John Tempesta Exits The Cult After Two Decades
The drummer announced his departure from the British rock band weeks after 2027 U.S. tour tickets went on sale.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Rock
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Drummer John Tempesta announced on Saturday that he is leaving The Cult, the band he joined in 2006 and played with for two decades. Tempesta did not elaborate on the reason for his departure.
Why it matters
The exit comes weeks after tickets went on sale for The Cult's 2027 U.S. tour dates with A Perfect Circle, leaving the band without a drummer for the scheduled run. The change affects a long-running rock act whose current lineup centers on original singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy.
Tempesta, 62, spent 20 years in The Cult lineup after joining in 2006, and the band has listed 27 U.S. tour dates with A Perfect Circle beginning in April 2027. No replacement drummer has been named for those dates, and the band has not explained the timing of the change.
The players
John Tempesta
Tempesta is a veteran rock drummer who also played with the thrash metal band Exodus, joining it in 1989.
The Cult
The Cult is an English rock band formed in 1983 that is known for its blend of hard rock and goth-influenced sounds.
Ian Astbury
Astbury is the original singer of The Cult and remains a central figure in the band's current lineup.
Billy Duffy
Duffy is the co-founding guitarist of The Cult and has been with the group since its formation in 1983.
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American alternative rock band led by Maynard James Keenan that is co-headlining the 2027 tour with The Cult.
The details
Tempesta announced his exit in a Facebook post on Saturday, November 7, 2026, without elaborating on his reasons. The Cult, formed in England in 1983, has not said who will fill the drum chair for its upcoming tour with A Perfect Circle, which includes stops in Boston, Los Angeles, and several regions across the country.
Timeline
2006: Tempesta joins The Cult.
Weeks before November 2026: Tickets go on sale for 2027 U.S. tour dates.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Tempesta announces his departure.
April 2027: The Cult's tour with A Perfect Circle begins.
Legacy Context
The Cult formed in England in 1983 and has built its catalog around the pairing of original singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, who remain at the center of the lineup. Tempesta's two-decade stint is among the longest recent drumming tenures in the band's history, so his exit marks a notable shift in its rhythm section.
Fans can buy tickets for the 2027 U.S. tour dates through Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, and StubHub. The tour begins in April 2027, and the drummer for those shows has not yet been named.
The takeaway
Lineup changes can reshape a long-running band even when its core members stay in place, so fans planning to attend the 2027 shows should watch for an official replacement announcement before April.
What happens next
The Cult's tour with A Perfect Circle begins in April 2027, when the band will need a drummer in place for the first U.S. date.
Further reading
For more on the band's touring and releases, see Rock coverage across the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.
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