New Interview with Matt on Noisecreep.com

Trivium Frontman Explains Firing of Drummer Travis Smith

A couple days after the release of Trivium's 'Shattering the Skies Above,' the band's first release that doesn't feature original drummer Travis Smith, frontman Matt Heafy opened up about why Trivium let Smith go and how the band is flourishing with Smith's replacement, former drum tech Nick Augusto (Maruta).

"We were coming to the point where the band was -- not necessarily dissolving -- but dissolving in creativity and maybe in live fire and energy, so we had to make a change for the positive," Heafy told Noisecreep. "Thankfully, we were able to find Nick, who was able to step it up and really be that guy to take us to the next level."

While Trivium's relationship with Smith had deteriorated over the years, the band had no immediate plans to replace him when he announced in late October 2009 that he would be sitting out the 'Into the Mouth of Hell' tour to take care of "some personal business." It wasn't until after the band members started playing with Augusto on the tour that they realized the injection of new blood served Trivium well.

READ MORE...

http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/02/16/trivium-frontman-explains-firing-of-drummer-travis-smith/

Laurent / Feb 16

Leave a comment (15 Responses)

On February 17, 2010 9:17:07 PM UTC

Rod1989 SAID:

@jacobsmolik1: Spot on as soon as I saw it (the day it came out) you can tell he wasn't into like all the other guys, and normally the Trivium members except Travis will participate in online interactions and interviews and new youtube videos, Travis would hardly say anything… You could tell he wasn't into it! Even back when ascendancy was just released and they where still touring in a van on UG day in the life of Trivium he didn't seem keen then nor in Metal Injection vids!

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On February 17, 2010 2:58:01 PM UTC

trivium-nick_fan SAID:

It was good of the band to finally come out and say the why to this. Makes me feel better as a drummer and someone who looked up to Travis to know the why of it...Welcome Nick...You kick so much ass I might just have to change my username on here to Nick Fan lol

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On February 17, 2010 1:03:32 PM UTC

Demigod456 SAID:

wow, dissapointed much?

I'm sure there is much more to this than we all know, i have to say though i NEVER in a million years expected things to sink as low as being done over the phone! Nick is an awesome drummer too but i prefer travis' input so far, even though Shattering the skies above was absoloutly epic. we'll see how things go in inverness and Glasgow on the 11th and 12th of march. i'm still a dedicated as hell fan if not slightly annoyed and confused at the the present time. see you soon guys, can't wait!

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On February 17, 2010 10:17:04 AM UTC

prometheus87 SAID:

well i hope everything is OK between both sides; honestly i am a little shocked ´cause Travis stood w/TRIVIUM for years. I wish the best for him; by the way I recently heard "Shattering the skies above" and i know TRIVIUM will always create awesome music; can not wait for a new CD

Good luck guys!!!

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On February 17, 2010 7:54:50 AM UTC

Chirox SAID:

I've gone off Trivium, sorry but its for the better of me in years to come

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On February 16, 2010 10:23:25 PM UTC

jacobsmolik1 SAID:

I was watching the Shogun DVD today and I saw how Travis said he wanted to leave because he was all done tracking, and when he didn't want to re-record th b-sides. They way it appeared on DVD was that his heart just wasn't in it anymore. Idk...could be wrong. Still, I wish Travis all the best and Trivium to keep rockin'!

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On February 16, 2010 9:07:42 PM UTC

JasminMehinagic SAID:

sometimes both sides have to get a kick to the balls for things to be better. I'm very sure the guys weren't like "Woo Hoo Travis is gone!" and Travis probably wasn't all happy about it either. It sucked for all of them but life goes on

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On February 16, 2010 8:12:56 PM UTC

WillTrivium SAID:

Well in the article it said "health issues", or something like that, so I hope it was for the best on both sides. Although, On the last tour, I'd like Travis to at least show up and stuff. That would be cool.