Bloc Party have dismissed rumours that they are looking to replace Kele Okereke.
Remember the game Chinese whispers? Well, sometimes it seems as if that game has no boundaries. Bloc Party are on hiatus, and with singer Kele Okereke launching a solo career rumours are starting to spread.
Releasing his debut LP ‘The Boxer’ last year, Kele Okereke recently completed a follow up EP. Speaking to press, the singer revealed that he bumped into the rest of Bloc Party in New York where they were working on new material – apparently without him.
Guitarist Russell Lissack entered the fray, giving an interview to the NME which was no doubt designed to douse the flames. However a quote out of context here and a dose of conjecture there meant that the Q&A actually poured petrol on the smouldering rumours.
Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe contacted management, who told him that Bloc Party had no plans to quit or replace Kele Okereke. Writing on his Twitter feed the ever-buoyant DJ said: “Bloc Party thing is nonsense. Management confirm it. Soiid…solid as a rrrrock.”
Now Bloc Party have followed this by publishing a short message on their website. Complete with a Simpsons style caricature of the four piece, the blog entry simply states: ‘Bloc Party is still Bloc Party’.
Underneath the band have written: ‘See you soon’.
Kele, meanwhile, is preparing to release new EP ‘The Hunter’ on October 31st. A seven track release, it features a handful of guest stars and production from previous collaborator XXXChange.
The singer has announced plans to launch ‘The Hunter’ with a one off London show. Taking place at the new London venue Electric Brixton on December 17th, tickets for the date go on sale this Friday (September 30th).
Kele is set to play the following show:
December
17 London Electric Brixton
