It’s been a busy few days for Arcade Fire. They announced a new album and shared a new single on Thursday and played a triumphant intimate show in New York City last night. However, in a series of tweets on Saturday, founding member Will Butler announced he was no longer in the band.
“Hi friends— I’ve left Arcade Fire,” Butler began. “I left at the end of last year, after the new record was complete. There was no acute reason beyond that I’ve changed—and the band has changed—over the last almost 20 years. Time for new things.”
Concluding, he wrote “Thank you to anyone who’s come out to AF shows, or bought a record, or loves our music. It’s meaningful to be part of your lives. Thank you to the crew, staff, management, label people, bands, artists, and friends who have helped bring our vision to life for so many years. The band are still my friends and family”
See the tweets below.
Hi friends—
I’ve left Arcade Fire— Will Butler (@butlerwills) March 19, 2022
I’m working on a new record; booking some shows this summer. I’m working on music for a David Adjmi play (which is so good). A few other projects percolating
— Will Butler (@butlerwills) March 19, 2022
Thank you to anyone who’s come out to AF shows, or bought a record, or loves our music. It’s meaningful to be part of your lives. Thank you to the crew, staff, management, label people, bands, artists, and friends who have helped bring our vision to life for so many years
— Will Butler (@butlerwills) March 19, 2022
I’ll be around! See you around!
—Will
— Will Butler (@butlerwills) March 19, 2022
In September 2020, Butler released his second solo album, Generations, on Merge Records. At the time, he told us that many of the topics feel pertinent to the state of the world now, including the apocalyptic feeling brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A rep for Arcade Fire confirmed to SPIN that Butler has left the band.
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