The collapse began at the weekend when Leon announced singer Joseph Michael had been fired after refusing to perform a show on their UK tour. Michael lashed back, saying he'd been dismissed the night before, and accused the mainman of acting "like a child."

Despite discussions with a stand-in singer, the US NWOHBM-fuelled outfit abandoned their tour and went home. Since then, guitarists Jake Dreyer, Will Warner and drummer Giovanni Durst have resigned from the band.