Ending months of speculation following the departure of keyboard player Tom Hartney, quickly followed by bassist Quang Dinh and drummer Taka Honda, Little Red have made it official and confirmed they have officially broken up.
The news comes despite assurances from management back in April that the popular band would continue without Hartney and Honda, and continue work on a follow up to Midnight Remember.
“It’s been 6 really great years of performing live across Australia and around the world, but it’s time for Little Red to say farewell, as the original members have parted ways,” said a statement on Little Red’s official blog this afternoon.
“Highlights of our time as a band were many and often,” the statement continued. “We’ve released two albums that we’re proud of in various countries, toured all around Australia, to Papua New Guinea, USA, Japan, Europe, performing at festivals including Meredith, Laneway, SXSW and many more.”
“We’re so happy to have come this far – we’ve been given so many great opportunities and thank everyone who has helped us along the way. Thank you to our fans – your ongoing support has been incredible.”
Formed in 2005, Little Red rose to prominence quickly after receiving regular radio play on Triple J, and their single ‘Coca Cola’ was voted #47 on the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100. The song featured on their debut album, Listen To Little Red, which the band independently released in June 2008, peaking at #29 on the ARIA Album Charts.
Capitalising on their new found popularity, the band toured around Australia extensively, before knuckling down in the studio to record their sophomore effort Midnight Remember in September 2010.
The album saw the band reach new heights, and the single ‘Rock It’ went gold on the ARIA Singles Charts before reaching second place in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2010 – the second time the band made the popular list.
‘Rock It’ also received the AIR Award for Best Independent Single/EP, cementing the band’s place as one of the brightest stars in Australian alternative music.
But fame has it’s pitfalls, and the band members quickly grew tired of Little Red, and each other, leading to each member walking away independently over the last few months to pursue various side-projects.
Dom and Adrian have a new band called New Gods, and are in the process of recording an EP with a single due out very soon. They have also just been announced as support for The Rubens’ so Dom and Adrian and their new band mates will be touring nationally through September/October.
Tom is now leading a new band called Major Tom and the Atoms who have just launched an EP, Taka’s band, The Hondas, have just finished recording a full-length album and will release their first single in October, and Quang’s formed a new band, Naked Bodies and are in the process of mixing a double a-side.
