The Maccabees have announced they are to split. In a statement from the indie group, the band explain “there have not been fallings out and we are grateful to say that we are not leaving the group behind as a divided force”.
Stating its members would continue to make music, and that there would be farewell celebration shows, the Maccabees describe the decision as “incredibly difficult”.
“We are very proud to be able to go out on our own terms, at our creative peak and off the back of the best and biggest shows we have ever done. It has been a rare and absolutely incredible time that we all feel very lucky to have shared.”
Orlando Weeks, Hugo White, Felix White, Rupert Jarvis and Robert Dylan Thomas – later replaced by Sam Doyle – met as teenagers in south London in 2002. Releasing four albums throughout their career, starting with their 2007 debut, Colour It In, and including 2012’s Given to the Wild, which won them a Mercury nomination and an Ivor Novello award, The Maccabees emerged at a time when many artists were coming from the city, alongside Adele, Florence Welch, the Mystery Jets and Jamie T.
Their inspiration in their formative stage was said to be “late 60s comedy rockers Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, television cricket coverage”, as well as a mutual love for the Libertines, while their sound has evolved from gentle acoustic storytelling to more angular, anthemic pop songs.
This summer, the Maccabees played their first ever major festival headline set following their chart-topping album Marks to Prove It.
Read their full statement below:
After 14 years as a band we have decided to call it a day. The decision has obviously been an incredibly difficult one, given that the Maccabees has been such a huge part of our lives until now. We are very proud to be able to go out on our own terms, at our creative peak and off the back of the best and biggest shows we have ever done. There have not been fallings out and we are grateful to say that we are not leaving the group behind as a divided force. It has been a rare and absolutely incredible time that we all feel very lucky to have shared.
Love to anyone who has ever stood by our band, bought our records, come and seen us play, or cared and contributed in whatever capacity it may have been. We have always valued it immeasurably, tried to honour it as best we could and can only say thank you to you all very deeply and sincerely.
Though there are no concrete plans at this stage, we are all planning to continue making music. We are excited about the future and intend to move on, with some sadness, but with appreciation, affection and huge pride at the music we have made and all that we have achieved together.
There will be some farewell celebration shows announced in the near future.
Once again, especially to fans of the Maccabees, thank you for the countless good times that we will never forget. Take care and we will be in touch soon.
With love,
The Maccabees
