Canadian musician and producer Devin Townsend has once again emphasized that he has no desire to reunite STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, the influential industrial metal band he led until 2007. Since the band’s breakup, Townsend has been frequently asked about a potential reunion but has consistently cited the emotional and physical strain the group caused him, along with his focus on exploring new musical avenues.
In a recent interview with Poland’s Teraz Rock, Townsend was asked if STRAPPING YOUNG LAD could be the next major band to reunite, following announcements from OASIS and LINKIN PARK. Devin responded, “I don’t think so, no. [Laughs] I don’t talk to anybody in the band anymore, and 25 years later, I’m a different person. I just don’t want to. It’s a hard answer because I know others want it, but I’ve learned to prioritize my own needs. I just don’t want to bring it back.”
When the interviewer mentioned that “you can’t please everybody,” Townsend clarified: “I can’t please anyone, but I can work on myself. I hope that some who listen to my music will find that inspiring. For years, I tried to make everyone happy — fans, family, management, the label — but eventually, you burn out. I hit a wall and realized, ‘Why are you doing this for others? Why are you so insecure that you need to be liked by everyone?’ That’s not a healthy path, artistically or personally. Now, I do what’s right for me. It may appeal to fewer people, but it’s my choice because life is short, and this is what I want.”
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD’s final album, The New Black, was released in 2006 via Century Media.
In December 2022, Townsend discussed a potential reunion in an interview with AndrewHaug.com. When asked how he feels about fans wanting the “old, angry Townsend” back, he explained, “It’s confusing. I can explain all day why I can’t do it anymore, and people still ask, ‘Yeah, but can you?’ I get why they want it; I loved it too. But I just can’t do it.
“I used an analogy recently,” he continued. “Imagine going to a buffet for a specific dish, like shrimp, but they’ve run out. When you ask for more, they tell you the ingredients are gone. Instead of accepting it, you keep demanding more shrimp, but there’s no more. Yelling at the restaurant won’t bring it back.
“The well runs dry. The process that made STRAPPING YOUNG LAD what it was no longer exists. People might not understand, and that’s okay. My job is to make peace with that, because it’s not their fault for wanting more. But for me, it’s time to move on.”
