Funeral For A Friend Singer Matthew Davies-Kreye Parts Ways With Band
Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
Matthew Davies-Kreye has left Funeral For A Friend.
The Welsh post-hardcore band announced the news with a statement posted to social media yesterday (December 4), explaining that the longtime singer's decision was made amicably, and the band will continue to record new music. They wrote:
"Hey folks, it’s with a heavy heart that we announce that after 20+ years, our singer and brother Matthew Davies-Kreye has decided to move on to pastures new going forward, and leaves with all our love, respect and gratitude.
"While Matt moves on, the rest of us have come out of our recent 20 Years Casually Dressed Anniversary Tour with a renewed spark and desire to create new music together, for the first time in this line-up for many years.
"We’ll keep you updated on that in due course, but suffice it to say that we wouldn’t be entertaining new music if we didn’t feel the material we’re currently writing would hold up to the legacy of what we created back in the day. We hope you agree with us on that, and look forward to sharing with you next year."
Davies-Kreye also released his own statement:
"I never thought, after we called it a day back in 2016, that I would get the chance to revisit Funeral For A Friend let alone the way we did with Darran and Ryan back onboard.
"Given the emotionally challenging circumstances around us coming back together to play the benefit show for Big Stu in 2019, I was so happy to see just how much love there still was for our music.
"After the joy, fun and success of the last two tours Kris, Darran, Ryan, Gavin and Rich are eager to play more shows and explore what the band can still do creatively and I’m sure with what they have in mind their endeavours will push the band to new highs.
“For me though, this is a road that I can’t walk down. I absolutely love everyone in FFAF, I love our fans and I loved these last shows we played but my life has moved on in so many ways since we first said goodbye back in 2016 that I can’t see myself being in an active band again.
"So here we are, I wish Kris, Darran, Ryan, Gav and Rich all the luck and success in the world and I know they’ll be doing an incredible job and giving it everything they’ve got as always. To all of you, I can’t thank you enough for your support over the years and I can’t wait to hear you all singing along to the band’s songs for many more years to come."
Funeral For A Friend are confirmed to play Slam Dunk Festival next May, with Holding Absence vocalist Lucas Woodland set to sing with the band. Their last album was 2015's 'Chapter and Verse'.
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