We Came As Romans prepare for first show without Kyle Pavone
Last week, We Came As Romans announced they would be continuing with plans to tour with Bullet For My Valentine this fall without vocalist Kyle Pavone who passed away last month from an accidental drug overdose.
The band return to the stage tomorrow, Sept. 18, at The Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri. Several of the members took to each of their social media accounts to comment on performing for the first time without Pavone.
Read more: As details on Kyle Pavone’s death emerge, here’s how he should be remembered
Drummer David Puckett reflected on leaving for the tour today.
“One day at a time,” Puckett writes. ”Leaving for tour today, and I honestly don’t know how to put my emotions into words. I don’t think any of us are ready to walk on stage without Kyle, but deep down, I know it’s right. I know it’s what we need to work through this, and I know that he will always be with us. This is for you, Kyle.”
Bassist Andy Glass echoed the sentiment, and also revealed there is a feeling of fear.
“I am absolutely terrified to step foot on that stage tomorrow and play these songs without you,” Glass says in the post. “I’m dreading pulling up to the bus and seeing your old bunk being empty. I’m scared to see all the people and places on tour where we shared memories. But I have to put that fear aside and face the storm.“
“This is something I have to do because through our music is how you will live on,” he continues. “Through our music is how you will help others. And through our music I will still be able to feel you. From now on every step I take on the road and every note I play on stage will be for you. I love you Kyle.”
Vocalist Dave Stephens also shared his thoughts on hitting the road without Pavone.
“Touring the next few weeks are going to be so hard without him,” Stephens writes. ”But I am thankful for the opportunity to carry on honoring his legacy and doing what he used to love so much by performing the songs he helped create.”
Last week, Stephens made the announcement to continue with the tour on behalf of the band. Stephens detailed that the band have been grieving over the loss Pavone, but they decided it was best to continue on with the tour.
“Through all of that, we decided that the best course of action for the band is to do the Bullet For My Valentine tour,” he says. “We feel like this honors Kyle, and we can talk about his foundation, the Kyle Pavone Foundation, and carry on doing what he would have wanted us to do and us be together on stage, playing music together, with our fans.”
“We will not be replacing Kyle,” he continues. “We’ll be continuing on the five of us, and honoring his life for the next few weeks while we’re on tour.”
Pavone passed away Aug. 25 at the age of 28 from what was later revealed to be an accidental overdose. That day, the band released a statement in which they shared that in lieu of flowers, information regarding charity donations would be released within the coming days, which was later revealed as the foundation.
According to the foundation’s website, it was created “out of love for Kyle by his caring family as a means for friends, colleagues and fans to remember Kyle.”
The website also included a mission statement, which reads as follows:
“The Kyle Pavone Foundation is a promise to serve and advocate for the musician community in their time of greatest need, providing hope and a means to carry on.”
For those who would like to donate to the Kyle Pavone Foundation, you can do so by donating a specified amount on the site, texting “Support KYLE” to 20222, or you can send checks or money orders to the following:
The Kyle Pavone Foundation/BCCF
32 West Michigan Ave. Suite 1
Battle Creek Michigan 49017
We Came As Romans’ tour supporting Bullet For My Valentine kicks off tomorrow. A full list of dates can be viewed below, and tickets can be purchased here.
09/18 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
09/20 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
09/21 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
09/22 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
09/24 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
09/25 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
09/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
09/30 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
10/02 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
10/03 – Syracuse, NY @ SI Hall
10/04 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
10/07 – Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Detroit
10/09 – Wichita, KS @ Cotillion Ballroom
10/10 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
10/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
10/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
