Ian Haug of Powderfinger has joined The Church, replacing founding member and guitarist Marty Willson-Piper.
The Church lead singer Steve Kilbey made the announcement confirming that Haug is playing in the new album for The Church and will tour with the band.
In a Facebook post Kilbey wrote, “after having secured the funds to make a new church record, Marty was not available to make it.
So I asked Ian Haug from Powderfinger if he would like to play on this record and do the subsequent tour. He said yes”.
Work is already underway on the next Church album. “We have begun the new album and let me reassure you it is magnificent. Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it,” he said.
Kilbey has no further comment on Marty’s departure. “I will never say anything more about this subject. Marty is not available. Ian was. And I needed to make this album because we haven’t done anything for so long. You’ll have to trust me. This step was not taken lightly”.
Kilbey went on to talk up Ian. “Ian is a brilliant guitarist who brings years of experience and a new fresh enthusiasm with him,” he said. “This is no second rate deal. And nothing is chiselled in stone. If you can’t dig it I’m sorry. This is my fucking band after all and it has existed at times without Peter and in the beginning without Marty and for times in between while he went AWOL”.
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