Bad Wolves Guitarist Quits Over Dolly Parton Cover Release

AJ Rebollo Cites Label Interference for Departure

On August 31, Bad Wolves officially released their heavy metal rendition of "Jolene," a move that served as the final straw for guitarist AJ Rebollo. Rebollo, who originally joined the group as a touring guitarist in 2023, issued a lengthy statement explaining that he could no longer support the decisions being made for the band by their label, Better Noise.

"I can no longer in good faith remain a member and co-sign the decisions constantly being made FOR this band by the label, among other issues I have with the inner workings of the business. When I stepped into the picture, a part of me knew what I was getting into, but the full extent of it was unknown to me. I have been at odds with one too many decisions being made for the band for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin was the label's decision to move forward with the upcoming Dolly Parton cover, after we blatantly expressed our opposition."

— AJ Rebollo

The guitarist highlighted a disconnect between the band’s vision and the label’s actions, noting that the group had "no interest in releasing the cover" following the news of Dolly Parton's passing. The collaboration, which was originally intended to feature Parton herself, was deemed inappropriate by the band members once a guest appearance was no longer possible.

"We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly's unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility, and we felt it would (understandably) be interpreted as somewhat of a capitalization on her passing from an outside perspective. They went ahead and posted that we were releasing it anyway, despite efforts from more than one member, myself included, to oppose it."

— AJ Rebollo

The Origins of the Jolene Cover

According to Bad Wolves drummer and founder John Boecklin, the project began because the band's new singer was a fan of the Country icon. After the band recorded a heavy metal version of the 1974 hit, label CEO Dan Waite sent the demo to Parton's manager, Danny Nozell. The band was informed that Parton loved the version and intended to contribute her own vocals to the track.

However, the collaboration was cut short by the news of Parton's death. Despite the band's internal opposition to moving forward, the label proceeded with the release. Boecklin clarified that the band intends to honor her legacy through charitable contributions.

"Like everyone, we were devastated of this week’s news of Dolly’s passing. We will honor Dolly’s incredible legacy by donating proceeds from 'Jolene' to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. With 'Jolene,' being able to use our platform to help deliver critical funding to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, we know that we can contribute to Dolly's vision of giving access to books and improving literacy."

— John Boecklin

Internal Pressures and Tour Controversies

Rebollo’s departure follows what has been described as a "crazy week" for the band. The guitarist mentioned that the "amount of hate, negativity, and harassment" the band receives due to external decisions has taken a toll on their collective sanity. He contrasted his experience in Bad Wolves with his time in the metalcore group Issues, where the band enjoyed more autonomy.

The band has also faced recent turmoil regarding their touring schedule. Singer Sara "Killboy" Skinner, who joined the group in late June and debuted on the song "Paint it Red," recently revealed that the band would no longer be participating in an upcoming tour with Skillet. Skinner claimed she had been targeted by harassment from fans after her personal details were researched online.

"I’m not someone who’s ever hidden who the fuck I am, so let’s not leave you to speculate, okay?! Here’s the the truth. Skillet announced us on their tour and their fans had a field day doing very extensive research that their booking agents and management did not do. Upon their findings, I am a trans OnlyFans bitch. Now unfortunately, only one of those things is true. Have fun finding out and we will see you on the next tour."

— Sara Skinner

Following Skinner's statement, Autumn Kings were announced as the replacement for Bad Wolves on the Skillet tour. Rebollo, while stepping away, expressed that he still loves his bandmates and the music they created for their upcoming album, but he refused to continue as a "vessel" for decisions he believes are "terrible."

Musical Direction and Context

The controversy surrounding the "Jolene" cover highlights a wide genre range involved in the story, spanning from the original Country and Pop roots of the track to the Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, and Hard Rock style associated with Bad Wolves. Despite the friction with the label, Rebollo thanked John Boecklin and Better Noise for helping him sustain a living while off the road, though he ultimately chose to sacrifice his stability to maintain his artistic integrity.