Bell’s departure comes a couple weeks after FEAR FACTORY launched a GoFundMe campaign to support work on their new album. The fund-raising effort seemed to be spearheaded by guitarist Dino Cazares, with Bell insisting, “Let me be clear: I am not part of, nor am I benefitting from, any GoFundMe campaign.”

That dispute came after a long legal battle between Bell and former members Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera over the FEAR FACTORY name. As Bell points out in his letter, the legal wrangling and recent developments within the band led him to step away from the outfit he started in 1989:

 

“IN MY OWN WORDS

I consider myself a private person, preferring to keep my personal business to myself and trusted loved ones. I make my public statements with thoughtful intent, never deviating from the truth, in spite of the consistent series of dishonest representations and unfounded accusations from past and present band members; a toxic drama consistent series of dishonest representations and unfounded accusations from past and present band members I choose to not be part of."

 

Therefore, I am announcing to my fans my departure from FEAR FACTORY, to focus all my energy and attention toward the continuing success for ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS, and all my future endeavors."

 

FEAR FACTORY have released nine studio albums to date, with their best-selling effort being 1998’s gold-certified Obsolete. Bell is reported to have already recorded vocals for the band’s upcoming LP, which has been tentatively titled Monolith and has been in the works for a few years. The band previously broke up briefly in 2002 before reuniting the next year, and went on hiatus in 2006 before getting back together in 2009.

 

With Bell’s departure, Cazares and drummer Mike Heller are the only two permanent members of FEAR FACTORY remaining in the group.