Born Joy Dead Guitarist Ben Maher Has Quit The Band

Born Joy Dead have announced that their "tonal shredder" Ben Maher has left the Brisbane outfit "to move onto his next chapter".

The entirely amicable parting played out on the group's Facebook page, where the band posted their statement regarding the split.

"It breaks our heart but gosh we've loved every moment," they wrote of their departing guitarist. "Thanks for the laughs, the rollies, your technical inversion knowledge but mostly — your kind, chillaxed heart. Big love bro."

Maher responded to the band's statement: "Thanks for everything guys. Had some great times playing alongside you legends. All the best in the future."

The news comes just ahead of a show at Barbara this Thursday, 17 August. Frontman Ben Dalton tells The Music the band will be playing a somewhat stripped-back set as a trio for this show.

The guys also released Sinkhole Holiday, their first new tune since 2016's Sourdough, late last month, and will set off on an east-coast tour in support of the track from late September, for which they'll be calling on an old mate to fill the gap left by Maher's departure.

"Our friend Joel Keenan is filling in for Ben on the upcoming tour and might pop in for a couple songs [at Barbara] too," Dalton told The Music. "Joel did some guitar tech work for my old band, Hungry Kids [Of Hungary], back in the day, along with other bands Ball Park Music and Ben Kweller." 

Give Sinkhole Holiday a spin below.

See Born Joy Dead's Facebook for more information.