Jim Ward of At The Drive In has told Aussie website Undercover that his band are officially no more. When members of the band split off to create two new outfits - Sparta and Mars Volta – the official line from their record label was that the band were on 'hiatus'. But in his latest interview Ward says the band is over.
"That is bullshit. That is big company bullshit. We had a meeting - Cedric and Omar said they didn't want to be in the band - there was no more band. Big business doesn't know as individually or personally. They just see the massive money machine that is about to start. They don't want to say "break-up". They want to say "it might happen, it will be magical". I don't know if I was never meant to talk about it any more or if I'm allowed to use the word break-up but it was my band. I can use whatever word I want to use. And I have deep, loving respect for the guys I played with. I still love them and respect them and I would never say a bad word against them. We were a band of brothers and it was awesome".
Talking about the new bands he says: “Cedric and Omar formed Mars Volta straight away. Three months later the other guys gave me a call and said they wanted to form a new band. It wasn't like we split into two. The band broke up. We came back together to switch things around and start something new. It wasn't premeditated at all".
You can read the full interview at www.undercover.com.au