2016 has been a tough year, especially bands making the ultimate decision for any band to make.
The Maccabees
One of the most underrated bands of the decade, The Maccabees decided to hang up the guitars for good after ten years together as a band. Orlando Weeks, Hugo White, Felix White, Rupert Jarvis and Robert Thomas – later replaced by Sam Doyle – met as teenagers in south London in 2002.
Starting off with their debut album ‘Colour It In’ in 2007 put their mark on the map to then go on to produce three more album. Their final album, ‘Marks To Prove It’ in 2015 showed no signs suggesting that they might be nearing a decline in popularity or a loss in musical talent.
“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.”
Bombay Bicycle Club
The north London four-piece, Bombay Bicycle Club insist they are taking a break but with frontman Jack Steadman and bass play Ed Nash are both recording solo albums and Jamie MacColl is returning to university to study for a degree. It could be all over for the band that we once knew.
They have had the time of their lives over the last eleven years with hundreds of gigs, including their special show at Earls Court, which was the last ever gig at the venue before demolition work began.
In a Statement the band siad; “After 10 years of doing this – and it being the only thing we’ve known since the age of 16 – we thought it was time for all of us to try something else.
“For a band that has been together for such a long time, we are all still incredibly close and probably get on even better than we did when we started the band.”
The Enemy
Tom Clarke, Andy Hopkins and Liam Watts formed The Enemy in Coventry 2006 decided to call it quits ten years later after the release of their final album ‘It’s Automatic’ didn’t pick up the media attention it deserved compared to the sold out venues and passionate fans.
The trios four albums stead them well but indie’s golden era and kept sloughing away even when the spotlight had moved on to someone else.
He said on BBC Music: “Our last record was to my mind the most complete and indeed the best we made, but radio and the media couldn’t find a place for it despite unwaveringly strong ticket sales from a passionately devoted audience.
“Sadly funding and releasing records just isn’t possible without support and exposure from radio. This frustrates and saddens me in equal measure.
“While this is the main reason it has to be said it’s not the only one. Health issues for myself and one of us becoming a proud father are amongst some of the others.”
Zibra
Sam Battle (vocals, guitar), Russ Harley (synths) and Ben Everest (bass) closed out their time together with appearances at Kendal Calling, Secret Garden Party and Beat-Herder Festival before their last headline show at The Social in London. They left us with one last song RIP, quite fitting for their last track as a band.
The synth-heavy rockers lay the band to rest after a series of intoxicating EPs and singles with hits including “Great White Shark,” “Wasted Days” and most recently “Goodbye Mondays” which featured on the FIFA 16 soundtrack.
I hate the fact that we lose bands with so much potential had their time cut short due to either a lack of support or getting the vital exposure they need to succeed.
The band posted on Facebook; “Having returned from Butlins with new world experiences under our belt. We have been enlightened to another way of life that doesn’t involve shaking pineapples or smashing TV screens. As a result of this the band currently known as ZIBRA have decided to hand in their one months notice.”
