As sad as it is when a great live band breaks up, the news that popular Melbourne five-piece Little Red has called it quits seemed inevitable given all that has transpired within the band this year. In April founding member Tom Hartney announced his departure from Litte Red to pursue other musical interests with his band Major Tom & The Atoms.
Around this time rumours also circulated that drummer Taka Honda had relocated to Japan, and then last month bassist Quang Dinh followed Hartney’s lead, splitting from the band he had been a part of for approximately six years and putting his immediate focus into his other musical project Naked Bodies.
Now the demise of Little Red has become official with the band posting an open letter to fans on the band’s official website. Although fans will of course be disappointed, the silver lining is that where there was once one band there now stands four. There’s the aforementioned Major Tom & The Atoms and Naked Bodies, in addition to Honda’s The Hondas and Adrian Beltrame and Dominic Byrne’s New Gods.
You can check out each of the new bands in the official statement below.
Read: Little Red – Official Band Statement
Hi everyone,
It’s been 6 really great years of performing live across Australia and around the world, but it’s time for Little Red to say farewell, as the original members have parted ways.
After much thought and deliberation we are all in need of a new project.
* Dom and Adrian have a very exciting new band called New Gods, and are in the process of recording an EP with a single due out very soon. New Gods have also just been announced as support for The Rubens’ September/October National tour – dates and details here.
* Quang’s formed a new band, Naked Bodies and they are in the process of mixing a double a-side.
* Tom is now leading a new band called Major Tom and the Atoms, who have just launched an EP.
* Taka’s band, The Hondas, have just finished recording a full-length album and will release their first single in October.
Highlights of our time as a band were many and often; we’ve released two albums that we’re proud of in various countries, toured all around Australia, to Papua New Guinea, USA, Japan, Europe, performing at festivals including Meredith, Laneway, SXSW and many more. We’re so happy to have come this far – we’ve been given so many great opportunities and thank everyone who has helped us along the way.
Thank you to our fans – your ongoing support has been incredible.
Eternally grateful,
Little Red
