Mark O’Connell admits: “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it wasn’t just my own.”
Taking Back Sunday have downsized. Their drummer Mark O’Connell is now officially no longer part of the band. He announced his retirement after almost 25 years with the group via Instagram – not without explaining himself in detail and giving an outlook on his future plans.
Fans first
On his Instagram channel, O’Connell revealed to the world after the rumor mill had already guessed: “After almost 25 years as the drummer for Taking Back Sunday, I would like to confirm that I am no longer in the band. It took me some time to comment on this. Thank you for your patience as I thought about how to tell my story.”
He further wrote: “First I would like to thank the fans – your love and support has meant everything to me. You have been the heartbeat of TBS and a huge part of my life for nearly a quarter century. I owe it all to you.” He then let everyone know: “Leaving wasn’t an easy decision, and it wasn’t entirely my own either.”
Family and health first
His statement: “Over the past few years, I have focused on my family and my personal development, including my sobriety. Unfortunately, during this time I did not always receive the support I needed from those I consider brothers, and creative differences made it difficult to move forward together.”
What will happen in the future
Looking ahead to what’s to come, the drummer explained: “Speaking of which, I’m happy to announce that I’ll be releasing new music soon – both as a solo artist and with some old friends. I’ve poured my heart into this project and can’t wait to share it with you. This is a new chapter for me – one full of passion, creativity and hope. I hope you will join me on this journey as we continue to be part of each other’s stories.”
Even if he didn’t explain specifically what had happened at Taking Back Sunday and what his future plan would look like, he did let it be known mildly: “Nevertheless, I am grateful for the incredible memories I have with each of my bandmates – and with all of you – and for the many opportunities that have presented themselves along the way. I’ll focus on the good as I move into the next chapter. Thank you again for everything. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and I’m even more excited about what lies ahead. With love and gratitude, Mark O’Connell.”
Mark O’Connell’s statement on Instagram:
The rest of the band has not yet officially commented on O’Connell’s departure. What future tours will look like also remains uncertain.