These photos speak a thousand words. A seemingly tired band with visibly unhappy Baria Qurishi manning keyboards and the guitar push themselves to complete a Gibson sponsored in-store appearance at NBC in New York City just last Friday. Although this was part of CMJ’s Music Marathon the daylight setting at the famous ’30 Rock’ skyscraper sure didn’t appear like your average The XX CMJ performance.
It’s now being reported Baria Qureshi has left the band, which is back on tour doing European dates, due to exhaustion on Wednesday. According to the Quietus, the remaining members played the London gig as a trio and have had to cancel several upcoming European gigs.
“Obviously this has been a really tough few days for us,” XX singer and bassist Oliver Sim told the fans and later dedicated ‘VCR’ to the missing guitarist. “It’s devastating not having Baria here with us, but you all being here has made us feel better … thank you very much.”
“Baria didn’t perform last night after feeling exhausted from the XX’s recent touring commitments. As a result, the band … have postponed some European shows which they are hoping to reschedule,” a statement added. The band is tentatively still scheduled to play in Frankfurt, Germany on Nov. 3.
Update Novmeber 12:
Bandmember Romy Madley Croft confirms what we reported to you after the CMJ music marathon in NYC completed:
“Baria has left the band,” she confirmed. “I guess ‘personal differences’ would be the standard way to say it. I guess it’s just the intensity of being on tour, things are so much heightened.”
Croft also confirmed that The XX would continue as a three-piece.
( photos © live4ever)