Longtime The Mountain Goats bassist Peter Hughes is leaving the band. He shared the news in a lengthy message on social media, writing, “It’s been the ride of a lifetime, but I’m sorry to say that for a tedious multitude of reasons involving health and sanity blah blah blah, the time has come for me to step off. Not an easy decision, obviously, but a necessary one.” He adds, “Not dying and not disappearing btw. Honestly not sure what’s next but I’ve got a few ideas and am confident that we’ll all be fine. So don’t worry. I’ll see you down the road!” Read his full message below.
In their own statement about the news, John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, and Matt Douglas write, “There are dozens of songs about how the road is hard, and the more time you spend on the road, the less they sound like cliches than like a simple and sometimes stark description of your life. Sooner or later everybody spots the exit that has their name on it, and for Peter Hughes, my bandmate of either twenty-eight or twenty-two years depending on whether you mark the 1996 tour or the 2002 one as the start point, the time to leave the highway behind is now. He’s made the call, and all that’s left for us is to salute his legacy.”
They continue:
Peter’s contribution to our band and to my life can’t be overstated. The time, toil, and sweat he has devoted to making our band better, year in and year out, will always be an indispensable part of what “the Mountain Goats” meant from 2002-2024. Peter, the love Matt, Jon, Brandon and I have for you is forever, and my personal gratitude for your service not to my vision but what became our vision cannot be measured. I speak on behalf of audiences around the world when I say thank you, and that you will be dearly missed. To enumerate the memories we’ve made together would fill volumes. Your absence, it should go without saying, will be felt: Musically, personally. By us and by so many.
We wish you joy, and that in all abundance, in all you do: long may you live and may each day bring greater pleasure than the last!
Love,
John Darnielle, Jon Wurster, and Matt Douglas
The band’s scheduled October tour will proceed as trio shows, with Darnielle joined by Wurster and Douglas. See all dates below.
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: 2024 TOUR DATES
Oct 7, 2024 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA
Oct 8, 2024 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA
Oct 9, 2024 United Theatre Westerly, RI
Oct 11, 2024 The Egg Albany, NY
Oct 12, 2024 Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
Oct 13, 2024 Taft Theatre Cincinnati, OH
Oct 15, 2024 Bluebird Nightclub Bloomington, IN
Oct 16, 2024 Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI
Oct 17, 2024 Cahn Auditorium Evanston, IL
Oct 20, 2024 McCarter Theatre Center Princeton, NJ