The Hazytones Cancel European Tour and Maybe Disband
The real kicker here is that even as The Hazytones guitarist/vocalist Mick Martel announces the band are done, people are still just discovering them. Based in Montreal, The Hazytones released their gruff third long-player, Wild Fever (review here), last Spring and were just this month on the road in Europe to support it.
That tour seems to have been their undoing. Specifically Desertfest London — there’s a joke in there about how good the fest was; so good it broke bands, etc. — is noted as the catalyst, as it seems here was some disconnect between Martel, bassist Caleb Sanders, drummer Gabriel Prieur and guitarist John Choffel, with substance use, hard-drinking, and lack of sleep sure to make any situation easier to deal with and/or work out in a positive manner for everyone.
Sad to say, not so much. The wheels came off for The Hazytones in London and they’ve called it quits on the rest of the tour and the band in general, at least for the time being. I’d be surprised if Martel is actually done musically — ending the band seems somewhat impulsive, but sometimes you need to walk away from a thing and say that’s it you’re done forever whether or not that’s how it pans out over time — but the tour seems to be finished at the very least.
As someone who dug their records and didn’t get to see them, I hope The Hazytones keep going in some form or other, but if not, at least they got to live through the blowout. The following is from socials and was posted as one big paragraph that I’ve broken into smaller sections for readability, which feels hypocritical considering some of the reviews around here:
During the UK tour I, Mick Martel, had an epiphany, it’s hard to believe but my third eye opened! In the myst of the most rock n roll tour you can possibly imagine, the demons got to us. Between our daily fist fights with each other, we were drinking alcohol like water. At the height of it all we played Desertfest London.
Our performance was hailed as the highlight of the festival by many. Personally I was 100% possessed that night and I hope everyone who came to witness got chills down their spine! It all came crashing down Monday night when our bass player, Caleb, went missing for 8 hours and ended in the Lyon river. I finished my night locked in a bathroom with my drummer Gabriel with about 50 hours without sleep.
It was time to call it quit someone was going to die. I went through a separation with my misses yesterday and I’m gonna focus on my daughter. I told her just before Desertfest (Yes we had a 6 years old with us) Nina you will finally have a Daddy! The Hazytones are done and buried in Camden. I’m slowing down my drinking and I will now focus on my daughter.
I want to apologize to all the promoters who trusted me in booking an Hazytones show, I was just trying to avoid death and destruction. Maybe we start the band again when everyone is clean. I’m on my way to Montreal and I’ll see you all at the church! This is Mick your captain speaking, we are approaching final destination, sunny skies ahead, logging off.
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