Taking Back Sunday Drummer Mark O’Connell Announces Departure From Band After 24 Years

Taking Back Sunday‘s drummer Mark O’Connel announced on Instagram on Tuesday (January 7) that he is leaving the New York alt rock band. “After nearly 25 years as the drummer of Taking Back Sunday, I want to confirm that I am no longer with the band,” the 43-year-old musician wrote. “”My departure wasn’t an easy decision, and it wasn’t entirely my own.” O’Connel says that he shifted his focus over the past few years to his family as well as his continuing commitment to his sobriety, which has apparently caused a rift within the group. “Unfortunately, during this time, I didn’t always feel the support I needed from those I thought of as brothers, and creative differences made it hard to move forward together,” O’Connel shared. The drummer revealed that he will be releasing new music “as a solo artist and with some old friends,” saying that he has “poured my heart into this project, and I can’t wait to share it with you.” (People)