State Champs guitarist Tony Diaz parts ways with the band

State Champs have taken to social media to reveal longtime guitarist Tony Diaz has decided to “step away” from the band.

Diaz joined State Champs a few years after they started and appeared on all three of their full-lengths: 2013’s The Finer Things, 2015’s Around The World And Back and most recent Living Proof, which was released in the summer of 2018.

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You can read the band’s statement below.

We all know that some good things must come to an end. After some soul searching and much deliberation, Tony Diaz, has decided to step away from State Champs. Everyone always says it, but we mean it when we say there’s no bad blood between us. Tony is a special person and will continue to do great things. We wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors. Tony’s position will not be filled and we will continue as a four-piece. Thank you for your understanding and your support. We love you and will see you all soon. And if you need them? They’ll be in Azeroth. – Derek, Tyler, Evan and Ryan

Diaz also shared the statement with “Farewell, my champions! All the love to the band and crew.” The guitarist shared an additional message for the band, which you can read in full below.

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To Ryan, Tyler, Derek and Evan: Thank you for everything you’ve done for me in these 8 years together. Your patience, love, support and senses of humor will not be forgotten or ever go unappreciated here. I know so many great things are coming your way, and I am so proud of you all.

To the SC fans: How I’ll miss you. You hace all been a constant source of happiness and positivity that I never could have imagined I would ever have. Thank you all for putting a smile on my face every night on the road. You’re all so amazing. Dark Lady watch over you all.

When questioned on their decision not to introduce a new guitarist given the structure of their songs, guitarist Tyler Szalkowski clarified the future of the band’s live shows.

“We’ll have someone up there playing with us but no one is joining the band,” he tweeted.

Another fan asked if the lineup change will affect the sound on their next album (which they teased studio footage of earlier this year), specifically inquiring if it will lead to “more of a pop vibe.”

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“No sound will be changed or anything. We might have a couple poppier songs for you, as we always do. But truthfully, LP4 is shaping up to be way more fun and youthful than we ever expected.”

“We realized we try really hard and sometimes take ourselves too seriously,” he continued in a second tweet. “Now we’re just trying to have fun!”

No other members of the band have individually addressed Diaz’s departure at the time of publishing.

Currently, State Champs are slated to join blink-182 and the Used in playing the Four Chord Music Festival in Pittsburgh on July 11. More information is available here.

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