’m still cut deeply every time I hear that a band has decided to call it quits. Knowing that if I don’t make it out to that fair-well show, happening in a 200 mile radius, I will never see them perform again. Left only to play in my headphones and car stereo. And after the extensive survival effort of numerous member changes by Haste The Day, I never thought I would read the words in that inevitably ominous yet well-rehearsed blog  “Haste The Day will be doing its final tour February – March 2011.” And it was done. And though we never had a say in the matter we know that HTD had only has our best in mind the whole time. So we are left with five full-length albums, some of our best concert memories and these final words from current and honored frontman Stephen Keech. Long live Haste The Day.

After ten years you guys have officially decided to call it quits. Why now after surviving so many member changes?

Stephen Keech: We just know that it is time for us to call it quits.  We are so proud of what Haste The Day has been able to accomplish and we know that we need to be smart about when we end the band.  We don’t want to see it take a nose dive into the ground.  We want to give ourselves the opportunity to miss it.

So things are wrapping up. You’re on your farewell tour officially. How are you feeling at this point? Has it really hit you yet that this is about to be over?

the inevitable for the past year.  Really thinking about what I’m going to do next.  I am definitely going to miss this band but I am also very excited and anxious about the future.  I’m sure when we finally are done with this tour I will feel a melancholy that has not yet set in.  But I will face that feeling when it hits me.

Is there a sense of wanting to squeeze every little ounce of joy out of this last tour? Or are you a bit ready for it to be done at this point? And what are you looking forward to most about this final run?

SK: I, of course, want to enjoy every little bit of this tour.  We are touring with some of my favorite people and I will miss touring with them.  And I know that I will never play a metal show again and there will be things that I will miss dearly.  But I really do have to say I am excited to get out of the hardcore scene.  I’m sick of seeing fights at shows and seeing a forced tough attitude that is just a mask for unaddressed insecurities.  I’m am excited to make music that causes people to smile at each other as apposed punch each other in the face.  But that is only one bad thing compared to all the wonderful things about Haste The Day that I will miss.

This band has certainly had its fair share of member changes. What’s it feel like to know some of them will be joining you on stage on this last tour? Has all the differences just melted away knowing its the last time this will be happening?

SK: On the last show of this tour some of the old members will be joining us to play a song or two and this really excites me.  There actually haven’t been any real differences we all love each other and I think we are all really excited to play together again.

Let’s look back. When you joined this band, what did you think would be the outcome? Were you prepared for where it went and where it took you personally?

SK: When I joined the band in January of 2006 I estimated that the band would have a solid 5 years left in its career.  Five years later we are doing our final tour.  So, I guess, I’ve been expecting this.  I can’t say I was prepared for anything I’ve been able to do in this band.  I was completely blindsided by being asked to join this band and I am very blessed to have gone places most people won’t see in their whole lives.

If you have one in mind, share with us the first moment you may have knew that this was not going to be a short gig?

SK: I never really thought of it as a short gig.  When I joined the band I had to quit my old band which was “…being on the road 10 months out of the year is that it is easy to not see God at all.  You forget to look.  You see a lot of shocking things and you experience apathy toward everything.”made up of all of my best friends and leaving that band was not an easy thing to do.  I only joined the band because I knew God wanted me to be doing it for at least a while.

Being out on the road for so many years, you must have seen God do some crazy things. Share a few stories with us that grew your faith or where you just saw God move?

SK: The biggest shock going from church every Sunday to being on the road 10 months out of the year is that it is easy to not see God at all.  You forget to look.  You see a lot of shocking things and you experience apathy toward everything.  Being on the road can be one of the most lonely places in this world.  And if you are not diligently seeking God, you might not see him at all.  But every once in a while when you finally open your spiritual eyes God can do some pretty amazing things that will humble you to the core.  There have been many occasions where a kid will come up to us after the show and tell us that one of our songs kept him from killing himself.  Those times are very humbling because a lot of times we do not feel worthy of being used by God.  But He will use the willing.  It doesn’t matter how “righteous” you are.

We know that your fans are very passionate and of course very sad that your time is coming to and end. What would you like them to know?

SK: I would like them to know that nothing Haste The Day has accomplished could have happened without them.  What good is a song when there is no one there to listen.

What are your plans for working and living now that HTD is over? Does anyone have plans to continue music?

SK: I will definitely play music.  Music is my passion that God has given me and one that I plan on expanding for the rest of my life Lord willing.  I will eventually have a band together to work on solo stuff that I write.  I don’t have much more information but it will be chill and hopefully it will make people happy.  Keep your eyes out over the next year or two for whatever it is that I do.

We want to thank you very much for your years of ministry and music. We wish all of you the best in your future plans.