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Sacked Snow Patrol Bassist Speaks!

added 17 March 2005 at 13.58

Following his departure from Snow Patrol, McCelland has explained that he didn’t see the split coming and that, as a friend of Lightbody’s since the pair studied together at university and founder member of the band since 1994, it was entirely unexpected.

“This is one thing that I thought would never happen,” he told the Daily Record “I think Gary (Lightbody, Snow Patrol frontman) wanted more control and less interference. It’s a solo effort now because he’ll be the only one really contributing to the band.

“I didn’t see it coming because there was no real indication of these pressures they were talking about,” he explained. “I went down for a meeting to discuss what I thought was about when we were going to start rehearsing and writing for the new album and they just sprung it on me.

“Gary said to me, ‘We’re not getting on. I don’t feel I can write music with you in the band and you’re going to have to go.’ It was as simple as that. I wanted an explanation but there was none forthcoming.”

However, a message from Lightbody on the band’s website insisted the decision was for the best.

“This is the hardest decision we have ever had to make, and believe us when we say we didn’t make it lightly. It got to the stage that things couldn’t go on as they were, so we felt there was no other course of action but this,” he wrote.

“I know you will all be distressed and may not understand this news but we had to do what was best for the band. At present we are in Ireland writing and demoing the new album. We wish Mark all the love and hope for the future.”

Whilst a replacement has not yet been announced that band will have to be quick in finding a new member as - as well as being rumoured to be playing at a host of UK festivals over the summer (including Glastonbury, T In The Park and V2005) - Snow Patrol will be supporting U2 on their 'Vertigo' tour in Brussels, Manchester, Berlin, Paris and Dublin.

Gary and Tom from the band will also be DJing tonight and tomorrow night (March 17-18) at the Cambridge Junction and Bedford's The Pad respectively.

Check out the Xfm Online Festival Guide for all the latest line-up, ticket and site details as well as all the gossip and rumours about all the biggest festivals taking place this summer.

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Tagged as Snow Patrol, archive

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