The Beta Band have announced they are to split after eight years. The band issued a statement on their website yesterday which reads: "All good things must come to an end. And so it is that after eight years of creating consistently innovative music, releasing three critically acclaimed albums and staging some legendary live shows, the Beta Band have decided to call it a day. Sadly, eight years of hard work and critical acclaim but little return in terms of commercial success inevitably takes its toll and a group decision was made to finally lay the band to rest." The band will, however, perform a farewell UK tour in the autumn and a DVD of the band's videos is also planned.
Bassist Richard Greentree said: "The Beta Band apple has over-ripened and become riddled with maggots, it must fall from the tree and let its seeds return to ground." So, that's that cleared up.
Greentree and singer Steve Mason are working on solo albums, while DJ and sampler John Maclean will stay involved in music but also pursue film work. Drummer Robin Jones will also work in film and music.
After releasing The Three EPs compilation, The Beta Band famously described their first full album in 1999 as "the worst record made this year". The band had a bad break in 2001 when they discovered that their planned single 'Squares' used the same sample as I Monster's hit 'Daydream in Blue ' and The Beta Band decided to withdrew their single. The band had a brief moment of fame when they were name-checked in the hit film 'Hi-Fidelity'.