency Closes, But 2 Former Execs Launch Gestalt Brand Lab". timesofsandiego.com.
  5. ^ "Sublym Digital - About Us".
  6. ^ Garske, Monica (May 18, 2013). "Bail Lowered to $2M for Accused Metal Singer | NBC 7 San Diego". Nbcsandiego.com. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "As I Lay Dying Frontman Tim Lambesis Arrested over Plot to Kill Wife". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "Band singer arrested for trying to hire out a murder, Sheriff said". San Diego Reader. September 20, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. ^ "Metal rocker charged with soliciting wife's murder". Fox News. April 8, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e "As I Lay Dying - This Is Who We Are". Metal Blade Records. April 14, 2009.
  11. ^ Irizarry, Aaron (November 7, 2015). "Episode 38 - Aaron Irizarry". Interviewed by Billy Power. Urban Achiever Podcast. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  12. ^ Chuck & Godless (October 17, 2016). "Jordan Mancino of Wovenwar on the MetalSucks Podcast #167". MetalSucks. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "As I Lay Dying Nominated for 2008 'Best Metal Performance' Grammy". PunkTV.ca. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  14. ^ Harro, Tim (May 18, 2010). "As I Lay Dying, "The Powerless Rise"". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "Report: Tim Lambesis Working On New AS I LAY DYING Record With New Band Members - Metal Injection". September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  16. ^ Stagg, David (September 4, 2017). "Tim Lambesis planning to resurrect As I Lay Dying". HM Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  17. ^ Kennetly, Greg (June 7, 2018). "New AS I LAY DYING Song "My Own Grave" Surfaces, Will Be Officially Released Tomorrow". Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  18. ^ "It's Official: Classic AS I LAY DYING Lineup Is Back; 'My Own Grave' Video Released". June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  19. ^ Loudwire Staff (November 12, 2021). "Tim Lambesis Debuts His New Band Called Born Through Fire". Loudwire. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  20. ^ "BORN THROUGH FIRE (Tim Lambesis and Joey Alacorn) share music video on eve of debut album release". lambgoat.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  21. ^ https://blabbermouth.net/news/tim-lambesis-admits-unhealthy-environment-within-as-i-lay-dying-led-to-split-with-his-bandmates
  22. ^ a b "Rock singer's arrest shocks fans | UTSanDiego.com Mobile". M.utsandiego.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
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  24. ^ "Tim Lambesis - The Beginning". YouTube. February 6, 2013. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  25. ^ "Five questions with singer Tim Lambesis of metal band As I Lay Dying". Las Vegas Weekly. May 19, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  26. ^ "AS I LAY DYING - Behind The Ink with Tim Lambesis ( Tattoo talk)". YouTube. November 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  27. ^ "As I Lay Dying Interview". Blabbermouth.net. November 11, 2009.
  28. ^ Julie Watson. "Documents: Singer's wife was concerned about behavior changes before murder-for-hire arrest". wdbj7.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  29. ^ "Interview With Tim Lambesis From As I Lay Dying - in Interviews". Metal Underground.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  30. ^ "As I Lay Dying radio interview". The Full Armor of God Broadcast. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  31. ^ "As I Lay Dying Officially on Hiatus, Band Members Confirm New Projects | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More". Theprp.com. April 9, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  32. ^ Clarification on "A Greater Foundation" Archived May 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Tim Lambesis. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  33. ^ Affairs Alleged in Christian Metal Singer's Murder-for-Hire Case. NBC-7 San Diego. Accessed Feb 27, 14. "In an email sent in August, Lambesis told his wife he had been having an affair and no longer loved her the prosecutor said in court. 'He also told her he no longer believes in God," Grasso said.'"
  34. ^ "As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis denies plotting his wife's murder". The Independent. London. May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  35. ^ "Meggan Murphy Lambesis". Daily News. September 20, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
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  37. ^ ‘As I Lay Dying’ singer Tim Lambesis charged with solicitation of murder after trying to hire hitman to kill his estranged wife. New York Daily News. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  38. ^ As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Pleads Guilty In Plot to Kill Wife. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  39. ^ "Heavy metal singer Tim Lambesis arrested in murder-for-hire plot". Reuters. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  40. ^ "Singer in Christian band 'As I Lay Dying' hired hitman to kill wife: cops". New York: NY Daily News. November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  41. ^ "As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Plot - Yahoo!". Gma.yahoo.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
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  44. ^ Martens, Todd (May 8, 2013). "As I Lay Dying singer Tim Lambesis arrested in murder-for-hire plot". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  45. ^ "Metal singer Tim Lambesis arrested over murder plot". BBC News. May 8, 2013.
  46. ^ a b c d e f "Local musician accused in 'murder for hire' case pleads not guilty". May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  47. ^ a b "As I Lay Dying lead singer Tim Lambesis admits he tried to hire man to kill wife". Daily News. New York. February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  48. ^ a b c d e "Audio of Tim Lambesis allegedly soliciting undercover detective to kill wife exists". Alternative Press. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  49. ^ a b Ben Beaumont-Thomas (February 26, 2014). "As I Lay Dying singer pleads guilty to trying to hire hitman to kill wife". The Guardian. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  50. ^ "AS I LAY DYING Frontman Tim Lambesis Released From Custody - Metal Injection | Tim Lambesis Trial". Metal Injection. May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  51. ^ Blake, Emily. "As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Makes $2 Million Bail, Heads Home - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  52. ^ "Rocker released after posting $2M bond". UTSanDiego.com. May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  53. ^ "As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Posts $2M Bail". Associated Press. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  54. ^ Graham Hartmann (May 16, 2013). "As I Lay Dying Drop Off Killswitch Engage Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  55. ^ "Tim Lambesis Pleads Guilty, Sentenced To Nine Years in Prison | News". Metal Hammer. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  56. ^ "Christian Metal Singer Pleads Guilty in Murder for Hire". NBC News. November 22, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  57. ^ Kory Grow (May 7, 2013). "Tim Lambesis Sentenced to Six Years in Jail for Murder-for-Hire Plot | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  58. ^ "Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying) posts blog update; details time in house arrest awaiting murder trial". altpress.com. July 7, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  59. ^ a b "As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Said He Became Atheist But Kept Claiming to be Christian to Keep Selling Music to Faithful". The Christian Post. June 18, 2014.
  60. ^ Pasbani, Robert (May 19, 2014). "Former AS I LAY DYING Guitarist Nick Hipa Responds To Tim Lambesis' Slanderous Accusations". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  61. ^ "Convicted Heavy Metal 'Christian' Singer Admits Being Atheist, Duped Fans to Sell Music". Christian News. June 18, 2014.
  62. ^ "As I Lay Dying Officially on Hiatus, Band Members Confirm New Projects". April 9, 2014.
  63. ^ Pasbani, Robert (September 22, 2016). "AS I LAY DYING's Tim Lambesis Files $35 Million Lawsuit Over Steroid Man-Boobs". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  64. ^ "Tim Lambesis Reportedly Released From Prison". Loudwire.com. February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  65. ^ Legaspi, Althea (February 9, 2017). "As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis Released From Prison". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  66. ^ "As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis released from prison". Alternative Press. February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  67. ^ Hartmann, Graham (February 10, 2017). "As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis to Reportedly Marry in April". Loudwire. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  68. ^ Aswad, Jem (December 17, 2020). "As I Lay Dying Singer Tim Lambesis Hospitalized After Setting Himself on Fire". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
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