Darren Hayman leaves Rotifer, Mike Stone joins
aaamusic | On 26, Mar 2012
After two years, the period of Darren Hayman moonlighting as Rotifer’s bass player has reached its natural, entirely amicable end. Darren first appeared on a Rotifer record in 2007, playing the Moog part on the outro of “The Frankfurt Kitchen”, then bass on two tracks on the 2009 album “The Children on the Hill”. He joined songwriter/singer/guitarist Robert Rotifer and drummer Ian Button as a full band member in 2010 to complete the three-piece that recorded the Wreckless Eric-produced album “The Hosting Couple” (out on Edwyn Collins’ AED Records).
In Darren’s place, Rotifer are pleased and proud to welcome to the fold the brilliant and suave Mike Stone. Mike normally plays bass and keyboards in Television Personalities, who are on an extended hiatus while frontman Dan Treacy recuperates following his hospitalisation towards the end of last year.
The new line-up will play their first show at Power Lunches in London on March 30th 2012 as part of the already sold-out launch of Tigercats’ debut album. More gigs and recordings are planned, with a new album expected early next year.
Here is Darren Hayman’s statement on leaving Rotifer:
“I have decided to leave Rotifer, and it is with a heavy heart. I’m thought of largely as a writer but I love the idea that I might cut it as a musician. If I really was a good musician then I would like nothing better than to play the songs of Robert Rotifer.
It isn’t just that they are thoughtful, intelligent, soulful songs, it’s also that although it appears simple to the ear, Robert’s music is highly creative and complicated. His use of theory, flattened ninths and chromatic runs is quite unlike any other contemporary songwriter I know. Playing in Rotifer has stretched me as a player and broadened me as a writer. I now consider Robert to be one of the primary influences on my own creativity.
I’m leaving because of time constraints and also my own, documented struggle with playing in live music venues. It isn’t the playing, the music itself or the audience but rather everything else that is unattached to the music. I just need to play live less for a while.
Robert and Ian will continue in Rotifer with a new bass player, Mike Stone. I’ve already heard some of Robert’s new songs and he would appear to be approaching another purple patch of political laments. Robert will never be fashionable, that’s why he’ll always be good.
I’ll see you all at future Rotifer shows. I’ll be down the front.”
