Max Bemis drama sparks album scrap with Wavves and Say Anything
When Collaboration Crumbles: Wavves Scraps Album with Say Anything Amidst Personal Allegations
The world of music is often defined by collaboration, but sometimes, the pursuit of art collides head-on with painful personal reality. This is the story of how the planned joint album between the bands Wavves and Say Anything, titled Cherry Soda, was abruptly scrapped following serious allegations leveled against Say Anything frontman Max Bemis.
Scheduled for release, the ten-track record had been set to drop on September 18th. However, the creative partnership dissolved when Wavves frontman Nathan Williams made the difficult decision to distance himself from Bemis following the public accusations.
Williams took to social media to explain his choice, reflecting on the intensity of the project and the unexpected consequences. “Yeah I’ve seen it. not sure what to say but fuck max. fuck say anything. I’m sorry y’all,” he posted, acknowledging the disruption caused by the situation.
The decision stems from allegations that surfaced online, involving messages between Bemis and a teenager. These allegations gained traction after a 17-year-old shared accounts of her interactions with Bemis and purported screenshots, claiming that their conversations progressed to sexual subjects, despite Bemis being aware of her age and history.
The situation caused Say Anything to pause their plans. The band announced that Bemis would be taking necessary time away to focus on his mental health and personal well-being, leading them to postpone forthcoming solo performances.
Williams further clarified his withdrawal, explaining that he had personally created much of the material for the record and felt strongly that he could not continue the association with Bemis. He suggested that the material could potentially be salvaged by removing Bemis’ contributions, noting that discussions had taken place about reworking the album.
This creative fallout came at a time when the music world was already buzzing about the bands’ separate endeavors. Wavves had recently released their eighth studio album, Spun, following their acclaimed work on Hideaway, which was praised as their “most original and varied work yet.”
While the collaborative project hit an unexpected snag, the respective bands continued their separate journeys. Say Anything had already returned from a hiatus in 2022 and embarked on a 20th-anniversary tour in 2024. Wavves, meanwhile, remained focused on their own artistic output, demonstrating that even when collaborations end, the pursuit of music continues.
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