Britpop band Suede split to work on solo projects

Suede, one of the bands that defined the Britpop era, are to split up after their current tour, they announced yesterday.

The group, led by Brett Anderson, said they wanted to work on "individual projects", although they hinted that they might record again together.

In a statement published on their website, the band said: "Suede would like to announce that from next year they will be working on their own individual projects. There will not be a new studio album until the band feel that the moment is artistically right to make one.

"Suede would like to thank the fans for their wonderful support over the years. See you in the next life."

The band recently released a greatest hits package and gave a career retrospective by performing each of their albums in its entirety in a series of gigs at the ICA in London.

The band rose to fame in the early 1990s and were one of the most important contributors to the so-called Britpop movement, along with Oasis and Blur. Their best-known singles include "Metal Mickey", "Animal Nitrate" and "Trash".

Yesterday's announcement came as a surprise because Anderson had recently denied an imminent split in an interview with the BBC's digital radio station 6 Music. "I'm excited about where we are musically at the moment; there's a passion, a fire and intensity back in the band," he said.

The band underwent a line-up change when Bernard Butler quit for a solo career, under acrimonious circumstances, to be replaced by Richard Oakes. But they continued to enjoy success until the late 1990s, with hits including She's in Fashion and Electricity and gave a well-received performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival.