Chris Walla announced early Wednesday morning that he will be leaving Death Cab For Cutie after being in the band for 17 years. Walla Co-founded the Indie Rock group in 1997 along with vocalist Ben Gibbard and released seven albums, many of which included singles like: “Soul Meets Body,” “I Will Possess Your Heart,” and “You Are a Tourist.”
In a post for Slog, Walla wrote:
“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.”
His last performance with Death Cab For Cutie will be on September 13 at the Rifflandia Festival in Victoria, British Columbia.
Death Cab For Cutie said their official website that: “We’ve had an incredible 17 years of making music with Chris. We are very proud of what we’ve accomplished together, including our 8th studio album which we have just put the finishing touches on. We will miss Chris and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career. We are excited about sharing new music, and seeing all of you very soon.”
Outside of Death Cab, Walla has produced albums for Tegan and Sara, The Decemberists, Ra Ra Riot, The Thermals, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf and The Postal Service which Gibbard is also the vocalist.
Death Cab For Cutie is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming eighth album (Walla’s final record with the band) that will not be released until at least early 2015.
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