Kansas City's Coalesce, known for their distinct metallic hardcore sound, have announced the departure of guitarist and co-founder Jes Steineger. This development has led to the cancellation of their upcoming European tour, which included a performance at the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands. The band had recently teased a new album, their first since 2009's Ox, recorded with producer Scott Evans.
Key Takeaways
- Coalesce guitarist Jes Steineger has left the band.
- The band's European tour, including Roadburn Festival, is canceled.
- Steineger's departure follows allegations made by a former student.
- A new Coalesce album, recorded with Scott Evans, was previously teased.
Allegations Emerge Against Steineger
Allegations against Jes Steineger first came to light last month in an online forum. The claims were made by a 24-year-old former student and advisee of Steineger, who was teaching at Lindenwood University in Missouri. The interactions between the two, primarily conducted via email, were described as largely consensual, with both parties being of legal age. However, the student expressed distress over the perceived power imbalance inherent in a teacher-student relationship.
Following the emergence of these allegations, Coalesce initially issued a statement on their now-deleted social media. The band indicated that Steineger had submitted his resignation to the university. At that time, Coalesce stated their intention to continue with Steineger, asserting that the public narrative misrepresented the facts.
"The narrative now being circulated goes far beyond the facts. After reviewing the evidence ourselves, we stand behind Jes and reject these mischaracterizations."
Quick Facts
- Jes Steineger was a co-founder and guitarist for Coalesce.
- He was teaching at Lindenwood University in Missouri.
- The allegations surfaced in an online Reddit thread.
- The alleged interactions were primarily email-based.
The Band's Initial Stance and Subsequent Reversal
In their initial statement, Coalesce acknowledged that Steineger had engaged in a mutual but inappropriate email exchange with a student. They emphasized reviewing all correspondence and evidence. The band described physical contact as consensual, limited to "pinky swears" and two non-sexual hugs initiated by the student. They maintained that no sexual misconduct, predation, or assault occurred, and no sexually explicit materials were exchanged.
Coalesce's statement also mentioned Steineger's acknowledgment of fault for initiating private email contact and for not immediately informing the university. They clarified that his resignation from the academy was a personal decision. The band stressed that his role in Coalesce did not influence the situation and that there was no quid pro quo conduct in his capacity as a professor.
Context on Power Dynamics
Teacher-student relationships, even when both individuals are adults, often involve an inherent power imbalance. This dynamic can complicate consent and raise ethical concerns, regardless of mutual attraction. Universities typically have strict policies to prevent such interactions to protect students and maintain professional boundaries.
The band concluded their initial statement by reiterating their support for Steineger, despite his admitted mistakes. They argued that the public narrative was an overstatement of the actual events.
Student Rejects Band's Account
Following Coalesce's statement, Steineger's former student posted further responses in the same online forum, disputing the band's interpretation of events. This rejection of the band's account added another layer to the unfolding situation, putting further pressure on Coalesce.
Ultimately, the situation led to a change in the band's position. Jes Steineger has now officially parted ways with Coalesce. This decision directly impacted the band's touring plans, resulting in the cancellation of their European dates.
Steineger Issues Personal Statement
Jes Steineger himself released a statement, explaining his decision to step down from Coalesce. He cited the intense public scrutiny surrounding his actions as a significant burden on his family and loved ones. Steineger stated his need to withdraw from public life to focus on personal accountability, repair, and healing, which he is now pursuing professionally.
Steineger accepted responsibility for his choices and their impact on others. He also called for privacy, suggesting that the matters made public should be addressed in a professionally mediated setting focused on restorative healing and reconciliation, rather than public spectacle. He explicitly asked that no one harass or attack any individual connected to the situation in his name or the band's name.
"I made the choice to step down as guitarist of Coalesce. The public attention surrounding my personal failures has become too heavy a burden for my family and loved ones, and I need to step away from public life to focus on accountability, repair, and healing, which I am now doing professionally."
He expressed gratitude to his former bandmates for their handling of a difficult situation and wished them well in their future endeavors without him. Steineger affirmed that his choices were his alone.
Impact on Coalesce's Future
The departure of a founding member marks a significant turning point for Coalesce. The band has a history of breaking up and reuniting multiple times since their formation. This latest development raises questions about their future, especially after the anticipation generated by the teased new album.
The cancellation of the European tour, confirmed by Roadburn Festival on social media, means fans will not see the band perform as planned this spring. The festival's announcement stated, "Coalesce has parted ways with their guitarist and, as a result, will be unable to fulfill the upcoming shows."
As the band navigates this period of transition, the music community watches to see how Coalesce will proceed. Their distinctive sound has left a notable mark on metallic hardcore, and fans will undoubtedly await any future announcements regarding their plans.