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Legendary indie rockers Death Cab For Cutie announced yesterday that longtime member and guitarist Chris Walla would be exiting the band after 17 years. He has contributed largely to the band's success to this point, and had a hand with producing their legendary breakthrough album, 2003's "Plans" while inspiring fans with his mellow, low-key indie based guitar riffs having a large impact on music listeners all across the world. Here is the full statement from Chris as it was released yesterday:
"Short version: I’m leaving Death Cab for Cutie. My last show with the band will be September 13, 2014, at the Rifflandia Festival in Victoria, BC. I hope you guys can make it.
Longer version: I think I long for the unknown. It might be that simple.
I will miss being a quarter of this band, and will support whatever course Death Cab for Cutie chooses from here. I am profoundly grateful to Ben, Nick, and Jason, for the experiences that define my adult life. Truly grateful, beyond words. Thank you.
I am also grateful to, and deeply humbled by, all of our fans. Without you, music would be mere ‘content’, and nothing could possibly be sadder than that. Thank you all, so dearly.
We’ve just finished our eighth album, which is our first with an outside producer. That producer is a fellow named Rich Costey, and working with him in this capacity is one of the greatest joys of my professional life. Thank you, as well.
There are so many others to whom I am grateful—our crew, our management, our families, the Atlantic, Barsuk and Elsinor labels, the Billions team. Thank you all.
Deciding to leave the band was not, and is not, easy. It’s really, really sad. I love my bandmates, and I’m proud of what we’ve done, and mercifully, those things don’t change with my departure. Moving forward, my plans are simply to continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible. Darkness may find me, but I shall never choose it."
It is unknown at this point who Chris's replacement will be, but all that will be announced at a later time. The band just finished up production on their eighth studio album which will be out sometime early next year, and his departure leaves a big hole in a band that has defined the indie rock landscape as we know it.