It would seem that this year's heavy metal IT band Torche has parted ways with its mustachioed guitarist Juan Montoya (second from right in the picture). Details are still sketchy and no official announcement has been made as of yet, but various fan reports suggest that the band was playing as a three-piece for the last few days of its recent headlining tour, and that frontman Steve Brooks had a newly-minted black eye.
That said shiner was a result of Montoya-related fisticuffs isn't a foregone conclusion (perhaps System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian was on the prowl again?), but his name has been removed from the list of band members on Torche's MySpace page. The band will apparently continue as a trio.
This news comes at a crucial time for Torche -- they are just about to embark on a five-date trek in England to play All Tomorrow's Parties, and their second album Meanderthal is steadily accruing a crapload of accolades on end-of-the-year critics' lists. Montoya was also the creative force behind most of Torche's distinctive album artwork and merch.
[via Brooklyn Vegan]
I was gonna say, isn't he a huge part of the band?