Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes announce indefinite hiatus
“From the deepest lows to highest highs, in grief in anger and in joy, our band has been a celebration of being alive"
By Nick Reilly
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have announced they will take an indefinite hiatus once their current run of shows comes to an end.
Carter, who has recently been fronting a reformed version of the Sex Pistols at shows across the UK, announced the news on Instagram this morning (October 4).
“Nine years, five Albums, hundreds of stages shared all over the world and our songs sung with each and every one of you. It is with sadness we announce that The Rattlesnakes are taking a hiatus,” the post said, displaying a handwritten note from the members. “From the deepest lows to highest highs, in grief in anger and in joy, our band has been a celebration of being alive no matter the circumstances.”
They added: “We want to send our love and thanks to the band – Gareth [Grover], Tank [Tom Barclay], Elliot [Russell] & Mitch [Thomas Mitchener]. It’s been a privilege to share the stage with some of the best musicians we know.
“So please join us all in celebration of the songs that changed our lives. Our UK and European Tour will go ahead and we look forward to seeing you all on the dancefloor.”
The group’s debut album came in 2015’s Blossom, which was followed by 2017’s Modern Ruin, 2019’s End Of Suffering and 2021’s Sticky.
Their most recent effort came in January’s Dark Rainbow, which saw Carter offer up his own journey of soul searching and questioning his place in the world.
“Songs like ‘Man Of The Hour’ are reactionary to the times because everyone is questioning what a rock star is these days,” Carter told Rolling Stone UK earlier this year.
Everyone’s a rock star. Everyone’s an influencer and everyone’s got an OnlyFans. Anyone can be a celebrity and anyone can be a superstar. What does that mean? I don’t fucking know anymore, but I how I felt while I was in the thick of it and I wasn’t happy. It took me a long time to come to terms with what that meant for me and to just be comfortable in my own skin. It felt like I’d been painted with the same brush so many times that I actually lost a sense of who I am.”
His bandmate, Dean Richardson, meanwhile, said it benefitted from their own personal development too.
“For me, therapy has really worked,” Richardson explained.
“I’ve been in it for a few years and I’m a big fan of talking therapies, but I’m also aware of how privileged I am to get to do it because not everyone has access to it around the world. That’s what led to change to me. If you can have access to it, I’m a massive advocate for it.”
The band’s final run of shows will kick off at Brighton’s Concorde 2 on October 15, followed by a date at London’s Electric Ballroom on October 16. The tour will later head to the continent, with their final show before the hiatus taking place at Helldorado Festival in Eindhoven, Netherlands on November 15.