SCOTT Hutchison, the founder and lead singer of Frightened Rabbit has moved to say the band will not be ending despite a "meltdown" in which he invited fans not to buy his records.
However he has had to cancel appearances at two German festivals, Haldern on August 13 and Rock Am See on August 20 to seek recovery after hinting his outbursts on social media were the result of alcohol and depression.
In a social media tirade, the Selkirk-born singer-songwriter produced a series of emails which led to concern from celebrity fans including Scots DJ Edith Bowman.
He said: "Hello. What's the point?
"Turns out I'm a complete a*sehole. It's important that everyone knows. I'm not a particularly good person. So don't buy my records.
"I've really hurt people who are in my life and then made records out of that turmoil, when it was entirely my fault anyway.
"So I'd urge you to forget about the band, it's a complete farce. I don't deserve any of the things that have benefitted my life.
He concluded in a string of tweets put out on Friday that led to concerns about the band's future: "Goodbye to Frightened Rabbit. All it has ever been is me boring people with lies and making creative currency out of other people's hurt."
But on Wednesday, Hutchison, posted on the official Frightened Rabbit social media platforms that it was not the end of the band and that he now had a "greater appreciation of the pitfalls of mixing alcohol, depression and social media".
He said: "I will keep this short and to the point, there's no real need to go into great detail. I had a bit of a meltdown on Saturday, for various reasons.
"Some of you may have witnessed it, some of you may not have and some of you may not really care, but I said some regretful things on Twitter.
"I'd like to attempt to set that straight. Sometimes when life goes awry the reaction is to destroy and say 'f*ck it all' and unfortunately that's what I did.
"In spite of this, it's not the end of our band and (in the sobering light of day) I don't truly believe the things I said.
"On the plus side I have a greater appreciation of the pitfalls of mixing alcohol, depression and social media.
"In case you were in any doubt, it's a terrible idea. For now, the priority is recovery, so regretfully we have decided to cancel our appearances at Haldern and Rock Am See."
His comments were punctuated by a drawing of a disturbed human brain.
"Sometimes there are more important things than playing shows and we wouldn't be pulling out if we didn't think it was necessary," he added.
"Lastly, I'm sorry if I caused any alarm. If you have ever been through a low-point in life I'm certain you'll understand. If you haven't ever been through the muck, you are a lucky b*stard."
He added on his Twitter feed: "I sought entirely the wrong attention. If you're suffering, turn to your friends and family. Call someone, anyone.
"And stay the f*uk away from the internet. Bye for now. S."
The Friday tweets were deleted with no response either from him or from his record company and management until Wednesday about what had happened.
Frightened Rabbit's twitter feed has since tweeted thanks for concern for Hutchison saying: "Thanks for your concern regarding Scott. He's doing well."
The band's feed also acted as if it was business as usual, tweeting excitement about forthcoming gigs.
It comes four months after Frightened Rabbit released their their fifth album, Painting of a Panic Attack created while he was living in Los Angeles.
It is understood he wrote large chunks of the music while sitting in the home he shared with his girlfriend in Los Angeles.
In March 2014, Gordon Skene departed the band owing to "differing opinions" with the four other members.
The band wrote on Facebook: "There is no more to tell other than sometimes things just don’t work out and when people have differing opinions often the best option is to simply part ways and get on with life separately."
Frightened Rabbit, who were formed in Selkirk 13 years ago, are due to play Glasgow's Bellahouston Park on August 26 supporting Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. There is, so far, no confirmation whether Hutchison will be fit for that date.
They are best known for hit albums Pedestrian Verse and critically acclaimed LP The Midnight Organ Flight and songs such as Swim Until You Can't See Land, Keep Yourself Warm and The Woodpile.
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