Sheffield indie group The Long Blondes have decided to call it a day, with guitarist Dorian Cox still suffering the affects of stroke from earlier this year.
The band were part of a wave of new groups who emerged from Yorkshire, however The Long Blondes stood apart from their peers due to their art rock leanings. Allegedly forming around a vintage clothes shop in Sheffield, their early singles were released on cult label Angular Recordings.
Debut album ‘Someone To Drive You Home’ was a glamorous mixture of indie rock and Roxy Music. A second album followed, this time produced by Erol Alkan. Titled ‘Couples’ it was released earlier this year, and it was in the immediate aftermath of this that guitarist Dorian Cox unfortunately suffered a stroke.
A statement from the band reads:
“We have decided to call it a day.
The main reason for this is that I suffered from a stroke in June and
unfortunately I do not know when / if I will be well enough to play
guitar again.
On behalf of the band I’d like to say a big thank you to anyone who
ever came to one of our shows, bought one of our records or danced to
one of our songs in a club. Thank you, if it wasn’t for you the whole
thing would have been pointless.
Finally on a personal note, thanks for all your well wishing messages.
Dorian xxx”
All is not lost for fans however – Angular Recordings have decided to release an album compiling the group’s early material. Titled ‘Singles’ it will be released today (October 20th).
