Bad Wolves Dropped from Skillet Tour

Bad Wolves have been removed from an upcoming tour with Christian rock band Skillet. Guitarist AJ Rebollo has also quit the band, citing the label's decision to release a cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" against the group's wishes.

Singer Sara "Killboy" Skinner announced the tour removal in a video statement. She attributed the decision to backlash from Skillet's fans. "Skillet announced us on their tour and their fans had a field day doing very extensive research that their booking agents and management did not do," Skinner stated. She claimed the fans' findings centered on her identity, sarcastically summarizing them as, "I am a trans OnlyFans bitch."

Skinner asserted that only one of those claims is true. She said Skillet's management asked her not to comment, but she felt compelled to make a statement. The band will not be joining the tour as planned.

Guitarist Departs Over Label Dispute

In a separate development, guitarist AJ Rebollo announced his departure from Bad Wolves. His exit is directly linked to the band's label, Better Noise Music, pushing forward with the release of their cover of "Jolene." Rebollo said the band collectively decided against releasing the track after Dolly Parton's death, feeling it would be in poor taste and seen as capitalizing on the tragedy.

"We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly's unfortunate passing," Rebollo wrote. He explained that a potential collaboration with Parton was no longer possible, changing the context entirely. Despite opposition from multiple band members, the label proceeded with release plans.

Rebollo expressed frustration with the label's disregard for the band's creative decisions. "The amount of hate, negativity, and harassment we receive on a daily basis due to decisions made outside of our control has taken a massive toll on our sanity," he added. He stated he is no longer happy in the band as a result.

The "Jolene" Cover's Backstory

According to a press release quote from Bad Wolves founder John Boecklin, the cover originated from singer Sara Skinner's fandom. The band created a heavy metal version for an upcoming album. Label CEO Dan Waite then sent the demo to Dolly Parton's manager, Danny Nozell, with a request for Parton to feature on it.

The band received feedback that Parton had heard and loved their version and was planning to add her vocals soon. Stems were sent to her studio engineers. Parton's subsequent death ended the collaboration plans. The band now states proceeds from the cover, set for release on Monday, August 31, will be donated to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

This is not the first time a Bad Wolves cover has been linked to an artist's death. The band is best known for its 2018 cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie," released three days after singer Dolores O'Riordan died. AJ Rebollo was not a member of Bad Wolves at that time; he joined as a touring guitarist in 2023 and became a full-time member in 2024.