Scots musician Rod Jones says an online campaign to force Idlewild back together has made him consider his future in music.
Idlewild fans launched an online campaign asking people to boycott side projects involving the members of Idlewild, including Jones' band The Birthday Suit, in an attempt to force the group to record a new album.
However, Jones says the campaign has had the opposite effect on him and will have no bearing on when Idlewild get back together.
In an open letter to fans he said: "Firstly I'd like to thank all of you for your continued and generous support over the last 18 years. It means a lot to us and is why we all continue to make music in our various guises.
"It has recently come to my attention however that an online campaign including some unkind and hurtful messages has been waged to try and boycott side projects in an attempt to bring Idlewild back. If anything this just has the opposite effect in that it made me really consider whether I wanted to make music anymore after working so hard with my good friends to make new music and I feel compelled to set the record straight.
My other band The Birthday Suit and its touring and releasing records has absolutely no bearing or influence on whether and when an Idlewild tour or album might happen. It also involves a lot of very talented and hardworking friends and musicians who are not involved in Idlewild who deserve to be heard and credited for their good work and not punished for being involved in my other projects. They are some of my favourite musicians and people and the hurtful messages directed at them and us are truly disheartening and upsetting to me."
The online campaign has now been removed and Jones hopes that this will be the end of onslaught.
He added: "I realise that this is maybe a minority faction of our fans and that most of you have been supportive and receptive to our other projects and I greatly appreciate that. It is mainly because of your support that I have found the resolve to continue to do what I have gained much joy from over the past years and keep making music. I hope that you will continue to support our music both as individuals and as Idlewild whatever the future may bring."
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