Former Sunk Loto guitarist Luke McDonald has released a new statement reflecting on his departure from the band and marking one year of sobriety.
McDonald was dismissed from Sunk Loto in August 2023, following the band’s public statement citing what they described as “abusive and controlling behaviour.”
At the time, McDonald said he was “shocked and hurt” by the decision, claiming he was fired via email and was still owed money from the group’s 2022 reunion tour.
Following McDonald’s exit, the band announced Rohan Stevenson (of I Built The Sky) as their new guitarist and confirmed plans to continue touring, including a twentieth anniversary run of Between Birth and Death.
Luke McDonald’s 2025 Statement
In a message issued on 9 November 2025, McDonald reflected on the past few years and reiterated his claim that he was never paid in full for the 2022 reunion tour.
“My prior statement in regards to Sunk Loto may have been impulsive and a little harsh at the time, but the fact still remains that I was actually never paid in full for the reunion tour we did in 2022 (amongst other things). Despite my efforts to negotiate with management and the band, this is a provable fact,” McDonald wrote.
He said he was “shocked” by the band’s characterisation of him in their 2023 announcement, calling it “a really low blow, a shock to the system and a total stretch.”
McDonald’s statement goes on to address the personal impact of the public allegations:
“One Google search of my name now forever condemns me to be harshly judged and cast out as a problematic person … This has compromised my ability to make a living as a professional working musician.”
He also confirmed that he has now reached one year of sobriety, writing that he was sober throughout the Sunk Loto reunion period and has remained so since, aside from “one backslide + lapse a year ago.”
McDonald thanked his supporters and expressed goodwill toward his former bandmates, saying:
“I implore everyone to keep supporting Jason, Dane and Sean in Sunk Loto and beyond, because regardless of what happened, I still love them & they are brilliant musicians.”
“At the end of the day, music and love are what really matter. That and trying to be a good person.”
As of publication, Sunk Loto have not issued a public response to McDonald’s statement.
Full Statement
Luke McDonald’s full statement appears below, published in full and unedited.
Today I am one year Sober.
To say I have been to hell and back in the last 3 years would be a non quantifiable understatement.
Multiple betrayals, severe miscommunications, taking a really analytical look at myself and others, left questioning why things are the way they are?.
My prior statement in regards to Sunk Loto may have been impulsive and a little harsh at the time, but the fact still remains that I was actually never paid in full for the reunion tour we did in 2022 ( amongst other things ).
Despite my efforts to negotiate with management and the band, this is a provable fact.
After this fact, being then referred to as abusive and controlling in a statement written in retaliation of me speaking up was a really low blow, a shock to the system and a total stretch.
I am not a perfect person, but I try extremely hard to do the right thing where it counts and to be good to others as much as possible, I believe in karma ( the boomerang ) and for the most part that keeps me in line.
I poured my heart and soul into Sunk Loto for over half of my life and I will forever be proud of the music that we created.
Jason, Dane & Sean were legitimately my brothers and I blame no single person but rather, a collective series of unfortunate events and miscommunications that led to the dissolution of our working and personal relationships.
I want to state also that I vehemently oppose the wording that was used against me in the Official Sunk Loto statement, subsequently printed in the music press and the world news online.
You can’t imagine the damage this has done to my reputation. One google search of my name now forever condemns me to be harshly judged and cast out as a problematic person.
It is one thing to deny not paying me the money I am still owed in their official statement, it is another to try to absolutely decimate and ruin my reputation in the process, whilst putting my integrity into question. Not only in my private life but also in the music industry and community that I’ve been apart of for over 27+ years.
This has compromised my ability to make a living as a professional working musician.
I am thankful that Jason privately reached out to try and make amends, I wish more than anything that we were all able to resolve our conflicts and let bygones be bygones.
I now choose despite everything that has transpired, to conduct myself with as much grace, forgiveness and humility as possible moving forward.
I implore everyone to keep supporting Jason, Dane and Sean in Sunk Loto and beyond, because regardless of what happened, I still love them & they are brilliant musicians.
I take full accountability for my part & any past bad behaviour. I certainly did my fair share of stupid things when I was younger and (at times also a little older) in periods where I was not clear headed and sober.
I can whole heartedly say though, that I was sober during the entire Sunk Loto reunion and that I am sober today, despite one backslide + lapse a year ago.
I have exactly 12 months of sobriety today and it feels amazing to reach this milestone through a lot of blood, sweat & tears.
For anyone that I ever let down with my actions and behaviour in the past, I want to say I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.
The amount that I have grown as a man in the last few years has given me the hindsight and clarity to genuinely endeavour to keep my side of the street as clean as possible moving forward.
At the end of the day, music and love are what really matter.
That and trying to be a good person.
I hope to keep making more music and to keep spreading love as much as humanly possible.
In conclusion I’d like to thank God, My Mother, my sisters , friends, loved ones & my best friend Emm for their unwavering support during this time.
Sending my love out to all. God Bless, Luke.
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