Perennial Aussie rockers Grinspoon have announced that they are going on indefinite hiatus.
With seven albums, 13 ARIA nominations, over 1,000 shows, and half a million in sales etched into the 18 year musical career, the four-piece have announced that it’s time to take a well-earned break.
The news arrives via the band themselves, with a statement issued on the official Grinspoon website explaining to their many fans of their plans to rest up for the long-term. Grinspoon’s founding members Phil Jamieson, Pat Davern, Joe Hansen and Kristian Hopes are “taking a long-term, indefinite break… going on hiatus to pursue individual projects for the foreseeable future,” reads the statement.
“Thanks to all our families, friends, and especially our fans for the support over the last 18 years – it’s been a wild ride to say the least,” the post continues. “We are still a band of brothers but it’s time for us to take a break and recharge the batteries. We’re excited to see what our future holds…adios amigos, it’s been a blast!”
Despite performing a string of solo shows recently, frontman Phil Jamieson, speaking to The Daily Telegraph, insists that the band are not splitting but instead taking the necessary time to “recharge… spend time with our families,” and see more live shows rather than perform at them. “Instead of us playing gigs, we would like to go see some, so maybe you will see us in the crowd instead of us being the ones asking for your applause.” – Phil Jamieson
“Instead of us playing gigs, we would like to go see some, so maybe you will see us in the crowd instead of us being the ones asking for your applause,” Jamieson says. “Some people will be overjoyed and some people may be a bit sad about our decision but it’s not a definite full stop.”
The vocalist also reveals that the band reached the decision in an airport meeting room a month or so ago following a year of extensive touring in support of their seventh and latest album, Black Rabbits.
“The solo shows have really brought home to me that we have made an impact and that is humbling,” explains Jamieson, “…it’s been overwhelming to discover how much people love these songs we made over 18 years.”
The hiatus will allow the band to turn their attention to their families. Guitiarist Pat Davern became a father earlier this year, and along with Pete Murray, co-owns a Byron Bay recording studio. Bassist Joe Hanen works alongside his artist wife, while drummer Kristian Hopes has his own business and Jamieson says, “I want to take my daughters to nippers; I’ve missed a lot of nippers being on tour.”
As for his solo career, the frontman notes “I am totally terrified of doing a solo record,” but will also focus on his involvement with headspace, the Australian youth mental health foundation that’s partnering with the Big Day Out.
The long-running national touring festival has a long history with Grinspoon, which along with Homebake and Splendour, is one of the many iconic events the band has rocked since forming in 1995 in Lismore, NSW.
It was only three weeks after forming that the quartet recored a two-song demo (in three hours), with their track ‘Sickfest’ going on to claim top honours in Triple J’s first national Unearthed competition, forging a long-term relationship with the radio station. It wasn’t long after that they were asked to perform at the first-ever Homebake.
Following two releases, their self-titled EP of 1995 and 1996’s Licker Bottle Cozy EP, Grinspoon issued their debut album Guide To Better Living (1997), which featured enduring rock anthems ‘DCx3’, ‘Champion’, ‘Just Ace’ and eventually reached double-platinum sales.
Following 1999’s Easy, 2002 album New Detention brought the band major commercial success, peaking at #2 on the ARIA charts while ‘Chemical Heart’ took out the #2 position on the Triple J Hottest 100; the following record, 2004’s Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills, also won Grinspoon an ARIA.
Grinspoon’s final show before going on their indefinite break will take place on Friday 20th December at Eaton Hills Hotel in Brisbane, QLD.
“We didn’t plan it this way, but it made sense to end this chapter of our careers after our last show for 2013. We didn’t want to get up on stage for the final time for now and not be able to share our news with our fans,” said the band. “So what comes next? You’ll have to wait and see.”
