Oklahoma City rockers Hinder officially parts ways with lead singer Austin Winkler

Oklahoma City rockers Hinder announced Wednesday that they have officially parted ways with lead singer Austin Winkler.

“I'm really proud of what we accomplished over the years,” said Hinder drummer/songwriter Cody Hanson, in a statement from the band's publicist. “We hold no animosity towards Austin, and wish him the best. Although it was a difficult decision, it was the best thing for everyone involved and time for us to move on.”

The band plans to continue with a new singer to be announced later, according to the news release.

“This summer/fall tour was a tough one. We want to thank the fans for all their overwhelming support. We couldn't have made it through everything without you. We are very excited about the future of Hinder and can't wait to share the next chapter with all of you!” Hanson added in his statement.

On hiatus for rehabilitation

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In July, the multiplatinum-selling band announced that Winkler was leaving its summer tour for “personal reasons,” with their manager later revealing the singer had entered a rehabilitation program for the second time.

“He felt like he was slipping,” Hinder manager Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, of Chief Music Management, told The Hollywood Reporter in July. “We just want him to get healthy and get happy.”

“American Idol” winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, was the band's first choice to fill in for Winkler, Zaruk told the trade publication, but the Season 7 champion turned down the offer.

With Winkler on hiatus, the rest of Hinder — Hanson, guitarist Joe “Blower” Garvey, guitarist Mark King and bassist Mike Rodden — recruited Jared Weeks of Saving Abel and Marshal Dutton of Drankmore to fill in on the band's dates in support of its 2012 album, “Welcome to the Freakshow.” Dutton and Hanson are partners in the Oklahoma City-based production company Back-Lounge Productions, and they coproduced the band's fourth album, released last December

“It's been awesome. It's been a really positive experience, not at all what I expected. You know, it's kind of forced us to step up and step out of our comfort zone a little bit up onstage, and it's made for a really fun and exciting show,” Hanson told The Oklahoman in an August phone interview before a hometown show at the OKC Downtown Airpark.

Hinder formed in Oklahoma City in 2001 when Winkler, then frontman for a local cover band, met Hanson and Garvey at a fraternity party. The group started playing local gigs, added King and Rodden to the lineup and signed with Universal after issuing a self-released EP, according to AllMusic.com.