The Maccabees have announced they are to split. In a statement from the indie group, the band explain “there have not been fallings out and we are grateful to say that we are not leaving the group behind as a divided force”.

Stating its members would continue to make music, and that there would be farewell celebration shows, the Maccabees describe the decision as “incredibly difficult”.

“We are very proud to be able to go out on our own terms, at our creative peak and off the back of the best and biggest shows we have ever done. It has been a rare and absolutely incredible time that we all feel very lucky to have shared.”

Orlando Weeks, Hugo White, Felix White, Rupert Jarvis and Robert Dylan Thomas – later replaced by Sam Doyle – met as teenagers in south London in 2002. Releasing four albums throughout their career, starting with their 2007 debut, Colour It In, and including 2012’s Given to the Wild, which won them a Mercury nomination and an Ivor Novello award, The Maccabees emerged at a time when many artists were coming from the city, alongside Adele, Florence Welch, the Mystery Jets and Jamie T.

Their inspiration in their formative stage was said to be “late 60s comedy rockers Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, television cricket coverage”, as well as a mutual love for the Libertines, while their sound has evolved from gentle acoustic storytelling to more angular, anthemic pop songs.



This summer, the Maccabees played their first ever major festival headline set following their chart-topping album Marks to Prove It.



Read their full statement below: