John Cummings leaves Mogwai

Citing Cummings' wish to pursue his own projects, the Glasgow post-rock veterans have also stated their intention for remaining members Stuart Braithwaite, Dominic Aitchison, Martin Bulloch and Barry Burns to continue as a four-piece.

Although not an original member of the band, Cummings joined ahead of their early 7" Summer, an NME Single of the Week in November 1996 and one of the band's breakthrough releases. While his contrbutions to the band were largely instrumental – perhaps unsurprisingly for a band famously shy of the microphone – Cummings also sang on Boring Machines Disturb Sleep, from 2003's Happy Songs For Happy People.

His departure appears to be amicable, with Mogwai offering the following statement:

“We are sad to announce that John Cummings has decided to leave Mogwai to pursue his own musical projects.

“We will continue as a four piece of Dominic Aitchison, Stuart Braithwaite, Martin Bulloch and Barry Burns and shall be joined on our upcoming live shows by Scott Paterson and Luke Sutherland.

“We wish John all the best with the future.”

Mogwai was formed by guitarist Braithwaite, bassist Aitchison and drummer Bulloch in 1995, adding Cummings and former Teenage Fanclub member Brendan O'Hare before recording their debut album Mogwai Young Team in 1997. O'Hare's stint in the band was brief, however, as he was notoriously sacked for talking through an Arab Strap performance shortly after the album's release. Keyboardist Burns joined the band ahead of 1999's Come On Die Young to complete their longest-serving line-up.

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Listen to a John Cummings remix of Metronomy's The Upsetter here.

Read our interview with Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Barry Burns here, ahead of most recent album Rave Tapes.