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Motion City Soundtrack: ‘For now we are done’

by Jay Gabler

March 11, 2016

Motion City Soundtrack have shared what they call "a bittersweet realization": the veteran band "are done," at least for now. In a statement posted to their social media accounts, the band say that "a quiet winter" has allowed them to reflect on their "past, present, and future" and decide to call it quits.

In true Minnesotan spirit, the band aren't saying this is goodbye forever — but they are calling their next tour, to be announced on Monday, "a very special final tour." Frontman Justin Courtney Pierre has recently been working on solo material, including the single "Everything That Hurts," premiered Sunday on The Current's Local Show.

One of the biggest bands to come out of Minnesota in recent decades, Motion City Soundtrack were formed in 1997 and quickly built a national following. They've come to be regarded as one of the defining bands of the turn-of-the-century "pop punk" sound, and a recent tour celebrating the tenth anniversary of their album Commit This to Memory met with rapturous reception from nostalgic millennials across the country — including at a sold-out Varsity Theater show. Their sixth and (for now) final studio album, Panic Stations, was released last year.

"Minneapolis rockers make Prince and the Replacements proud," wrote Rolling Stone in a 2005 article about the band. Now established in the firmament of great Minnesota bands, Motion City Soundtrack are riding into the sunset.

Here's the complete statement:

Hello, friends.

It has been a quiet winter for us. We’ve had some time at home after a very busy 2015. With this time, we’ve been able to think about the past, present, and future of Motion City Soundtrack. All of this thinking has lead to several conversations, and these conversations have lead us to a very bittersweet realization:

We have no idea what the future holds, but for now we are done.

Needless to say, we’re feeling all the feels - you may be as well. If so, or if you’ve ever been touched by our music, we ask you to come out and sing along with us one last time in 2016.

Please stay tuned for a very special final tour announcement on Monday. You can sign up to our email list HERE to be the first to hear the news. We really hope to see each and every one of you out there one more time.

Thanks for all the love over the years. It really means a lot to us - and it always will.

Josh, Justin, Jesse, Matt, and Tony

Motion City Soundtrack perform in The Current studio

Artist of the Month: Motion City Soundtrack

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