A1 go on hiatus and part company with Columbia

Boy band A1, who went from four to three when member Paul Marazzi quit last month, have announced they will be taking time off to work on solo projects. Word is Mark is writing songs with Rob Davis, Christian is working with a new Norwegian artist and Ben is working on a solo album. The band are adamant this is not the end of the band, though given that they have also just parted company with record label Columbia their gigs on the forthcoming Smash Hits tour could be there last. A1 were, of course, the boy band who won some critical praise when they penned their own songs and played their own instruments on their most recent album.