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Wild Beasts have announced their decision to split up after 15 years together. Formed in 2002, the band have released five albums. Their debut, Limbo, Panto, was released in 2008 and was followed by Two Dancers (2009), Smother (2011), Present Tense (2014) and Boy King which was released last year.
The band made the shock announcement via social media but have promised that “celebrations” for their demise will follow soon.
A statement from Wild Beasts reads:
“Wild Beasts are coming to an end.
“Our hearts and minds have been devoted to the band since we were teenagers. We’ve created something quite of our own and built a body of work which we stand by as heartfelt as true.
“The four of us have decided, for own reasons and in our own ways, that it is now time to leave this orbit.
“We’re caretakers to some thing precious and don’t want to have it diminish as we move forward with our lives.
“Thank you for your love and energy and for helping us make it what it is. We consider ourselves remarkably fortunate to have lived out this dream.
“Before we go, we’d like to celebrate with you and we’ll be in touch in the morning with further announcements.
Wild Beasts”
— Wild Beasts (@WildBeasts) September 25, 2017
It’ll be a shame to see them go. Reviewing their performance at the Roundhouse in London last year, Gigwise’s Sean Kerwick opined: “Tonight sees the quartet possess the self-assurance which will grant them access to bigger leagues. It's the same shift we felt when Alex Turner slicked his hair back and started wearing leather. It’s a bold move for critically acclaimed darlings to shift into more wild and brash territories, but clearly their name was always destined to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Viva Wild Beasts!”
Viva Wild Beasts, indeed.
