Earlier this morning, a publicity news release went out like a slug from a twelve gauge shotgun: after a decade together, Alexisonfire is disbanding. After some of the events which took place over the last few years, and with many of the band's members embarking on side projects including City and Colour, Black Lungs and Bergenfield Four, some fans and industry critics may be less than surprised at the split, but vocalist George Pettit made it official when he issued this release on the band's official web site:
Almost a year ago Dallas informed us that he would be leaving Alexis after we finished our Old Crows / Young Cardinals tour cycle. Trying to balance his life between touring with us and at the same time quelling the success of City and Colour was a task too difficult to continue managing. He informed us he wanted to focus his efforts on City and Colour.
Under the knowledge Dallas was leaving, we completed the Dogs Blood EP and toured Europe, Australia and Canada. Our last show in St. Catharines, Ontario on December 19, 2010 was poised to be the last ever Alexisonfire with a line-up as we knew it. In the meantime, the rest of us discussed the future of the band. After much deliberation, we decided to continue and attempt the difficult task of replacing Dallas, but time got the best of us. Over the last six months we all dealt with a litany of personal issues, which pulled us further and further from Alexisonfire.
In addition to that, Wade was recently asked to join another band and he felt it was an opportunity he would like to pursue.
Replacing one guitar player/singer/writer was something we thought was possible, but replacing two would run the serious risk of perverting the legacy of what we had achieved. So we all took a good hard swallow and decided to end it so it would never get old and ugly.
Was the break up amicable? Not really. Was it necessary? Probably. Regardless, the members of this band are my family and I wish them nothing but good fortune.”
While the press release goes on to elaborate that Alexisonfire is in the planning stages of both a series of releases to commemorate what would have been their tenth anniversary this year as well as one final run across Canada, fans will be left reeling at this news. Alexisonfire proved to be instrumental in helping to break a fantastic national music scene onto the world stage, and each successive release saw the band charting new, exciting ground. Their spirit will be missed, without question.
Artist:
www.theonlybandever.com/
www.myspace.com/alexisonfire
www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Alexisonfire
www.twitter.com/aof_official
