Guitarist Leaves The Preatures: 'It Wasn't An Easy Decision'

Sydney band The Preatures' guitarist and vocalist Gideon Bensen announced Friday night that he will be leaving the band.

The band wrote on their Facebook page that Bensen's departure is totally amicable: "He leaves as our brother and our friend."

With a burgeoning solo career behind him, having dropped his first solo EP, Cold Cold Heart, just months ago to much positive feedback, understandably Bensen's departure will be to pursue this new challenge.

"It wasn’t an easy decision, but he has our love and full support to pursue his solo work and this exciting new chapter in his life.

"We’ve been through so much together. Thank you to our friends and families for the support and bad jokes that’ve made us what we are. The band isn't slowing down, we’ve been busy recording album 2," The Preatures assured fans.

Benson adds, "The past years have been some of the best of my life and I will be eternally grateful for all that I have learnt and experienced being in The Preatures. It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of such an amazing band, playing alongside Iz, Jack, Tom and Luke."

It appears fans won't be able to catch Bensen at any last Preatures gigs, as he has announced on his own Facebook page that he'll be on his way "to the UK on Monday to begin working on new music!"