Heavy metal band Bad Wolves was dropped from an upcoming tour with Christian rock group Skillet in late August 2026, allegedly due to fan backlash over new vocalist Sara “Killboy” Skinner’s OnlyFans account. Simultaneously, guitarist AJ Rebollo quit the band, citing deep label friction over releasing a controversial Dolly Parton cover.
The Bottom Line
- The Tour Cut: Bad Wolves were removed from their scheduled support slot on Skillet’s tour in August 2026 following intense pushback from Skillet’s fanbase regarding Sara “Killboy” Skinner’s adult content platform.
- The Departure: Guitarist AJ Rebollo abruptly quit the band, pointing to Better Noise Music’s decision to push forward with a heavy cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” despite the band’s collective opposition.
- A History of Turmoil: The latest shakeup adds to years of volatile lineup changes, following the departures of original frontman Tommy Vext, DL Laskiewicz, Doc Coyle, and Kyle Konkiel.
Tour Backlash and the OnlyFans Controversy
Bad Wolves cannot seem to catch a breath. Just two months after announcing Sara “Killboy” Skinner as their new frontwoman, the Los Angeles metal outfit found themselves suddenly cut from an upcoming tour alongside Christian rock staples Skillet. According to industry reports, the removal stemmed directly from objections raised by Skillet’s fanbase over Skinner maintaining an OnlyFans account.
Here is the kicker: the modern intersection of heavy music, digital creator platforms, and legacy ideological touring circuits remains a minefield. Skillet commands a fiercely loyal, faith-driven audience that routinely clashes with secular or sexually liberated imagery in heavy rock. Rather than weather the mounting culture-war storm, tour organizers pulled the plug, sidelining Bad Wolves just weeks before curtain time.
This turbulence compounds an already exhausting revolving door of vocalists. Skinner stepped into the band following the departure of DL Laskiewicz—who exited last year to join Falling In Reverse. Laskiewicz himself had originally replaced original frontman Tommy Vext, whose vocal support for Donald Trump and subsequent political friction triggered an irreconcilable split with band founder and drummer John Boecklin.
AJ Rebollo Walks Over the Dolly Parton “Jolene” Cover
If being dropped from a high-profile tour wasn’t enough, the internal machinery of Bad Wolves completely fractured behind closed doors. Guitarist AJ Rebollo announced his immediate resignation from the band, pointing to a severe ideological mismatch between the musicians and their home label, Better Noise Music.
The breaking point arrived courtesy of a planned heavy metal cover of Dolly Parton’s 1974 classic, “Jolene.” Initially, the track was conceived as a collaborative effort featuring guest vocals from Parton herself. However, following Parton’s death at the age of 80, that dream collaboration evaporated. The band explicitly told the label they wanted to scrap the release.
Rebollo detailed the fallout in a scorching public statement shared on Instagram. “We, as an entity, told the label we had no interest in releasing the cover after learning of Dolly’s unfortunate passing as her collaboration on the song was no longer a possibility,” Rebollo wrote, noting fears that the drop would be misconstrued as a cynical cash-grab off a global icon’s death.
Despite the band’s collective objections, Better Noise Music pushed forward with an August 31 release date. While the label pledged that proceeds from the track would benefit Parton’s Imagination Library—a nonprofit providing free books to children under five—Rebollo stated that he could no longer in good faith remain a member. He accused the label of overriding artistic autonomy and subjecting the band’s members to relentless public harassment.
Parallels to Past Success and the Modern Label Battle
Bad Wolves is no stranger to navigating high-stakes cover songs amid tragic circumstances. Back in 2018, the band recorded a heavy cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie” intended to feature vocals from original singer Dolores O’Riordan. When O’Riordan died the day she was meant to record, the band chose to release the track anyway. That version became an absolute juggernaut, topping Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart for three weeks and ultimately earning triple-platinum certification in the United States.
But the math tells a very different story this time around. Back in 2018, the band felt unified by the tribute; today, the internal friction points to a widening chasm between corporate publishing strategies and artist autonomy. Rebollo explicitly contrasted his tenure in Bad Wolves with his time in the metalcore group Issues, praising the latter’s collaborative label relationship where musicians felt like respected partners rather than subordinates.
| Date / Era | Event / Milestone | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Release of “Zombie” Cover | Released following the death of Dolores O’Riordan; became a 3x platinum breakout hit. |
| 2021 | Tommy Vext Departs | Original singer leaves following political rifts with founder John Boecklin. |
| 2025 | Doc Coyle and Kyle Konkiel Exit | Guitarist and bassist depart amid ongoing roster instability. |
| Mid-2026 | Sara “Killboy” Skinner Joins | New vocalist announced two months prior to tour and OnlyFans controversy. |
| August 2026 | Tour Drop & Guitarist Resignation | Dropped from Skillet tour; AJ Rebollo quits over the upcoming Dolly Parton “Jolene” release. |
Navigating Fandom Friction and Creator Economy Clashes
The simultaneous blow dealt by Skillet fans and the Better Noise Music dispute highlights a broader, uncomfortable reality for modern hard rock acts. As monetization models shift away from traditional album sales toward streaming and direct-to-fan platforms like OnlyFans, legacy rock demographics often collide with digital-age realities.
When a band built on traditional metal signifiers integrates a frontwoman with a thriving creator economy presence, friction with legacy, faith-adjacent touring markets is almost guaranteed. Add in the high-stakes pressure of a corporate label pushing catalog items against the explicit wishes of its roster, and it becomes clear why musicians are increasingly crying foul over lost autonomy. As Bad Wolves figures out its next chapter, the music industry is left watching how rock acts will balance commercial survival with creative self-determination.
Where do you stand on the divide between label mandates and artist wishes? Drop a comment below and let’s argue it out.
