‘This Is My Fucking Band After All’: Steve Kilbey On Continuing The Church With A Member Of Powderfinger

After months of speculation, the church frontman Steve Kilbey has made a statement this afternoon about the band's latest plans, specifically the new album they are recording without guitarist Marty Willson-Piper.

"Marty was/is unavailable,” Kilbey writes. “After having secured the funds to make a new church record, Marty was not available to make it.  So I asked Ian Haug from Powderfinger if he would like to play on this record and do the subsequent tour. He said yes."

Kilbey has said his setting the record straight this afternoon will be his final ever comments on the matter.

“I will never say anything more about this subject,” he continues. “Marty is not available. Ian was. And I needed to make this album because we haven't done anything for so long. You'll have to trust me. This step was not taken lightly.”

While Kilbey says that he still loves and respects Wilson-Piper's musicianship, he simply isn't a part of the band anymore and the band are moving on.

“If you can't dig it I'm sorry. This is my fucking band after all and it has existed at times without Peter and in the beginning without Marty. And for times in between while he went AWOL. I love the guy. His musicianship is undeniably good. But it's over now, the church will have to move on without him or have no church at all. Which one did you want?"

The full statement, posted on his Facebook page, is below.

hey guys
this has been hard to broach and it has been hard to announce.
this is the simple truth.
marty was/is unavailable.
after having secured the funds to make a new church record, marty was not available to make it.
so i asked ian haug from powderfinger if he would like to play on this record and do the subsequent tour. he said yes.
we have begun the new album and let me reassure you it is magnificent. otherwise we wouldnt be doing it.
i will never say anything more about this subject. marty is not available. ian was. and i needed to make this album because we havent done anything for so long.
you'll have to trust me. this step was not taken lightly.
ian is a brilliant guitarist who brings years of experience and a new fresh enthusiasm with him. this is no second rate deal. and nothing is chiselled in stone.
if you cant dig it i'm sorry. this is my fucking band after all and it has existed at times without peter and in the beginning without marty. and for times in between while he went AWOL.
i love the guy. his musicianship is undeniably good. but its over now . the church will have to move on without him or have no church at all. which one did you want?
i am sitting here right now with 16 new incredible songs that we just wrote. its frustrating that it will be a while till you hear it. but the church will ride on. and i hope that when i fall off my perch that someone else jumps in and keeps it going. this is what i was writing about the other day. the church is an ideal that produces a certain type of music. regardless of individuals.
the church will prevail. and our new music is very very fucking cool.
and thats it!