Alt-J are down a man after bassist Gwil Sainsbury officially quit the band over the weekend.
The now indie three-piece made the brief announcement via Twitter on Saturday.
“With regret, Gwil is leaving alt-J. This is purely a personal decision and as our best friend we support him completely,” the band posted on their official Twitter feed.
With regret, Gwil is leaving alt-J. This is purely a personal decision and as our best friend we support him completely.
— Δ (alt-J) (@alt_J) January 11, 2014
In a later statement released by the band, the remaining founding members sought to clarify that the split was amicable.
“The three remaining members of alt-J – Joe, Gus and Thom – and all at Infectious Music give their full support to Gwil and wish him only the very best for the future.”
“Both alt-J and Infectious (the band’s label) would like to reassure fans that the band remain excited about the future and are set to return to the studio very soon to begin work on the follow up to 2012’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize-winning An Awesome Wave.”
The 2012 album first brought the band to prominence, but they actually formed back in 2007 while studying at Leeds University.
Often touring, Alt-J hit Australia for Mushroom Group’s relaunch party in February, than again for some headline dates in July last year before turning up as the mystery band at Splendour In The Grass, all while playing some 164 live shows throughout 2013 including festival appearances at Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Reading and Leeds.
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