After more than a decade, Alexisonfire has announced that the band will be going their separate ways. In a statement written by George Pettit and posted by the band on their website on August 5th, Pettit gets right to the point. “There is no good way to put it so I’m just going to say it. After 10 years, Alexisonfire has decided to part ways.”

Hailing from St. Catharines, Alexisonfire rose up out of the Southern Ontario underground in late 2001. With two members of the band still in high school, the band released their self-titled 2002 debut album and in the year that followed, the band had 4 videos reach Heavy rotation on MuchMusic and won an MMVA and a CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Awards). With unwavering support from the band’s diehard fanbase, their debut managed to crack the Top 200 Soundscan chart and in 2004, Alexisonfire won New Group of the Year at the 2004 JUNO Awards.

Alexisonfire went on to release three more hugely successful studio albums, Watch Out (2004), Crisis (2006), and Old Crows / Young Cardinals (2009), yet admirably maintained their “indie” status throughout their career, remaining loyal to the team of people that worked alongside them from their modest beginnings. Crisis debuted at an incredible #1 on the Top 200 Soundscan chart (Canada), and Old Crows / Young Cardinals debuted at #2, selling an impressive 15,500 copies in its first week and charting at #9 on the US Billboard Independent Album chart. In fact, all four of the band’s studio albums achieved Platinum certification in Canada. Furthermore, Alexisonfire’s success reached way beyond Canada’s borders. The band topped charts, graced magazine covers, and sold out tours in Canada, US, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

To commemorate the band’s incredible 10-year career, theonlybandever.com will be transformed into a place for fans to share photos and videos they have taken with, or of the band over the years. Fans will be able to upload content directly to the site. Alexisonfire will also be posting their own personal photos from tours around the world. In addition, the band plans several special re-issues, releases and limited print vinyl around their 10-year anniversary. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

“In closing, I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to the fans of Alexisonfire around the world,” writes Pettit. “I’m forever grateful to anyone who has ever taken any interest in what we did. You were the coal that stoked our engines. You have given us a spectacular decade, rich with experience and joy. We love you all.”

For the full statement from George, visit http://www.theonlybandever.com.