WOLFMOTHER Splits With Bassist, Drummer; Frontman STOCKDALE To Carry On With New Musicians

Australian Grammy Award-winning rock band WOLFMOTHER has announced the resignation of bass/keyboard player Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett effective immediately.

Singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale now plans to find other musicians over coming months and to then begin making a new WOLFMOTHER album.

WOLFMOTHER toured the world virtually non-stop through 2006 and early 2007 on the back of its acclaimed self-titled debut album. Longstanding frictions within the group then lead it to take an extended break during the second half of 2007 to consider its future.

In early 2008 the band regrouped and worked on new material. Initially encouraged by those sessions, they committed to a handful of live shows to "road-test" the new songs and to try to find a way forward.

Those dates concluded with a headlining slot last Sunday (August 3) at the Splendour In The Grass Festival in Australia's Byron Bay where rumors circulated about possible lineup changes.

Following that show, Chris Ross decided to announce that he was leaving the band due to irreconcilable personal and musical differences. Myles Heskett has also opted to exit the group rather than continue as part of a changed lineup. The pair has been working together on songs for some time and they plan to focus their energies on that new project in the future.

WOLFMOTHER's self-titled debut album is one of the most successful Australian rock releases this century. It has sold over 1.3 million copies and received multiple ARIA Awards and a Grammy — making WOLFMOTHER the first Aussie band to receive such an award in 25 years. Other highlights for the group have included appearances at just about every major music festival in the world, sharing stages with PEARL JAM, THE WHO and THE STROKES, and a special performance inducting the legendary LED ZEPPELIN into the UK's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Andrew Stockdale, Myles Heskett and Chris Ross will make no public statements at this time except to say that they are each really looking forward to making their new music over the years ahead. In the meantime, they simply ask all WOLFMOTHER fans to please understand that in spite of their best efforts over a long period of time, they just could not find a harmonious way to work together and that has lead to the decisions announced today.

WOLFMOTHER's first live DVD, "Please Experience Wolfmother: Live", was released in North America in November 2007 via Interscope. The disc is a live recording of the band's Sydney homecoming in 2006 at the Hordern Pavilion. Bonus features include further live performances from Brixton Academy and the ARIA Awards ceremony, plus five promo videos and "Meet the Mother", an exclusive introduction to the band.