Current Ten Years After Lineup Calling It Quits

The current lineup of legendary rock band Ten Years After is parting ways. Co-founding drummer Ric Lee and keyboardist Chick Churchill, who has been touring with vocalist and guitarist Marcus Bonfanti and bassist Colin Hodgkinson since 2014, are splitting after nearly a decade together. This lineup was formed after the passing of their classic-era frontman Alvin Lee.

Official Announcement From Ten Years After

In an official statement, Ten Years After shared:

“The time spent through the decade together has been very rewarding. Throughout it, the members formed a bond of mutual respect for one another as musicians and a great social bond, outside of their term playing together. They had a superb relationship working and traveling together.”

This news comes just days after the band performed at the Lahnstein Blues Festival. Despite the split, Ten Years After will complete their remaining scheduled shows in Germany before taking time to reorganize.

Looking to the future, Ric Lee has plans to keep the Ten Years After legacy alive. “Ric is already working to form a Ten Years After lineup with new members to continue the good work set up by Chick, Marcus, Colin, and himself,” the band said in their statement. The goal is to have the new lineup ready by early 2025, with a new album expected in the spring.

Ten Years After’s Memorable Performances

Ten Years After’s iconic performance at Woodstock helped catapult their third album, Ssssh, into a Top 10 hit in the U.S. However, their complete Woodstock set wasn’t officially released until earlier this year in the one-CD, two-LP set Woodstock 1969.

The band has seen several changes over the years. Joe Gooch took over for Alvin Lee in 2003, remaining with the band until Bonfanti joined in 2014. Alvin Lee, the band’s original frontman, sadly passed away in 2013 at age 68 due to complications from surgery. Hodgkinson later replaced co-founding bassist Leo Lyons.