MARCOS CURIEL CLAIMS HE WAS 'FIRED' FROM P.O.D.

Despite Sonny Sandoval, the singer for P.O.D., firing off an Email to fans stating that guitarist Marcos Curiel left the band on his own to pursue other musical endeavors, the guitarist claims otherwise.

"I was hoping I could do what Maynard [Keenan] does," Curiel, who was a primary songwriter for P.O.D. told MTV News "He's in TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE. That's obviously not the case here. It got pretty sticky at the end about 'You need to prioritize where you're at with your music and where you're at with your walk with God.' I'm like, 'You guys are tripping, dude. I just want to be an artist, and if I can't have that freedom, I just want to fly.' If someone asks me to play with them, if someone asks me to write a song, I just want to be able to do that."

Curiel also said P.O.D. is not as righteous as their reputation would lead fans to believe. "The thing that's really bugging me out is the e-mail is portrayed all holy and sh--," he said of Sonny's letter, which concluded with: "Please continue to keep P.O.D. and Marcos in your prayers. All our love is yours. Be blessed."

"I hate that. That's one of the main differences we had is philosophy. They're putting that out because they know their market and they know what kids are going to say about all that."

Curiel, who was always an outspoken member of P.O.D., is particularly upset because management, not his bandmembers, called to kick him out. He said the group met a few weeks ago and everyone acted enthusiastic about his projects.