After 9 albums and 22 years, The Mission have decided to call it a day, playing 4 final shows at Shepherds Bush next February. Frontman and founding member Wayne Hussey says,
"I know I promised you a statement about my, and the band's, future a little while ago but I've had to deliberate long and hard about this so I've taken my time as this hasn't come as an easy decision for me to make. I love this band and have spent the best part of my adulthood dedicated to the cause. However, I do think it's time for me to try something else.
"I've decided that the February London Shepherds Bush shows will be the last Mission shows. The reasons are myriad and involved and I certainly wouldn't want to bore you with all the details. However, I do think I owe you at least some explanation. Firstly, I want to say that in God Is A Bullet I think we made an album that stands more than favourably alongside anything we/I have ever released as The Mission. God Is A Bullet is a great way to bow out. I mean, I have made some crap albums and it would've been sad to have finished with one of them. But with God Is A Bullet we go out with our heads held high and secure in the knowledge that our final album is a real goodie.
"And that also brings me to the idea that the Shepherds Bush shows be the last ones ... That is another great way to end. I wanted the band to finish on a high and what better way to finish than by playing these 4 London shows celebrating the history of The Mission. This is an opportunity for us to play for you, you who have been so loyal and supportive to both myself and the band over the years, and to be able to say goodbye in an appropriate setting and manner. It will be emotional, I'm sure, for me as well as for you.
"Life after Shepherds Bush? I'm not sure yet but I have been working pretty much non-stop on Mission related projects for the last 4 years and more to the detriment of my desire to work on other projects and collaborations. I would really like to be able to go into my studio to write and make new music without thinking 'How can I make this work for The Mission?'
"I shall greatly miss The Mission, Mark, Rich, and Springy, but I just feel it's time for me to try something new. I'm not gonna say I'll never come back to The Mission because, as you know, this has happened before back in the mid 90's and I may well want a return to doing this again after a sabbatical. Who knows? I certainly don't at this point.
"Anyway, I'd just like to finish by thanking you for your support over the last 22 years that The Mission has been in existence and I hope to be able to say goodbye to you all in person at the Shepherds Bush shows next February. Hopefully see you there for one last big ol' knees-up."