The New Jersey hardcore punk band Gel has officially disbanded following the revelation of a series of deeply troubling “heinous acts” committed by their former guitarist, which the remaining members claim have inflicted “irreparable damage” on the band. This shocking announcement came after the band had been experiencing a significant rise in their popularity, with tours scheduled alongside Spiritbox and Volbeat this year. Their previous works, including the Persona EP released last year and their 2023 debut full-length album, Only Constant, had garnered considerable attention. However, after their final performance in Tokyo earlier this week, Gel took to social media to confirm their split.

In their heartfelt breakup announcement shared on Instagram, the band directly addressed the actions of their former guitarist, Anthony Webster, which they believe led to their disbandment.

CONTENT WARNING: Details below may be triggering.

Among the serious allegations against Webster are claims that he misused band funds for personal expenses, including rent and food, as well as numerous purchases on OnlyFans and questionable CashApp transactions. Notably, he was the only member with access to the band’s bank account, and other members reportedly faced refusals when seeking access. The band insists they possess evidence to substantiate these claims of financial misconduct.

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In addition to the financial allegations, Webster is accused of posting nude images of band members on Reddit without consent and subjecting the group to numerous dangerous situations over the years.

The comprehensive statement from Gel is as follows:

Hello everyone, friends and fans – Gel is disbanding and will not be performing any of our upcoming scheduled shows. The reason for this decision is straightforward: our former guitarist, Anthony Webster, has engaged in such severe misconduct in his pursuit of personal advancement in his music career that he has caused irreparable harm to the band and has affected us as individuals in ways we cannot fully articulate, ultimately leading to our inability to continue. Here are some instances of his actions:

He has stolen tens of thousands of dollars from us, and astonishingly, he left a trail of evidence for us to discover. He spent this money on his own living expenses, personal meals, and various other indulgences, including an alarming number of OnlyFans purchases and mysterious CashApp transfers, all while being the sole person with access to our financial accounts, despite multiple attempts by the rest of the band to gain access, as we believe any band should share that responsibility. Furthermore, he engaged in reckless financial behavior, which has deeply affected the integrity of our operations.

He posted nude images of band members on Reddit for public viewing, without any regard for our privacy or consent. Let that sink in for a moment. This occurred while he was still actively part of our band. Fortunately, he is not skilled at hiding his actions, so we have the documentation to substantiate this claim as well.

He has placed us in physically hazardous situations on multiple occasions. From making irresponsible comments on our band Twitter, which led to our van being vandalized with a baseball bat, to driving recklessly, endangering our safety because of his emotional volatility, while also refusing to let anyone else drive, we were left to endure his dangerous behavior. His actions were consistently inconsiderate and showed a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of those around him, except for those he was trying to impress by pretending to be a nice guy.

Many might wonder why we didn’t just end the situation sooner or walk away. If you’ve ever experienced an abusive relationship, either emotionally or physically, you may relate to our struggle. It’s complicated, especially when your passion and life’s work are at stake, alongside the expectations from various organizations and individuals relying on you. We wish things could have turned out differently and that this chapter didn’t have to close in such a painful manner. We’ve fought hard until the end, and we take pride in that.

We extend our sincerest apologies to everyone personally impacted by this decision. We recognize there were many fans and friends counting on us, including Spiritbox, Volbeat, and our close friends in Anxious. We are truly sorry for this abrupt end, and we genuinely wish the best for all of you. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the friends we’ve made throughout our journey and to our loyal fans for their unwavering support and love. Please take care of one another and cherish your friendships.

With love,

GEL

Reflecting on Gel’s Impactful Journey

Gel, which formed in New Jersey in 2018 as a side project of Sick Shit, made a significant mark in the hardcore punk scene. Throughout their career, they released one full-length album, Only Constant, along with three EPs, including their self-titled debut, Violent Closure, and Persona, as well as a demo and a split mini-album titled Shock Therapy in collaboration with Cold Brats.

The band featured a talented lineup consisting of vocalist Sami Kaiser, bassist Matthew Bobko, guitarist Madison Nave, and drummer Alex Salter. Anthony Webster had been a crucial part of the band since its inception, but the group ultimately parted ways with him in 2024. Additionally, drummer Zach Miller contributed to the band from 2018 until 2023.

As previously mentioned, the band was finally gaining traction with their five-track EP Persona, which was released in August 2024 under their new label, Blue Grape Music. However, the band members have not yet disclosed their future plans following their decision to disband.