Teenage Fanclub have announced that bassist, singer and songwriter Gerard Love is to leave the band at the end of the year.

The co-founder of the band, who has been with Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley in the seminal act for nearly 30 years, was one of the band’s three principal songwriters, penning ‘Sparky’s Dream’, ‘Star Sign’, ‘I Need Direction’ and their biggest UK hit ‘Ain’t That Enough’.

The band recently announced four triple-header shows in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London, celebrating the vinyl reissues of the five albums they recorded for Alan McGee’s Creation label.

However, it is the addition of a Far East tour in 2019 which has prompted Love’s departure – “a continuing and sadly unresolvable difference of opinion” on their upcoming touring plans, according to the band.

The statement continued: “Following discussions within the band going back several months there is a continuing and sadly unresolvable difference of opinion on whether the band should proceed with proposed touring plans,” the statement reads.

“So after that London show, Gerry will be separating from the band, and Teenage Fanclub will be continuing without him. The band wish Gerry all the best in his future musical endeavours.”

Gerry Love has responded to the announcement, saying: “I didn’t leave the band and certainly wasn’t kicked out, the idea of this tour eventually became a fork in the road… it’s as amicable as it can possibly be”.

More at www.teenagefanclub.com.