Perpetual Groove Announces Hiatus: Suttle, McDonald and Perry Form Ghost Owl / Brock Butler Apologizes

In what must’ve been a heart-breaking decision and a longtime coming, the members of the Perpetual Groove organization have just announced that starting on April 6th they will be taking an indefinite hiatus. The band has posted a message explaining the decision on a blog post entitled Thank You. Three of the four members of the band – Albert Suttle, Matt McDonald and Adam Perry – will continue to tour as a new project under the moniker “Ghost Owl,” while front man Brock Butler has posted an apology on the band’s website for letting it get to this point.

Here’s the announcement of the indefinite hiatus…

The band members of Perpetual Groove as well as our whole leadership and technical team is announcing today, that we are calling a hiatus, effective April 6, 2013.  While we’re taking steps to make sure that the music and community of PGroove lives on and is still readily available to fans, the band will stop touring and recording.  While we haven’t ruled out a reunion in the future, it’s not in the forecast at this time.

Today, it’s stunning to look back on the last 10 years and 4 albums, the thousands of shows, thousands of fans, and dozens of collaborations with other artists that is, collectively, Perpetual Groove.  We are honored to have fans who love the music and who love one another, and proud to call so many of you both friends and fans.

We have to admit, not everything has gone to plan on this journey.  We have seen highs and lows, just like the rest of the country in the past few years.   And now we turn to a new chapter.  While it’s difficult to do, we support Brock Butler in his work to create a healthier, happier life and career for himself. That work needs to take place in a new and different context and we wish him luck.

For our part, Adam, Albert, & Matt will continue making music together.  We are in a “prototyping” stage of a new sound and a new stage presence which will tour under the name Ghost Owl.  We’re releasing a very rough cut – a snippet – for fans to hear today.  Check back soon for a couple full tracks.

Thank you all again for everything,
Adam, Albert, Brock, and Matt

And here’s Butler’s apology…

I imagine this letter will be a disappointing one for some to read, or that it might be a relief to those who’ve been concerned for some time. I want to apologize to the fans I’ve let down, to my friends and loved ones I’ve put through worry, and to everyone in Perpetual Groove’s organization. This apology is for the state I’ve allowed myself to be in at shows, which have compromised performances, as well as my personal life. I’m very aware and sorry to everyone I’ve let down through my actions and lack of actions.

Perpetual Groove has been my life for a long, long time. In some ways it has defined me. I’m at a point where I truly need a break. This is the hardest decision of my life but my happiness and well-being must be my first priority. Trying to find balance, break bad habits and develop good ones while continuing a life on the road is something I haven’t been able to do. Therefore, I have decided to take my leave from the band and touring. I can’t give any time frame on this break or a guarantee to return. My current plans are to take time for myself and get my own home in order. My hopes are simple: to get rested and get happier than I’ve been.

I have made great friendships that I will always cherish thanks to my time spent as a member of Perpetual Groove. It’s my hope to get to where I can be the quality friend and band mate to those who have been quality friends and band mates to me. I will cherish my memories with the band while hoping a time will come to create new memories.

I still plan to do acoustic shows and work in music where I can during this hiatus. I send my blessing and support to each member of Perpetual Groove on all their future endeavors – from the band on down to the crew. I hope all who support Perpetual Groove will do the same.

I know that the disappointment felt is probably equal to and opposite of the hopes you had that I would not let things come to this. I know personally, I’m disappointed in myself. I am sorry for my part in letting you down, leaving you underwhelmed and/or feeling that your support was taken for granted or unappreciated. I’m truly sorry.

Wishing you all a beautiful New Year. A peaceful year with patience where you need it and empathy when it’s called for. Support where you can give it or where you might need some yourselves. I hope you find balance if you feel you’re lacking it. Balance, good health and even better decisions are the things I’m taking my leave to hopefully find. With support and love, I believe I can.

Yours sincerely B

Finally, check out a snippet of the new project – Ghost Owl…

We’ll have more on this situation in the coming days, but we wanted to let the band do the talking at first.

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12 Responses

  1. Brock is sincerely one of the nicest most stand up musicians I have ever had a chance to share bills with. He went above and beyond to treat his friends and guests well in all of my experiences. His note is genuine as he always has been. I wish him the absolute best in every endeavor.

  2. The only disappointment is if you don’t get better, Brock. Thank you for ten very fun years of highs and lows and highs again, you’ve been a soundtrack for my life, and will continue to be.

    Happy days ahead.

  3. I wish Brock the best and am glad the band has moved on to a healthier future. Pgroove brought the heat whenever they came through town and for that I will always be grateful.

  4. I really hope he gets himself straight. He has too much talent and too much heart and soul to give us. I will keep him and his struggle to clean himself up and get healthy in my thoughts and prayers.

  5. Not surprising, as Brock was in pretty poor condition last week on Jam Cruise. I’m not a P-Groove fan, but Brock is a genuinely nice guy. I hope he find the help he needs and can come back stronger.

  6. Brock, Adam, Matt and Albro, much love to you all, and wish you the best. Brock needs to do what is best for Brock right now, and into the future, or there will be no future. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of that process, and some day, when it is possible to do so, we may see more PGroove.

  7. He should see if he and Wyllys can get the 2 for 1 special at Betty Ford. Wade should at least have $ for the down payment, right?

  8. Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog!
    We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!

  9. I was late to learn of the band’s hiatus and I have to say I am deeply saddened by this news. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to catch PGroove live and I have always truly loved their music ever since first hearing it. I am happy that Brock is getting the help he seems to need and can only hope that a reunion is in the future. Get yourself well so one day you can bring us back the music we have come to know and love!

  10. Just got a chance to see P-Grass this past weekend, and it made me think a lot about P-Groove. Just wanted to say good for Brock to do what he thinks he needs to do to make him the happiest he can be. Sometimes real life can get in the way, even if it gets in the way of creating music that helps me, and countless others, escape real life. P-Groove means so much to me, and their music has been the soundtrack to some of happiest moments in life. I know I’m not alone in saying that, and it does make me feel nostalgic, but Brock is too special to not be creating. A man as musically gifted as he, owes it to those of us that crave his creations. Hope you read this Brock, and know that there are countless others who have been down, but have used YOUR MUSIC to get themselves out of it. Here’s to hoping that the next time we see Brock and ask how he’s doing, his answer will be, “never better.”

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