Dead Boys singer quits band, claiming label wants to use AI recreation of Stiv Bators

The singer of punk band Dead Boys has quit the group, claiming their label wants to use an AI version of their late frontman Stiv Bators.

The Cleveland band formed in 1975 with Bators, guitarists Cheetah Chrome and Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum and drummer Johnny Blitz. They were considered one of the key bands in the first wave of US punk, releasing two albums before splitting in 1980.

Bators passed away in 1990 at the age of 40 from a car accident, but the band later reformed in 2017 with Jake Hout standing in for Bators.

On Monday (November 25), an updated version of Dead Boys announced a new album, with Chrome taking vocals and guitar alongside Blondie’s Clem Burke and Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock.

Hout was not involved, and has now issued a statement explaining that he chose not to be part of the project as he believes their label Cleopatra Records planned to use AI technology to recreate Bators’ voice.

“The shortest I can get this story is this: Cleopatra said it would be an A.I. record but Cheetah assured me it would NOT,” he wrote on Instagram.

“But the opening line of the contract reads…“Artist has agreed that such Performances shall be Vocal performances (the “Performances”) utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for purposes of creating works based on the original voice of Stiv Bators, to be used on Company’s master recordings of the songs” ….So I said No.”

“I told Cheetah immediately I would be forced to quit publicly. And tell everybody why. And that it would probably go off like an H-bomb. This was in August. I reminded him frequently. Daily by the end. To no avail. I know that there are grey areas with line-up changes and artistic tools etc.”

“There’s a massive irony here, I actually sympathize w the “no Stiv no Dead Boys” crowd. -I get it! I always have! But, for me personally, A.I. is the bridge too far. I always tried to do right by Stiv and bring his music to life with heart and blood and passion and spirit. A.I. ain’t got none a that stuff,” he concluded.

The as-yet-untitled new Dead Boys album is due in 2025 and a press release says “Chrome’s vocals are artfully ‘dusted’ with Stiv’s iconic presence, ensuring the new material retains the raw, visceral energy that defined the Dead Boys’ sound”.

The band have since responded with their own statement: “It became clear that fans were unwilling to embrace him as a replacement for the late, great Stiv Bators, whose legendary presence remains irreplaceable.”

“Since his departure, the former member has unleashed venom and anger against Dead Boys founder Cheetah Chrome and Cleopatra Records, spreading a storm of misinformation and untruths across social media. Despite these actions, the band remains united and focused on the future, urging fans with a clear message: “Wait for the record. You won’t be disappointed.” While the situation has been challenging, we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Cheetah Chrome has also posted a response in which he apologises “for all the bullshit drama today”, adding: “Jake didn’t have the maturity or patience ( or ability) to sit down reasonably sober and discuss this. The entire band wanted him to, we didn’t want Jake to go anywhere, he was one of us. Whatever his motivations are, he wanted to unilaterally make an uninformed decision that would affect the whole band based on his dislike of AI.”

“Jake was asked to stay many times while we got more info on AI to make an informed decision on it. He refused and insisted it come to a head Saturday, for whatever reason. I’ve been doing this shit and leading this band a tad longer than Jake’s been in it, have I let you down yet?”

Dead Boys’ last major release was 2017’s ‘Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty at 40’, a re-recording of their 1977 debut album.