Neil Milan quits Clean Bandit: ‘It’s the right decision’
By Will Stroude
Neil Milan has announced that he is leaving Grammy-award winning British electronic group Clean Bandit.
The musician and violinist revealed the news in a heartfelt message posted to social media this morning (October 19), in the which he thanked fans for their support and wished his former bandmates the best as they continue on as a group.
“I have decided to leave Clean Bandit. It was a decision that took me a very long time to reach but it is the right one”, the 26-year-old wrote. “So many people have made these last four years quite unbelievable and I am so thankful for it all.”
Calling the support of fans “the most insane and amazing things I have ever experienced”, Milan went on to thank several important figures who had supported him during the group’s rise to success, including ex-boyfriend and Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, who he credited as being “a huge part of how I experienced being in Clean Bandit”.
In a spearate statement, the band’s remaining members Grace Chatto, Jack Patterson and Luke Patterson revealed that Milan had only recently told them of his decision to quit, adding: “We have had a wonderful ride together and we are extremely excited to see what he does next.”
Formed while Milan, Chatto and Jack Patterson were studying at Cambridge University, Clean Bandit has gone on to score five UK Top Ten hits, including recent single ‘Tears’, featuring X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, and 2014’s multi-platinum-selling smash ‘Rather Be’, featuring Jess Glynne.
Read Neil’s statement in fill below:
hello everyone, I have decided to leave clean bandit. it was a decision that took me a very long time to reach but it is the right one. so many people have made these last four years quite unbelievable and I am so thankful for it all. meeting (and tweeting) you guys has been really so incredible I have learned so much and seen so many things and it will all stay with me forever. your support for the music and just for me more generally is one of the most insane and amazing things I have ever experienced.
I have this little box under my bed where I keep things I have collected along the way, things that people have sent to me, polaroids of me and little mix, and general pieces of touring tat that I can’t bring myself to throw away, and it’s all spread out on my bed right now making me smile and also cry a little bit.
there are a few people I have met along the way who have kept me in health and happiness and I guess I want to say special thanks to Tec Beint our production manager who looked after me and I really think must be the most amazing dad, @tobadiah @jack2jack2jack and @griffithsliam the pieces of our incredible crew and all ridiculously kind, Alistair and Iain our long suffering and hard working managers, George my friend and super competent Dj tour manager, Briony holly Damian Phil Callum and Claire at Atlantic, @aimeecroysdill @elainelynskey and @naradkutowaroo who are total gems all three, my friend @rupeeb and also @ollyyears who have both been a huge part of how I experienced being in clean bandit, @florencerawlings @tinakeyboards and @anaisaida all amazing musicians and hilarious people, and above all my partner-in-crime and the most magnificent and powerful person I know, @elisabethtroy .
I wish clean bandit all the luck even as I feel sure they won’t need it, here’s to all our futures
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