Pelican Founding Member Laurent Schroeder-Lebec Leaves Band

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 26, 2012 7:20PM

Chicago-based metal act Pelican took to their Facebook page to announce that founding member and guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec is taking an indefinite hiatus from the group. Schroeder-Lebec stopped traveling for out-of-town shows in 2010. His replacement is Dallas Thomas from fellow Chicago act The Swan King.

In their post, Pelican write that Schroeder-Lebec's departure is an amicable one. "The decision is not due to any internal turmoil or conflict - since our last full length album Laurent has made his family and career the central focus of his life, which the members of Pelican completely respect and honor," the band writes.

As Pelican tell it, Schroeder-Lebec confided in the band as they were planning writing sessions for another full-length his heart wasn't into music. "[R]ather than deliver music that was half-hearted, he would rather sit it out," the band's statement says. According to the band, he then gave the band permission to continue without him, as a trio.

Laurent is our friend and our brother - while his decision is disheartening, we completely respect it. We don't yet know what the repercussions of his departure will be, but we're thrilled by the strides made on our last EP and excited with the direction of the new material composed since its recording. Laurent has given us his blessing to carry on...

Our best wishes are with him in everything he does.

Read more here. Pelican's latest release is this year's Ataraxia/Taraxis EP.