Speaking onstage at last night's show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, he said: “You can't be the Rolling Stones. You've gotta quit while you're relatively handsome."
Posting the news on their official website, Pollard, aged 47, describes how “This feels like the last album for Guided By Voices… I love the guys in the band, but I'm getting too old to be a gang leader.”
The band’s final LP, tentatively titled ‘Half Smiles of the Decomposed’, is slated for release on August 24th. A triple-vinyl version of ‘Bee Thousand’ on Scat will also be coming out later in the year to commemorate the album's 10th anniversary.
Making records for 20 years, the band propelled their way into the public consciousness with the suitably titled ‘Propeller’, a lo-fi record of epic proportions. They followed this up with three classic albums, ‘Bee Thousand’ (Scat Records), ’Alien Lanes’ and ‘Under The Bushes, Under The Stars’ (both on Matador), but following a falling out between Pollard and guitarist Tobin Sprout, the band nearly split.
After a brief flirtation with the TVT label, who gave them a bigger budget and big name producers Ric Ocasek and Rob Schnapf, they returned to Matador in 2002. ‘Human Amusements At Hourly Rates’, a collection of their greatest moments, was released late last year. Disappointingly, the band’s most famous moment was appearing in the video for The Strokes’ ‘Someday’ single.
“We're gonna go out in a blaze of fire,” he said of the final show, “we are the kings of indie rock. When we quit, indie rock will die...”DiScuss: Who the hell are Guided By Voices? What was their best album? Do you think the new one will be as good as Pollard describes it? Were you lucky enough to see them live? What memories will you have of the band? Were they better with Tobin Sprout? Are GBV the last of the lo-fi?
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
No one can go on forever. Having collectivly written so many great songs, gbv can pass on the baton.
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
der der der der der der der kicker of elves
This is all I have to say on this matter.
Oh and I am also sad
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
(with my valuable hunting knife)
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
"I Am a Scientist" will always, always, always be welcome on just about any playlist I compose...
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
...not quite, but they've managed to tutor many a great band in the art of making guitar-based pop. easily one of the most influential (and best) bands of the past 20 years. they deserve our undying respect...
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
"oh pick up, for god's sake, whe we call you back to the lake"
RIP GBV x x x
Re: The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
They were one of the surprises of the weekend.
Bob Pollard will continue to make good stuff and I'm sure he'll tour so not all is lost.
I hope to see the microphone windmilling again
Re: The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
"I don't know where you get your nerve. I don't know how you coose your words"
Its bad because now I think I'm going top go to New York for the last show. Would be great I think.
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
x
gen
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
GBV are truly one of the greatest bands to have trodden the planet, both live and on record. They've brought me ten years of sheer musical joy, some of the greatest gigs I've ever had the good luck to attend and a list of drinking stories as long as my arm.
It's the end of an era. We all have to grow up someday, but GBV will never truly die - their legacy will live on and new music will still be released, just in a different guise.
Bob, Doug, Nate and everyone else - thanks for everything, it's been a pleasure.
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split
The Club is Closing - Guided By Voices to Split