ALEXISONFIRE Calls It Quits

August 5, 2011

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada-based post-hardcore act ALEXISONFIRE has called it a day.

In a statement posted on the band's official web site, ALEXISONFIRE vocalist George Pettit explained that the group played what its last-ever show with guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green on December 19, 2010 in ALEXISONFIRE's hometown.

"Almost a year ago, Dallas informed us he would be leaving after we finished our [2009 album] 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals' tour cycle," Pettit said. "Trying to balance his life between touring with us [and] CITY AND COLOUR was a task too difficult to continue managing. He informed us he wanted to focus his efforts on CITY AND COLOUR."

George added that the remaining members of ALEXISONFIRE had planned to continue, but a series of "personal issues . . pulled [us] further and further" from the band. Finally, after guitarist Wade MacNeil's recent decision to quit in order to focus on another project, the rest of the musicians drummer Jordan "Ratbeard" Hastings and bassist Chris Steele felt it was better to go their separate ways than to let it "get old and ugly."

"Replacing one guitar player/singer/writer was something we thought possible, but replacing two would run the serious risk of perverting the legacy of what we had achieved," explained George. "We took a good hard swallow and decided to end it so it would never get old and ugly. Was the break-up amicable? Not really. Was it necessary? Probably. The members of this band are my family and I wish them nothing but good fortune."

ALEXISONFIRE's 2007 album "Crisis" achieved platinum-selling status in Canada after debuting at #1 on the Top 200 Nielsen Soundscan chart there.

The band's fourth studio album, "Old Crows/Young Cardinals", came out in June 2009 via Vagrant Records in the U.S.A. and on Dine Alone in the rest of the world.

ALEXISONFIRE is planning to commemorate its 10th anniversary with a series of releases and one last run of Canadian headline shows.

"In closing, I'd like to offer my sincerest gratitude to our fans," said George. "You were the coal that stoked our engines. You've given us a spectacular decade, rich with experience and joy. I love you all."

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