LAST IN LINE — the band built around original DIO members guitarist Vivian Campbell and drummer Vinny Appice — have parted ways with founding vocalist Andrew Freeman. The news was confirmed by Appice in an interview with the Denim And Leather podcast.
"We're looking for a singer for LAST IN LINE," Appice stated. "Phil [Soussan, bassist], Vivian and myself, we're on the lookout and listening to different singers."
Freeman had been part of the band since its formation in 2012, originally conceived as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio's early work. The lineup — which also included the late bassist Jimmy Bain before his death in 2016 — played sets drawn exclusively from the first three DIO albums before eventually writing and recording original material.
The split did not appear amicable. Appice noted tension had been building for some time, citing comments Freeman made to the crowd at their M3 Festival appearance as a breaking point: "There were things he commented to the audience, and people were scratching their heads."
In a notable twist, Freeman has since been performing Dio tribute shows with a band called DIO RULES. "He didn't really wanna play that stuff with us," Appice said, "and now he's doing all Dio stuff. Crazy."
LAST IN LINE still hold a deal with earMUSIC and plan to record a follow-up to 2023's Jericho once a new singer is in place. Campbell remains busy with DEF LEPPARD commitments in the interim.