Fans have described themselves as 'heartbroken' and 'devastated'
Fans of The Maccabees have responded online to the news that the group are set to split after 14 years as a band.
In a statement posted to social media earlier on Monday (August 8), the band said of their split: “There have not been fallings out and we are grateful to say that we are not leaving the group as a dividing force”. They also stated that they will “continue making music”, promising farewell shows for later in the year.
SEE MORE: The Maccabees’ 10 Best Songs Ranked
Following the news, fans have described themselves as “heartbroken” and “devastated”. One wrote that the band “definitely had more to give and “managed to shake off the landfill indie tag and produce some wonderful records”.
However, others feel that it was the right time for the band to call it quits. “Obviously right time for them but great loss to rest of us,” one Twitter user wrote.
See a selection of fan reactions below.
@NME @themaccabees so much more to give. But always go out with the crowd wanting more.
— Wilson James (@wilsonjames_23) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees I feel broken this isn't allowed
— ben wheatley (@ben_wheat) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees heartbroken
— Rey (@BethReynolds_) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees definitely more to give. They were really getting their stride on the last two albums. Great live act too.
— Smiffy (@andysmiff79) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees Loads more to give. Obviously right time for them but great loss to rest of us.
— Heather Wolstenholme (@hjw28) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees definitely had more to give, managed to shake off the landfill indie tag and produce some wonderful records.
— Dan (@D__Hands) August 8, 2016
@NME @themaccabees I'm just gutted but have a feeling it might've been the right time!
— Therasa Marshall (@Therasa78) August 8, 2016
READ MORE: The Maccabees’ 2015 NME Cover Feature
The London fivepiece released four albums in total since forming in 2002. Their most recent record ‘Marks To Prove It’, released in July 2015, followed on from ‘Given to the Wild’ (2012), ‘Wall of Arms’ (2009) and debut ‘Colour It In’ (2007). The band headlined Latitude Festival in July.
Guitarist Felix White had recently told NME that they had not been writing new material. “We’ve got nothing in the way of new songs or ideas at the moment,” he said. “We’ve written on tour in the past, but we just haven’t done it this time around. We haven’t talked about new songs as a band at all.”
