The Offspring’s Drummer Pete Parada Leaving Band Due to Being Unvaccinated

Pete Parada has said that he will no longer drum with the Offspring because he has not gotten a COVID-19 vaccination. “Given my personal medical history and the side-effect profile of these jabs, my doctor has advised me not to get a shot at this time,” Parada wrote on Instagram on Tuesday (August 3). “Since I am unable to comply with what is increasingly becoming an industry mandate—it has been decided that I am unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour. I mention this because you won’t be seeing me at these upcoming shows.”

Parada explained, “I caught the virus over a year ago, it was mild for me—so I am confident I’d be able to handle it again, but I’m not certain I’d survive another post-vaccination round of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which dates back to my childhood and has evolved to be progressively worse over my lifetime.”

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological condition where the body’s immune system can mistakenly attack some of its nerves. As The New York Times notes, last month, the Food and Drug Administration said that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with a small increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is not, however, currently evidence to suggest a link between the condition and the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Pete Parada joined the Offspring in 2007. In his post, he wrote, “I have no negative feelings towards my band. They’re doing what they believe is best for them, while I am doing the same.”

The Offspring are slated to play a sold-out show in Los Angeles this Sunday. The band has additional concerts scheduled for August, September, October, November, and December, as well as June 2022.

It is currently unclear if Pete Parada will rejoin the Offspring for touring or recording at a date in the future. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for the Offspring for comment and additional information.