The Get Up Kids announce split with keyboardist James Dewees

Just one month out from their visit to Australia, pop-punk icons The Get Up Kids have announced their split with keyboardist James Dewees.

Earlier this year, emo-rock/pop-punk icons The Get Up Kids announced that they would be returning to Australia for the first time since 2011 for a run of headline dates.

Undoubtedly, this was huge news for fans of the band who had been waiting years to catch the group performing live. However, it seems as though the band won’t quite boast the lineup fans were hoping to see, with keyboardist James Dewees no longer considered a member of the group.

Taking to Twitter early this morning, the official Twitter account for The Get Up Kids broke the news by sharing the (surprisingly blunt) message that “James Dewees is no longer a member of The Get Up Kids.”

This news was clearly a shock to fans of the band, who took to social media to question the reasons behind Dewees’ departure, and to express surprise at such a simple and short announcement.

Check out the band’s announcement:

James Dewees is no longer a member of The Get Up Kids.
— The Get Up Kids (@thegetupkids) September 7, 2019

Having first joined The Get Up Kids back in 1999, James Dewees has performed on every one of the band’s albums from Something To Write Home About until this year’s Problems.

Prior to joining The Get Up Kids, Dewees had served as the drummer of Coalesce, with both bands teaming up on a split EP back in 1996. In addition to the two groups, he has appeared as a member of My Chemical Romance, Leathermouth, New Found Glory, Death Spells, and has also served as the frontman of Reggie And The Full Effect.

While it’s not clear as to why Dewees is no longer a member of the band, some fans on Twitter have begun to speculate that it could be due to an upcoming reunion from one of his former bands, though this is obviously unconfirmed.

Likewise, it is not clear who will serve as his replacement when The Get Up Kids return to Australia next month.