Why did Chris Salih leave the band Twenty One Pilots?

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21st-century rock and roll triumph has been reimagined by the duo known as Twenty One Pilots. They’ve dared to explore various tones and trends while simultaneously achieving impressive commercial success. Interestingly, it wasn’t just Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph who shaped the band’s identity; in fact, their first album was released under the Twenty One Pilots name as a three-piece group.

Joseph helped establish the band Twenty One Pilots alongside bassist Nick Thomas and drummer Chris Salih, and they put out their debut album titled “Twenty One Pilots” in 2009. However, by the time they were working on their second album, “Regional at Best,” which came out in 2013, Thomas and Salih had left the band. Salih announced his departure from the group through a statement that he posted on the official Facebook page of Twenty One Pilots.

Chris Salih quit Twenty One Pilots in 2011

Salih admitted that he chose to stop drumming was due to maturing and changing priorities as he grew older compared to his bandmates. He explained that, although a few years older, he felt it was time for a career change. Salih also wanted to clarify that there was no hard feelings towards Joseph or Thomas who later left the group with him.

The drummer made it clear that there’s no bad blood here,” he stated. “It’s strictly a financial move for me. I aim to continue playing a significant role in Twenty One Pilots over the coming months and years. I’ll remain living with Tyler and assisting wherever needed, just as I did when I introduced Josh Dun to the band.” And introduce him, he did. In fact, it was Salih who facilitated Josh Dun becoming the drummer replacement for the band. As we all know, the rest of their journey together became quite legendary.

Chris Salih cited financial pressures

Over time, Chris Salih has consistently stated that leaving was a difficult choice, yet one that was crucial under the circumstances. He confessed that he experienced significant pressure because Twenty One Pilots didn’t achieve significant success with their first album, and his parents were contributing financially to help him complete his college education.

In a 2017 interview on the “Twenty One Pilots” podcast, Salih expressed that if he had continued with the band, it would have been a symbolic gesture of defiance towards his parents. This is because they had co-signed on his student loans. Essentially, he was saying, “You pay off my student loans and I’ll play with my band.” Despite leaving the band before their success, Salih is indelibly part of its history, as without him, Twenty One Pilots might not be the band we recognize today.

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2025-05-06 22:00