The innovative and often experimental indie band Guided by Voices announced on its website on Thursday that it was calling it quits, again. The band, led by the prolific singer and songwriter Robert Pollard, was founded in 1987 and broke up, the first time, in 2004. Mr. Pollard reconvened the group’s most successful lineup – the version that toured and recorded from 1993 to 1996 – in 2010, and made six albums with the band, including two (“Motivational Jumpsuit” and “Cool Planet”) released this year.
But on Thursday, the tour page on the band’s website was topped with a photograph of a neon “CLOSED” sign, and a message that reads:
Guided By Voices has come to an end. With 4 years of great shows and six killer albums, it was a hell of a comeback run. The remaining shows in the next two months are unfortunately canceled. Our sincere apologies to those that have purchased tickets and made travel plans. Thanks to everyone who has supported GBV.
All told, 12 shows – from Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26 to Detroit on Nov. 19 – have been canceled. Asked for a more detailed reason why the group is disbanding, Mr. Pollard responded through his manager in an email.
“I feel we’ve done some great work with these albums,” he wrote, “it wasn’t just a reunion to cash in. But it’s gone as far as it was going to go and to go beyond this point, to any degree or any length would be just going through the motions. It’s time to wrap it up with this particular entity.”
Mr. Pollard will continue to work with his other bands, Teenage Guitar, which has a new album due this month; Circus Devils, which has an album due in November; and a new group, Ricked Wicky. Mr. Pollard is also planning to release a solo album in 2015. There was no word on the other band members’ plans.