Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebello quits band after Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ cover dispute

Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebello has announced his departure from the heavy metal band, saying a dispute over its newly released version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” became the final breaking point in a growing conflict over the group’s creative direction.

Rebello, who had played guitar with Bad Wolves since 2023, announced his exit Saturday. In a statement, he pointed to disagreements over decisions involving the band and its record label, saying he could no longer remain part of a project when he felt the group’s artistic choices were increasingly being made outside its control.

The timing of his departure has drawn particular attention because Bad Wolves released its heavy metal interpretation of “Jolene” shortly after Parton’s death. According to reporting by Loudwire, the band had originally hoped Parton herself would participate in the new recording.

‘Jolene’ became the breaking point

The cover had reportedly been in development before Parton died. Rebello said the band had made its opposition to releasing the song without Parton clear to the label. He argued that moving ahead with the track after her death could be perceived as taking advantage of the circumstances surrounding her passing.

For Rebello, the disagreement was not an isolated issue. He described it as the latest in a series of frustrations involving the band's business and creative decisions. While he did not disclose every disagreement, he said the accumulation of those issues had left him unhappy with his position in the group. The guitarist ultimately decided that remaining with Bad Wolves would require him to support decisions with which he fundamentally disagreed.

Band says Parton had approved the idea

Bad Wolves co-founder and drummer John Boecklin offered a different perspective on the circumstances surrounding the song. Boecklin said the group had chosen “Jolene” as a potential track for its next album before Parton’s death. The idea was partly driven by new lead singer Sara “Killboy” Skinner, who had previously shared videos of herself performing the country classic.

The band then recorded a heavier version of the song. According to Boecklin, the recording was subsequently sent to Parton’s representatives after label CEO Dan Waite learned about the project. The group was told that Parton had heard the recording, liked the interpretation, and planned to add her own vocals. The band also sent recording stems to Parton’s studio team in preparation for her contribution before her sudden passing.

Bad Wolves plans to donate song proceeds

Boecklin said the band was devastated by Parton’s death but decided to release the song as a way of honouring her musical legacy. The group has also announced that proceeds from “Jolene” will be donated to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the literacy programme founded by the country music icon.

That decision has added another element to the debate surrounding the release. While Rebello questioned whether releasing the track after Parton’s death was appropriate, the band has presented it as a tribute and said the proceeds will support one of Parton’s best-known charitable initiatives.

Rebello says label tensions had been building

The guitarist said his concerns extended well beyond the “Jolene” recording. In his departure statement, Rebello described repeated disagreements with decisions made by the record label and said members of the band had attempted to communicate their preferences.

He also spoke about the impact of criticism directed at the group over decisions that he believed were outside the musicians’ control. According to Rebello, the resulting backlash had taken a significant personal toll on members of the band.

He thanked the label and Boecklin for the opportunity and acknowledged that his time with Bad Wolves had provided him with financial stability. However, he said staying would mean sacrificing the artistic principles that had motivated him to become a musician in the first place.

Guitarist leaves without another job lined up

Rebello acknowledged that walking away was a major personal risk. He said he did not have another musical position waiting for him and admitted that leaving a stable source of income was frightening.

Nevertheless, the guitarist maintained that he could not continue if doing so meant becoming involved in decisions he considered artistically unacceptable. His departure now leaves Bad Wolves facing questions about its next chapter as the band prepares for its upcoming album.

Bad Wolves has its own history with covers

The controversy surrounding “Jolene” also carries a connection to Bad Wolves’ history. The band scored a multi-platinum hit in 2018 after releasing its own version of The Cranberries’ “Dreams.”

The circumstances surrounding that cover were similarly poignant. Dolores O’Riordan, The Cranberries’ lead singer, had reportedly agreed to record a duet version of the song with Bad Wolves before her death in early 2018.

That history helps explain why the decision surrounding “Jolene” has attracted attention. Bad Wolves is once again releasing a heavy metal interpretation of a song associated with a legendary female artist who died before being able to contribute vocals to the project.

What happens next for Bad Wolves?

For Rebello, the departure marks an uncertain new phase. He has made clear that he remains committed to music but is walking away from a position that had provided both professional exposure and financial security.

Bad Wolves, meanwhile, is moving forward with the “Jolene” release and its plans for the next album. The band says the song was intended as a genuine tribute to Parton and that donating the proceeds to the Imagination Library will help extend her legacy beyond music.

The dispute nevertheless highlights a broader tension familiar to many artists: the struggle to balance creative control, record-label decisions, and commercial considerations. In this case, that tension ultimately led one of Bad Wolves’ guitarists to decide that leaving the band was preferable to continuing under circumstances he felt compromised his artistic values.