Time To Go: Supergrass Calls It A Day

Supergrass: 1993-2010

Well, we can’t say this is completely surprising (half the band went out on tour playing covers during sessions for their new album – that’s generally not indicative of harmony within the ranks), but it doesn’t make it suck any less…

Supergrass is splitting.

Sayeth Gaz & Co.:

After releasing a collection of classic singles and six great studio albums, we announce that we’ve split due to the 17 year itch. We are playing 4 farewell shows in June, details to follow. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. We still love each other but, cliché notwithstanding, musical differences have led to us moving on and of course we all wish each other well in the future.

Supergrass’ career arc has taken them from the kid brothers of Britpop up to – until today, at least – the last band standing of the fabled era (it’s been pointed out to me that Radiohead is still together – yeah, but 1) they ceased being a rock & roll band ten years ago, and 2) Thom Yorke is now playing with Flea. That has to count as an immediate disqualification to being a part of anything remotely British). To use a very lazy analogy… if, in the ’90s British music landscape, Oasis were the Beatles, Blur the Stones, and Radiohead the Who, then the ‘Grass were the Kinks, or maybe the Small Faces – a very, very worthy band that was pretty much taken for granted and severely underrated amidst all the hype, drama, bluster, and bullshit of the bigger kids.

Which is a goddamn shame, as In It For The Money is, track-for-track, probably the best British album of the last twenty years, and I Should Coco and Life On Other Planets have to rank on the fringes of the Top Ten, as well. And very few bands could assemble a more enjoyable best-of than Supergrass Is 10. Hopefully, Supergrass will get their due now that they’re no longer in the cycle of releasing a solid yet largely ignored album every three years, playing some festivals across Europe, headlining some smaller venues in the U.K., and opening a few shows for the Foo Fighters. People will eventually realize what was right under their nose all these years, and they’ll be kicking themselves. At the same time, the ‘Grass had settled in to a career pattern that made it very easy for fans – both casual and hardcore – to take them for granted. Such is life…

Anyway, dig yourselves some Supergrass. A hell of a band… and rock & roll will be a little less fun without them.