Despite overtures from former member Tom Hartney that they were “still continuing”, Little Red have officially called it quits.

After six years and two albums, the band officially announced their departure “after much thought and deliberation” on Facebook last night (August 15). All six members have now split off into separate projects:

– As previously reported on M+N, bassist Quang Dinh has formed a new band called Naked Bodies, who are in the process of mixing a double A-side;
– Drummer Taka Honda has resumed duties with The Hondas, who have just finished recording a full-length album;
– Keyboardist Tom Hartney has just released an EP with new band Major Tom and The Atoms, earlier telling M+N his decision had been “a while coming”; and
– Dom Byrne and Adrian Beltrame have formed an outfit called New Gods, who are in the process of recording an EP. New Gods have also just been announced as support on The Rubens’ national tour in September/October.

Formed in 2005, Little Red enjoyed a relatively fortuitous run from the outset – from the initial buzz generated by a Tote residency to winning their place onto the V Festival bill in 2008. Further success followed in the form of the independently released 2008 debut Listen to Little Red, which ended up being licensed for release internationally, and 2010’s Midnight Remember, which spawned Hottest 100 favourite ‘Rock It’.

“We’re so happy to have come this far,” the band said. “We’ve been given so many great opportunities and thank everyone who has helped us along the way.”

Little Red Splits: A Timeline

April 30, 2012: Tom Hartney is the first member to announce his departure. “I am very excited to be taking this first step into the great unknown,” he said in a statement. Question marks remains over bassist Quang Dinh and drummer Taka Honda, who is rumoured to have left the country.

July 18, 2012: Dinh departs, issuing a bizarre statement full of mixed metaphors: “The fuel tank is empty, the dinosaurs are extinct, the power has been cut, the milk is sour, the toast is burnt, the fire extinguished, the back is broken, the needle worn, the train delayed till the end of time.” No word from Honda, but Dom Byrne and Adrian Beltrame have reportedly started working with members of The Greasers, Eagle & The Worm and the Ground Components on a new project.

August 16, 2012: Little Red call it quits. See above.

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