The Vaccines formed in West London in 2010 (Picture: Mike Lewis Photography/Redferns)
The Vaccines’ lead guitarist Freddie Cowan has announced he’s made the difficult decision to leave the indie band.
The If You Wanna hitmakers shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday evening, revealing the musician told them he wanted to step away last summer.
‘It made sense to us all that he should follow his path to happiness outside of the band,’ the Teenage Icon singers wrote.
They explained ‘making music together has changed our lives forever and in ways beyond our wildest dreams,’ adding that the band was ‘excited for all the fun and creativity that lies ahead.’
‘We’re sending Freddie all the love luck and happiness in the world. We’ll miss him! Ready Freddie,’ The Vaccines signed off the post.
Freddie, meanwhile, in a statement said he knew ‘in his heart’ it was time to pursue other ventures.
He added: ‘We loved and fought and cried and cared deeply for each other. I would say like brothers but actually, I feel like it’s often the chosen family that really matter to us in our lives. T
‘The band will always be my family. We are bonded forever through the experiences we shared. I also hope we have another chapter together when the time is right.
‘Love and gratitude to everyone in and out of the camp that made my dream a reality. I never thought it was possible to stand on the Reading main stage or have a number one album.
Freddie said the band were like ‘brothers’ to him (Picture: Cannonball PR)
He continued: ‘It was a wild and fulfilling ride and my life is richer and forever different for having been part of a truly great band. I hope The Vaccines continue to new heights for years and years to come.’
Freddie, along with Justin Hayward-Yung, Árni Árnason, Timothy Lanham and Pete Robertson formed The Vaccines back in 2010.
In 2016, Pete also decided to leave the band, with Yoann Intonti instead playing drums for the group.
The Vaccines wished Freddie well in his next venture (Picture: Redferns)
They said they ‘missed him already’ (Picture: Redferns)
The band’s debut album, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?, was the best-selling debut album of 2011 in the United Kingdom and they have sold two million records worldwide.
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The rockers’ hits have included Norgaard, No Hope and I Always Knew and they have toured with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Arctic Monkeys.
Freddie will be focusing on his new project, Freddie & The Scenarios, with his debut album due to be released next week.
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The band said they already missed him.