Talk Toomey with Joshua Toomey AJ Channer Breaks Silence on Fire From The Gods Exit and His New Life as CHNNR
Oct 31, 2025
AJ Channer, the former vocalist of Fire From The Gods and now leading CHNNR, sheds light on his tumultuous journey. He candidly discusses the challenges of substance abuse, the struggles of leaving his previous band, and the lessons learned during rehab. AJ also shares his inspirational transformation and creative resurgence, revealing new music born from personal hardships. Amidst stories of humility and his brief stint as a FedEx driver, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity and building a supportive team for his new project.
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Turning Rock Collapse Into CHNNR
- AJ Channer describes leaving Fire From The Gods amid personal chaos and entering treatment before creating CHNNR with producer Sahaj.
- He says the first song poured out of his anger and became the hip-hop/metal crossover that launched his new project.
Rock Star Lifestyle Led To Rock Bottom
- AJ admits substance abuse escalated to catastrophic levels and forced him into rehab and jail before recovery.
- He links depression and industry pressure to his addiction and hitting rock bottom.
Facade Of Success Hides Fragile Bonds
- AJ realized the band's commercial facade masked financial instability and fractured loyalties.
- He concludes building a solo project let him be unapologetically himself without internal band politics.