Janet Weiss Leaves Sleater-Kinney; Band Issues Statement
“The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on.”
Jul 01, 2019
Sleater-Kinney
Photography by Charlie Engman
Janet Weiss has announced that she is leaving Sleater-Kinney only a month and a half before their new album is released (The Center Won’t Hold, due out August 16 via Mom + Pop). Weiss, the band’s longtime drummer, said in a Twitter post that “the band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on.” Sleater-Kinney has responded with an Instagram post, saying they are “saddened by Janet’s decision to leave Sleater-Kinney.” Read both statements below.
While not a founding member of Sleater-Kinney, Weiss has been with the band since their 1997-released third album Dig Me Out. Prior to that founding members of Carrie Brownstein (guitar/vocals) and Corin Tucker (guitar/vocals) were joined by three different drummers. Weiss was the one that stuck and solidified the classic lineup that continued until they went on hiatus in 2006. The trio then reunited in 2014 and released a well-received comeback album, No Cities to Love, in 2015 via Sub Pop.
The Center Won’t Hold finds the band experimenting with a slightly more polished sound, thanks to producer St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark), and on a new label in Mom + Pop. It’s pure speculation, but based on Weiss’ statement these could be factors in her decision to leave the band.
Here is Weiss’ full statement:
“A Letter To The Fans
After intense deliberation and with heavy sadness, I have decided to leave Sleater-Kinney. The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on. I will never forget the heights we reached or the magnificent times Corin, Carrie and I shared. We were a force of nature. To the dearest SK fans - you’re the raddest fans in the universe and I love you. Experiencing the music together has been the honor of a lifetime. Thank you for sustaining me the past 24 years and for proving without a doubt that love and connection are what saves us.”
And here is Sleater-Kinney’s response statement:
“We are saddened by Janet’s decision to leave Sleater-Kinney. It has been an incredible privilege to work with such a talented musician and drummer over the course of so many albums, including The Center Won’t Hold.
We thank her for joining us on this journey many years ago; we will always cherish our friendship and our time together. We wish Janet all the best as she starts a new chapter in her life.
We are so excited for everyone to hear the record, and to see you on the road this fall and beyond.
Love,
Sleater-Kinney”
As well as Sleater-Kinney, Weiss has performed in plenty of other notable bands. She’s been in Quasi with (now ex-husband) Sam Coomes since 1993. She was in Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks for two albums (2008’s Real Emotional Trash and 2011’s Mirror Traffic). She was also in the short-lived band Wild Flag alongside Brownstein, Mary Timony (Helium), and Rebecca Cole (The Minders). Weiss has also played with Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, and others.
Prior to the announcement of The Center Won’t Hold, Sleater-Kinney shared the album’s first single “Hurry On Home” via a Miranda July-directed lyric video for the track (it was one of our Songs of the Week). When the album was announced they shared its second single, “The Future Is Here,” which was also one of our Songs of the Week. Then they stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “Hurry On Home,” in what might be Weiss’ last public performance with the band.
Big changes. pic.twitter.com/PWWHMWDLU9
— Janet Weiss (@jazzzhand) July 1, 2019
Sleater-Kinney North American Tour Dates:
10-09 Spokane, WA - Fox Theater
10-11 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Boise
10-12 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
10-13 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
10-15 Minneapolis, MN - Palace Theatre
10-16 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater
10-18 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
10-19 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
10-20 Louisville, KY - Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
10-21 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
10-23 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
10-25 Washington, DC - The Anthem
10-26 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
10-27 Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore
10-29 Boston, MA - House of Blues
10-30 Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
10-31 New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11-01 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
11-03 Toronto, Ontario - Rebel Complex
11-04 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
11-05 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
11-07 Houston, TX - House of Blues
11-08 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
11-09 Austin, TX - ACL Live at The Moody Theater
11-11 Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
11-12 San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
11-13 Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory OC
11-14 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
11-16 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11-17 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11-19 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-20 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-21 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
11-23 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
11-24 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
Support Under the Radar on Patreon.
Most Recent
Comments
Submit your comment
There are no comments for this entry yet.