Carla Harvey Says She Was ‘Kind Of Squeezed Out’ Of Butcher Babies

Former Butcher Babies vocalist Carla Harvey has spoken candidly about her split from the band, saying she felt ‘kind of squeezed out’ after being unable to tour due to injury, effectively ending her 15 year run as a founding member.

In an interview with Matt Wake of AL.com, Harvey reflected on the period leading up to her departure, which began after she suffered a serious eye injury in late 2023 that prevented her from touring.

“I couldn’t do a tour because I had a serious eye injury and they went and did a tour without me. Then it was like, ‘Well, we’ll just do the band by ourselves,’” Harvey said. “When you’ve put your heart and soul into something for so long and you do get kind of squeezed out of it, there’s a moment where you’re like, ‘I can either lay down and not do anything else, or I’m not gonna let someone else tell me when I’m f**king done doing what I do.’”

Harvey credits her husband, Anthrax and Pantera drummer Charlie Benante, with helping her push through that moment and start fresh with a new project, The Violent Hour.

“He was like, ‘No, get out of bed. F**k that. We’re gonna write an album,’” she said. “Charlie’s excitement about it was really instrumental in my excitement. He’d be playing guitar riffs in the morning with our coffee.”

Butcher Babies officially announced their split with Harvey in July 2024, in a statement at the time, the band acknowledged her role while confirming they would continue without her.

“Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band,” the statement read. “We are grateful for the incredible memories we’ve made together… and we are excited for this new era of Butcher Babies.”

Constant touring

In a separate interview on The Ward Bond Show, Harvey pointed to the realities of constant touring and how her priorities have shifted.

“As you get older, your life changes,” she said. “You have relationships, you have a partner, I have a stepdaughter. The idea of being on the road 10 to 12 months out of the year became a lot to handle.”

She also highlighted the financial pressures facing mid level touring bands.

“Bands my size? You’re not breaking the bank,” Harvey said. “You’re not earning a livable wage unless you’re on the road 12 months out of the year.”

Since leaving the band, Harvey has leaned further into her long standing work in the deathcare industry, recently accepting a role with post cremation service Parting Stone.

Holding a degree in Mortuary Science, she has spent years working as a grief counsellor and end of life specialist.

“I’m glad I never quit my day job,” she said. “All the while over the last 15 years, I’ve been getting more education and certifications so I could continue on in deathcare in some aspect.”

Looking ahead, Harvey says she was always thinking long term.

“I always thought, ‘This is awesome right now, but what about when I’m 60?’ Life changes. We’re still going to be working.”