Chris Cohen, Deerhoof’s bassist/guitarist, announced yesterday via the band’s Myspace stating that he was leaving the band to dedicate more time to The Curtains, his first band.

How do I say this? For me, it’s big news - I’m not going to be in Deerhoof anymore.

As hard a decision as it was - I loved being in Deerhoof! - I really want to go full-time with my other band, The Curtains. This is the band that I’ve always done on the side (I started it with my friend Trevor before I ever joined Deerhoof) - and I feel a real strong pull to go and perform our new material live and focus all my energy into that. We’re just about to finish a new record which comes out on Asthmatic Kitty in the fall.

Deerhoof are still my close and beloved friends and we part ways on the best of terms - I wish them all the best and they do for me too. It just wasn’t possible to go on when my heart was in another place -

I hope you all understand.

I’ll be looking forward so much to all the things Greg, John, and Satomi go on to do in Deerhoof and I can’t wait to play the new Curtains music on tour this year!

Sincerely,
Chris

Although they’re parting on good terms, I can’t help but wondering about the timing. Deerhoof is on the eve of superstardom. They open for Radiohead next month at six California shows. It’s a move that will diversify their audience extensively. Oh well, guess I’ll keep my ears peeled for The Curtains.