Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla To Leave Band

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE ANNOUNCE DEPARTURE OF CHRIS WALLA;

FOUNDING GUITARIST/PRODUCER TO LEAVE GRAMMY® NOMINATED BAND

FOLLOWING CURRENT NORTH AMERICAN FESTIVAL RUN;

EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM RECORDED IN L.A. WITH PRODUCER RICH COSTEY;
AS-YET-UNTITLED COLLECTION SLATED FOR EARLY 2015

Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie has announced the departure of founding member Chris Walla. The guitarist/keyboardist/producer will leave the 7x GRAMMY® Award-nominated band following their current run of festival dates, culminating with what is sure to be a very special headline performance at Victoria, BC’s Rifflandia.

“We’ve had an incredible 17 years of making music with Chris and are very proud of what we’ve accomplished together, including our 8th studio album which we have just put the finishing touches on,” stated Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr. “We will miss Chris and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career. We’re excited about sharing new music, and seeing all of you very soon.”

“I will miss being a quarter of this band, and will support whatever course Death Cab for Cutie chooses from here,” stated Chris Walla. “I am profoundly grateful to Ben, Nick and Jason for the experiences that define my adult life. Truly grateful, beyond words. Thank you.” Walla’s full statement can be read here: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/music/

Death Cab for Cutie – who were among the top acts performing at this past weekend’s Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park – is currently winding up sessions for their massively anticipated eighth studio album. The band is recording in Los Angeles with Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Interpol) behind the board. The album is slated for release in early 2015 with extensive touring to follow.

Death Cab for Cutie has been hailed as one of contemporary music’s most compelling and creative collectives since their 1997 foundation in Bellingham, Washington. After a long relationship with the Seattle-based independent label, Barsuk, Death Cab made their Atlantic Records debut in 2005 with their fifth studio release, “PLANS.” The album proved the band’s commercial breakthrough, earning RIAA platinum certification as well as spawning the chart-topping “Soul Meets Body” and “I Will Follow You Into The Dark.” The latter track was honored with a GRAMMY® nomination as “Best Pop Performance By Duo Or Group With Vocals,” with “PLANS” receiving the nod as “Best Alternative Album.” “DIRECTIONS,” the 2006 DVD companion to “PLANS,” earned an additional GRAMMY® nod as “Best Longform Music Video.”

Now fully affirmed as an era-defining band, Death Cab for Cutie made a stunning #1 debut atop the SoundScan/Billboard 200 with 2008’s RIAA gold certified “NARROW STAIRS.” More critical acclaim and two further GRAMMY® nominations followed, including nods for “Best Alternative Album” and “Best Rock Song” (honoring the hit single, “I Will Possess Your Heart”). “THE OPEN DOOR” EP was released in 2009, earning DCfC a third consecutive GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Alternative Album.” “CODES AND KEYS” arrived in 2011 and made a top 3 entry on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 before receiving the band’s fourth straight GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Alternative Music Album.” “You Are A Tourist,” the album’s first single, also proved a multi-format radio smash, reaching #1 at both Triple A and Modern Rock outlets nationwide – DCfC’s first-ever #1 at the latter format.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
NORTH AMERICA 2014

AUGUST
15 Dallas, TX KXT’s Summer Cut – The Happy Funtime Fest
16 Omaha, NE Maha Music Festival
29 Edmonton, AB Sonic Boom 2014
30 Calgary, AB X-Fest 2014

SEPTEMBER
5 Chicago, IL The Hideout Block Party & Onion AV Fest
7 Toronto, ON Riot Fest
11-14 Victoria, BC Rifflandia