THE QUIREBOYS Singer SPIKE Releases First Statement After Split With Bandmates

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

Estranged THE QUIREBOYS singer Spike (real name Jonathan Gray) has apologized to his fans, just hours after his bandmates released a statement saying that he was no longer in the group. Earlier today, the long-running U.K. rockers announced that they had parted ways with Spike and revealed their intention to continue as a five-piece, with longtime guitarist Guy Griffin handling the vocals. A short time later, Spike took to his Twitter to write: "Just to clarify, I have received a letter from 3 of MY band members informing me that my services are no longer required to sing or perform with them. "I will release an official statement shortly but for now, my sincere apologies go out to you all and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all my fans who are supporting me through this difficult time. Many of you I have known for years and consider my friends. Thank you for your love and support. "Rest assured I will see you at the bar very soon. "THE QUIREBOYS founder, only original member and singer, God bless, Spike x" THE QUIREBOYS most recently performed without Spike aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise, which departed out of Miami, Florida on February 9. THE QUIREBOYS put out their most recent album, the well-received "Amazing Disgrace", in 2019. The band's debut LP, "A Bit of What You Fancy", was released in 1990 and included the song "Hey You", which was THE QUIREBOYS' biggest hit, reaching No. 14 in the U.K. singles chart and No. 5 in the U.S. Billboard Rock chart. In 2020, THE QUIREBOYS were scheduled to celebrate their 35th anniversary with a tour. The trek, which ended up getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, would also have marked 30 years since the release of "A Bit Of What You Fancy". Following the band's inception in London in 1984 — originally as THE CHOIRBOYS, then THE QUEERBOYS, before settling on the less controversial name of THE QUIREBOYS — there followed six years of hard graft and personnel changes. THE QUIREBOYS played to 72,000 people at 1990's Monsters Of Rock at Donington with the likes of WHITESNAKE, AEROSMITH and POISON. They supported THE ROLLING STONES that same year in Newcastle, and opened for GUNS N' ROSES at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and again a couple of years later on their "Use Your Illusion" tour. The public's appetite for THE QUIREBOYS had returned and hasn't waned since — three further studio releases ("Well Oiled", "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers", "Halfpenny Dancer") were released on various labels from 2004 to 2009 before the band found their new, and permanent, home on Off Yer Rocka, the label of the renowned festival brand Hard Rock Hell. An anniversary edition — fully re-recorded — of "A Bit Of What You Fancy" drew much acclaim in 2021.