‘Difficult to continue’: Rocker quits band after 30 years

A founding member of a big American rock band has quit after 30 years, with the band explaining it was too “difficult to continue”.

A founding member of American rock band Bowling for Soup has quit the group after 30 years.

Guitar player Chris Burney, 55, hadn’t been playing live with the group for over six months, and the remaining band members have now announced that the change is permanent, citing their longtime guitarist’s “recent medical developments”.

“It is with a heavy heart we announce that Chris Burney has made the decision to retire from his stage-right post in the band he co-founded in 1994,” the group said in a statement on social media.

“Some recent medical developments, 30 years of rocking balls and touring non-stop have made it difficult to continue. We are bummed to not have Chris by our sides, but absolutely support his decision.

Bowling For Soup (L-R) Chris Burney, Erik Chandler, Jaret Reddick and Gary Wiseman. Picture: Brad Barket/Getty

“The three of us will carry on, with Chris’ Blessing, and continue to build the legacy of this band we all love so much. We will not be replacing Chris or touring with a touring guitarist. You cannot replace a legend. We were brothers when we started this journey … and brothers we remain.

“See you at the shows and in your ears.”

The band’s frontman Jaret Reddick opened up about the big change in an interview with heavy metal mag Kerrang! saying: “He and I started this band 30 years ago, almost 31 now, and at one point, he was kind of the face of the band.

Health issues inisitally forced Burney off the road more than six months ago. Picture: Getty

Jaret Reddick (L) says Chris Burney (R) ‘retires a legend’. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty

“I can’t say it enough: we wouldn’t be us, or where we are, without him.

“We’re very thankful for all the time that he put in. The guy retires a legend. There’s something to be said for that.”

Bowling For Soup have released 11 studio albums across their 30-year career, the most recent being 2022’s Pop Drunk Snot Bread. Their biggest hit was the 2004 single 1985, which hit the top 40 here, in the US and the UK.

The group have a busy schedule ahead, with a show in Dallas next week before heading to the UK for an extensive tour.

Originally published as ‘Difficult to continue’: Rocker quits band after 30 years