MUMBAI: Death Cab for Cutie's founding member Chris Walla bid goodbye to his band on Saturday 13 September after playing in it for almost two decades. The 38 year old, who was also multi-instrumentalist and producer for the indie-rock band, played his final set at the Rifflandia Festival, which was held in Victoria, British Columbia.
Before launching into the final number 'Marching Bands of Manhattan' for the band's headlining set, lead vocalist and guitarist Ben Gibbard addressed Walla's departure saying, "Thank you so much for the last 17 years, Chris". The show closed on a rather emotional note, with the quartet coming together for a group hug on-stage.
Walla announced last month that he would be departing the band in a statement which said that he longed for the "unknown". "Deciding to leave the band was not, and is not, easy," he said. "It's really, really sad. I love my bandmates, and I'm proud of what we've done, and mercifully, those things don't change with my departure. Moving forward, my plans are simply to continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible. Darkness may find me, but I shall never choose it."
While Walla will not be part of Death Cab for Cutie's future tours, he will be on the band's upcoming album, which may see a release in early 2015. This will be the band's eighth studio album and is the follow-up to its 2011 release 'Codes & Keys'.