Funeral For A Friend frontman Matthew Davies-Kreye has decided to leave the group.
The ‘Streetcar’ group initially split in 2016 before returning three years later in memory of their late friend ‘Big Stu’ before heading on tour, and now the remaining members – Kris Coombs-Roberts, Darran Smith, Ryan Richards, Gavin Burrough and Richard Boucher – are keen to create new music.
In a statement on Facebook, the post-hardcore band said: “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 lineup for many years.”
The Welsh rockers insisted they “wouldn’t be entertaining new music” if they weren’t confidence “the material we’re currently writing would hold up to the legacy of what we created back in the day”.
FFAF are booked to play Slam Dunk Festival next year, with Holding Absence singer Lucas Woodland stepping in for Matthew.
Meanwhile, the former frontman admitted he “never thought” he would get to “revist” being in the band after they “called it a day” seven years ago, particularly welcoming Darran and Ryan back into the fold.
Wishing his friends “all the luck and success in the world”, he explained in his own statement: “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.”