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Oscar winners and former lovers GLEN HANSARD and MARKETA IRGLOVA are to split as THE SWELL SEASON to embark on other endeavours.

The news comes just days after a fan committed suicide onstage at a Swell Season show in Saratoga, California - but the tragedy has nothing to do with the parting.

Hansard has announced plans to rejoin his former band The Frames, while Irglova intends to record a solo album.

Irishman Hansard tells Spinner.com, "I'll go back to the Frames, and Mar will make her own record at some point. This band (Swell Season) will eventually naturally end. But right now, all of us are just so grateful.

"Getting together and making music with Mar was a side thing for me, but it felt absolutely right. I followed through on it even when it felt like I might've been abandoning my band a bit. But I had to follow through. I knew there was something in this that I had to follow through on."

And he has every faith that his Swell Season partner, once co-star and former lover will make every success of a solo career: "I love the way she writes. I think she's an incredible songwriter and I think she could make a really beautiful, beautiful record... I'm very, very proud of her."

The earlier thread on the suicide is here. I haven't listened to their stuff as Swell Season yet, but I loved their music in Once.

starman9000

That's too bad. That's also a ridiculous use of 'former lover'.

kstublen

This is both good and bad news for me. I love The Frames, so I'll be glad to have some new stuff from them, but I'm disappointed there won't be anything new from The Swell Season. I'll definitely pick up Irglova's solo album though; I've always felt we haven't heard enough of her on their collaborations, although she was more prominent on Strict Joy.

Still, have to wonder if the suicide did impact the decision in some way. If it did have an effect on their decision to call it quits, that guy sucks even more for ruining one of my favourite groups in the process; but if they say the two aren't related I'll take their word for it.

BDB

I prefer the Frames, the swell season was good, and Glenn is correct in handling it this way.

they've both made a ton from this, and it can only help the Frames when they tour again.

TGM

any chance we can get someone to kill themselves at a Nickleback concert?

NORML54601

Fixed.

cungar

I'm sure the thought of doing it has crossed many people's minds.

Bob_Bobbson

Just send them back to Portugal.

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DamDavila

Not quits, just a hiatus. Hansard has commented on his Twitter account “If anyone is going to announce the end of The Swell Season it’ll be us.. Forget what anyone else says.. Were not breaking up..”