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Announcement from The Tragic Thrills (WARNING: It’s Not Good News)

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As some of you might have noticed today, there’s been another change to the lineup of California-based band The Tragic Thrills. Bassist Cameron Quiseng announced via a document posted on Twitter that he will not be joining the band on their upcoming tour and that he will no longer be a part of the band. According to his post, this is not due to any discord between members, but rather Quiseng is not heart-and-soul in the band anymore and is looking to pursue other paths.
Quiseng is the third member to have announced this since the band’s original formation (the other previous members are Michael Martinez and Brent Schneiders). As Quiseng mentions in his post, he, along with current TTT lead singer Zach Porter, Martinez and Schneiders used to be the band Allstar Weekend. Allstar was ended in 2013 and The Tragic Thrills was created to adapt to the changing musical styles of the members.
If you’ve been a fan of them, as I have, over the years it’s been a very wild and sometimes emotional ride with them. Quiseng (and I as well) hope that fans will still support The Tragic Thrills and Porter along with other members Ans Gibson and Chris Morrison despite his absence. The Tragic Thrills’ tour starts on February 3 in Jacksonville, Florida and stops in various cities across the US through early March. For more information you can visit the band website thetragicthrills.com

You can read Quiseng’s full statement below.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, fans and friends! Unfortunately this lengthy post will most likely send some uncomfortable emotions to a wide range of its viewers, however, I hope from the bottom of my heart, that you will be able to read this and find some sort of understanding from it’s author, editor, and publisher….aka…..me…..aka…..Cameron Quiseng.

There’s no cute way of relaying this message, so I’ll just dive straight into the real nitty gritty. I did not hit the road with the rest of the other dudes today and I will not be performing on this upcoming tour. ”Whoa”…I know, crazy right?

​​So hear me out…
​This past year has been confusing, to say the least. Allstar is long gone and I’ve had quite a bit of time on my hands to sit down and do some very philosophical things like going to the gym, riding my horses, surfing, and catching up on all the anime I missed in the last seven years (I highly recommend Bleached). Anyway, we haven’t been on the road as much and my ADHD times three has given me quite the internal brain battle with the everlasting pondering of “what’s next?”. To many that might seem crazy! What about the band? What about following your dreams? What about this and that, and that and this? Trust me, I know! I’ve been thinking the exact same thing since the summer after Warped Tour in 2013. Guys, it’s now 2015. I’m all about following my dreams, I’ve been preaching it for years, and to this day I still believe in it with every inch of my being. Hence the reason why this mildly catastrophic situation is going down! I hate to admit it, but being in a touring band right now isn’t exactly what I want to do. I’m so so so sorry. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to quit music forever. It just means that I need to take a break for now. I wish I was still as passionate about it as I once was, but it’s just not the same for me. It might not be the same for you either. I mean, that’s what happens. We all change with time, and right now I feel it’s about time I’ve changed.

The band isn’t over. Zach is still going to be as Michael would say “going hard in the paint”. Seriously…. That’s a dude that is truly passionate about music down to the marrow of his bones. He dedicates countless hours every single day (except Saturdays or Sundays…I might be wrong) to his craft and never ever lets up. See, that’s because to Zach music truly is “the dream”. He’s a great songwriter, guitar player, and singer. Got to applaud the dude. Over years he has developed an unquenchable thirst for bettering himself in every aspect that pertains to his cause. It’s pretty amazing. But then again, I think he’s always been passionate like that. Or at least that’s what I’ve seen over the thirteen years that I’ve known him. Great guy. Please go and support Zach, Chris, Ans, and the rest of The Tragic Thrills because they truly deserve it. Each and every one of those dudes.

​As for me, I’ve got some other opportunities that I would like to give a shot. Who knows, maybe I’ll be a writer, or an actor. Maybe a world traveler. Maybe I’ll join the circus and sell churros off of a donkey on some exotic island and have thirteen babies. Whoops. Sorry, I’m getting off track. Anyway, for now I’m back in San Diego spending a lot of time working with some like-minded people. Some super intelligent philosophers who educate themselves studying classic novels written by the likes of artists such as Dr. Seuss with titles such as “Captain Underpants”. Yes, Most of them are primarily between the ages of five and eleven. As I said, they’re “like-minded” people. In other words I’m teaching in one way or another.

​Anyway, I feel great! I hope you can feel great for me too. I hope we can cross paths one day again, and I hope that if you ever see me you won’t be afraid to come up to me and say hello. Maybe we can grab a coffee and talk about life, or something groovy like that.

​I feel as if I have so much more to say but this needs to be sent out now because the guys are literally leaving today and it’s only fair. BE NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This isn’t the end. I know I said I was going to start a blog of some sorts before but I failed miserably. I promise I will find some sort of outlet “soon”. For now, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns you can email me via quisengc1990@gmail.com . I’ll do my best to respond! Until we meet again my friends!!!!

Love,

Cameron