Locally grown, internationally recognised five-piece The Temper Trap are currently in the studio working on their third studio album for an early 2014 release. But the band have broken their intense work schedule to announce some sad news, the loss of one of their founding members.
The band have today announced the departure of guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto, with a statement on the band’s official website revealing that Sillitto – who has been a recording and touring member of The Temper Trap for eight years – has quit the group.
“I leave the band with a heavy heart but it was time for me to try new things,” says Sillitto. “I’ve loved everything about The Temper Trap. It’s been an incredible experience. I want to thank the boys for all the amazing times, places we have seen and played and laughs along the way, management, record labels, the many people who’ve supported the band throughout the years, the many friends I’ve made and of course the fans – it has been an amazing journey, an experience I will never forget and one that changed my life.”
Reflecting on the amicable departure of their guitarist, The Temper Trap write: “Loz has been a great friend and a valued and important member of The Temper Trap since he joined in 2006. His creativity and commitment to the band over the years has been first class and we wish him all the best with the exciting events that are about to come into his life.” “So while we’re sad to lose a guitarist, we are not losing a friend.” – The Temper Trap
The remaining lineup – frontman Dougy Mandagi, bassist Jonathon Aherne, keyboardist/guitarist Joseph Greer, and drummer Toby Dundas – add that: “The bond we all formed in those early years in Melbourne and endless kilometres in the Tarago has been with us through the good times and got us through the tough times so while we’re sad to lose a guitarist, we are not losing a friend.”
Silletto departs the group with an impressive list of achievements, The Temper Trap having scored major success with their self-titled follow-up to 2009 debut Conditions, with The Temper Trap being one of Australia’s best selling releases in 2012, as well as scooping ARIAs for Best Rock Album and Best Group in 2012.
The band have also enjoyed countless national and international tours, as well as a series of high profile festival slots, plus a rare, much-coveted support slot opening for The Rolling Stones for their highly anticipated headline show in London’s Hyde Park last July.
The five members have spent most of the year working on their third studio album, expected to be released early 2014, including working with Frank Ocean producer Malay in a unique artist residency in Byron Bay, developing ideas, sounds, and songs for the new album. “I kind of always felt that we wouldn’t really hit our stride until this next record,” said Lorenzo Silletto at the time of the ‘La Casa’ sessions.
Back in May, frontman Dougy Mandagi confirmed in a Tone Deaf interview that the band had “about 5 songs already in demo form,” for their new album. “The structure, music, vocals, and lyrics are there – so I think we’re progressing at a good pace.”
