Joanna Gruesome announced in a Facebook post today that lead singer and lyricist Alanna McArdle will no longer be playing in the band. The group just released their sophomore album, Peanut Butter. “Lately, my mental health problems have become a lot worse and I’ve gone through a pretty shitty time,” McArdle wrote in a statement attached to the post. “I’ve realised I need to actually take some time out to focus on some kind of ‘recovery’, so I won’t be singing in Joanna Gruesome anymore.” She’ll be replaced during their upcoming tour by Kate Stonestreet of Pennycress and Roxy Brennan of Two White Cranes and Grubs. Read the band’s full message below.

NEWS PART 1
PART 1
hey so we’ve had a line-up change and we’re super super sad to say that alanna will no longer be playing in the band.

lan joined the band after seeing us play somewhere in london years ago after our previous singer moved away, and since then has been the most amazing vocalist/person/band member/gruesome we could have ever asked for. just on like a musical level, it’s been incredible writin songs and melodies for someone with such a powerful voice to sing, and her amazin lyrics have always totally improved the aggressive sections of our music. but also in every other way, it’s been so so cool to be in a band with someone we’ve became such great friends with, someone who’s been totally unafraid to hone in on horrible jerks and someone who’s made negotiating the bullshit of music industry types fun and inspiring. it’s taught us loads, we’ve had some of the best times and we totally support her decision. she’s been an amazing person to be in a band with. we will miss her greatly.

here’s a message from her:
“Lately, my mental health problems have become a lot worse and I’ve gone through a pretty shitty time. I’ve realised I need to actually take some time out to focus on some kind of ‘recovery’, so I won’t be singing in Joanna Gruesome anymore. I hate to sound cheesy but the time I had in jgro was life-changing. I made friends with so many amazing people, had the chance to play with some of my favourite bands, went to places I’d never been before (metaphysically and geographically) and pissed off a lot of men in the process. I am really proud of everything I’ve done with the band, especially Peanut Butter, and I think we’ve made some really great records. Thanks to everyone who ever put up with me on tour, and anyone who stopped any assholes from hurting other people at our shows xo”

please check our next post for info about our new lineup, new shows/records etc
xoxoxoxoxo

[…]

so we have a new lineup. we’re really pleased to be joined by two amazin and inspirin women, KATE (of feminist/queer punks pennycress: pennycress.bandcamp.com) on melodic vocals/shouting/screaming and ROXY (of two white cranes, grubs, formerly trust fund and misandrist power trio TOWEL) on melodic vocals/keyboard. we met them both in an occult bookshop.

attached is a picture of us:

SHOWS:
the group will also be playing some live dates and touring the U>S>A. experts tell us we’re a good band and we will be playing all of those songs from “weird sister” and “peanut butter”

we’ll also have a new 7” coming out in the next few months. we r super excited about what roxy & kate will add to the songs i’ve written recently and we will continue our mission to make pop songs as unlistenable as possible.

thx for reading all of this and huge amounts of love to lan.
see u soon

i should also thank @fortunapop @SlumberlandRecs @turnstilemusic for being great and wonderful. very proud to have worked with these labels

— Alanna McArdle (@alannamcardle_) June 1, 2015

Here’s a picture of the new lineup: