Over the weekend it was revealed in an interview that FUCKED UP frontman Damian PINK EYES Abraham is considering quitting the band due to the stresses of touring and fatherhood.
For months now, rumours have been mounting regarding Damian Abraham's future as the frontman for Fucked Up. And although the Toronto band's gregarious leader won't officially confirm he's ready to bid adieu to his longtime bandmates, he admits he's guilty of fanning the rumours.
"I don't want to say I've been teasing it, in a way," Abraham tells Spinner. "But I've been talking about it a lot because I don't want to take away these five other people's livelihoods."
Fucked Up, like most bands, make their money touring, and Abraham, who has a wife and young son at home, doesn't know how much longer he can carry on with life on the road.
"I can't tour anymore," Abraham says. "I don't want to take that away from them, so I would love to find a way to basically make it into a constantly evolving thing where sometimes Fucked Up can go on tour and other times, it's another band involved with us."
Abraham, of course, is referring to the numerous Fucked side projects started by members Ben Cook (Young Governor) and Jonah Falco (Career Suicide), but he's also alluding to a "Damian-free Fucked Up," as Toronto weekly The Grid suggested back in June.
"I have no idea how it's all going to work out," Abraham says. "I know we're going to take this long break and hopefully we can think about it and figure it out a little more.
"It's weird because it's not like you're working a job where you don't like it anymore and you want to move on for whatever reason -- it's not just you, it's five other people who are also working at the same job."
Abraham, who also hosts the music TV show 'The Wedge' on MuchMusic, is aware that he's undeniably a big part of the band, but ultimately knows that he doesn't represent the core. "I can't name you anyone else in No Doubt other than Gwen Stefani and I'm sure she doesn't write all the music, those melodies are probably written by someone else in the band."
Fucked Up just wrapped up a joint tour with California punk-rockers Wavves. Though Abraham initially calls the jaunt "the most fun I've ever had on tour," he later reveals it wasn't exactly a rock 'n' roll dream. "It wasn't the most fun I've ever had on tour," he clarifies. "I was kind of melting down, mentally, on that tour but every time I was hanging out with those guys, it was fantastic.
"I can be weirdly lonely even though you're surrounded by these five other people," Abraham adds. "But we've been together now 10 years and there's not a lot left to talk about.
"It messes with your head after a while, and I think that's why we need this break. Me especially though, I'm the one losing it the most by far."
The band have a few more tour dates to round out the year before going on hiatus, including a gig in New York later this month where they'll perform their latest record, 'David Comes to Life,' in its entirety for the first time.
"Because it's a narrative-based record, it's almost natural that we attempt it," Abraham says.
If you can't make it to the New York show, though, fear not, as the band will likely attempt this type of show again -- and most likely in Toronto.
"I think we're hoping to make that a benefit," says Abraham. "But with the New York show, it almost feels like a Broadway debut!"
Check out the video for Fucked Up's "Running on Nothing" from their LP David Comes to Life, which was created by band member Sandy Miranda.