Russell Lissack: 'Bloc Party will reconvene in September'

Bloc Party have started working on new material and will reconvene in September, guitarist Russell Lissack has said.

The guitarist recently finished his stint playing live with Ash. Now he has confirmed to NME that he has met up with Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke again and that they have further plans to meet as a band this autumn.

"Kele and I started working on Bloc Party stuff together and separately," he said.

He added: "We're having a bit of a break until the festivals are over, because people have commitments during the summer, but we're going to get back properly in September and sit in a rehearsal studio to work on new band material."

Bloc Party last played live in 2009 and have been on hiatus since.

Kele Okereke hints at new Bloc Party material for the coming months

Video: Kele Okereke Promises New Bloc Party Material

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke has hinted that the band will release fresh material this summer.

Speaking exclusively to NME at Latitude, the singer said that band were poised to release "new stuff."

Okereke said: "There are some plans for new stuff. I'm not sure what I can say... I'd be surprised if there wasn't some new stuff before the end of the summer."

The band's guitarist Russell Lissack confirmed earlier this year that Bloc Party would get back together in September.

He said: "Kele and I started working on Bloc Party stuff together and separately. We're having a bit of a break until the festivals are over, because people have commitments during the summer, but we're going to get back properly in September and sit in a rehearsal studio to work on new band material."

But now it looks the band could be releasing new material sooner than we thought. Bloc Party last played live in 2009 and have been on hiatus since. Okereke has been working on a book of short stories since 2009.

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke: 'I hope I haven't been fired from the band'

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has admitted he is unsure of his future in the band after the rest of the group went into the recording studio without telling him.

The singer has told NME he recently spotted guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong outside a rehearsal studio in New York and he wasn't even invited to take part in the sessions.

"I was actually having lunch about three weeks ago, just here on 8th Avenue and I saw somebody walk past and I recognised the haircut," he said. "It was Russell. I was like, 'Hey!' but he didn't see me and I followed him around the corner and then I saw Matt, Gordon and Russell all standing outside this rehearsal space. They all went inside."

He added: "I hope I haven't been fired. I don't really know what's going on, because we haven't really spoken recently and I'm a bit too scared to ask."

Bloc Party confirm they will be auditioning new singers



Bloc Party have confirmed that they will be recording without singer Kele Okereke and will be auditioning new vocalists.

Last week, Okereke revealed to NME that he had spotted guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong outside a rehearsal studio in New York and not only was he not invited to take part in the sessions, he was unaware they were happening at all.

Speaking to NME in an interview which you can read in the new issue of NME, which is on UK newsstands tomorrow (September 28) or available digitally, Russell Lissack confirmed that the band were making music again and would be looking for a new singer.

He said:


Lissack denied that there was bad blood between the band and Okereke, but confirmed they hadn't spoken for a couple of months.

He added: "I haven't spoken to Kele for a couple of months, I guess since the festivals when I was doing stuff with Ash. But there's no bad vibes."

Bloc Party split controversy - the full audio

Bloc Party and Kele Okereke confirm their plans to continue separately, in phone conversations you can hear below.

NME has been accused of sensationalising, or even fabricating, details of the band's apparent split after Kele revealed he had discovered the band's plans to continue without him.

Faced with the singer's allegations, we contacted the band to clarify the situation, and guitarist Russell Lissack confirmed that while Kele is busy with his solo career, the remaining members would be auditioning new singers to allow them to continue playing together. But it appears that Bloc Party are now backtracking on the admission.

Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe even contacted the band’s management, who denied the developments. Lowe then took to Twitter to claim:


Management also officially deny there is anything going on, and the band are distancing themselves from the claims. It is now being suggested that the four members have been in cahoots to whip up publicity for the band and 'get one over' on the media.

But with fans confused and concerned, here we publish all the conversations in full to set the record straight.

Here is Kele opening up about spotting his bandmates going into a New York rehearsal space without him. The claim comes four minutes into the Soundcloud file.

Audio: Bloc Party's Kele Okereke talks to NME by nmemagazine

And here is Russell unambiguously confirming that the remaining members are planning to audition new singers.

Audio: Bloc Party's Russell Lissack talks to NME by nmemagazine

New Bloc Party album set for release later this year

Kele Okereke has confirmed that Bloc Party will release a new album later this year.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Radio 1 today (January 3), the frontman said that a follow up to their third album, 2008's 'Intimacy', will be out at some point in 2012. The band have been working on their fourth album in New York.

Last year Kele courted controversy by claiming that while he was busy with his solo career, the remaining members of Bloc Party would be auditioning new singers to allow them to continue playing together. Bloc Party soon backtracked on the admission, which had been made to NME.

Zane Lowe went on to contact the band's management, who denied the developments. Lowe then took to Twitter to claim: "Bloc Party thing is nonsense. Management confirm it. Solid... solid as a rrrrock."

As management officially denied there was anything going on, the band distanced themselves from the claims. It was then suggested that the four members had been in cahoots to whip up publicity for the band and 'get one over' on the media.

Bloc Party's Kele: 'Here's to some more mighty fine music'

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has spoken out about the band's newly inked record deal, which has seen them sign to Frenchkiss in North America and Cooperative Music in the rest of the world.

The band, who are recording the follow up to 2008's Intimacy in New York, released their first three albums through independent label Wichita. Of the new deals, Kele has said: "This signing has made Bloc Party very happy because not only do we know and love the people at this label but we know and love this label's output. Frenchkiss has released some mighty fine music over the years, music that has gone on to influence this very band. So here's to some more mighty fine music...".

Frenchkiss Records have also put out music by The Drums, Les Savy Fav, Passion Pit, The Hold Steady and Local Natives in the US. Syd Butler from Frenchkiss Records added: "We are thrilled to be working with Bloc Party on this next record. They are in the best spirits and we are lucky to be working with such professionals, friends and ambassadors. Their parents raised them right. We all know they make phenomenal records and we are honoured that the next one will be on Frenchkiss."

Bloc Party will be re-releasing their 2004 single 'She's Hearing Voices' for this year's Record Store Day on April 21. They will play a number of European festivals this summer, including Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks on September 4 and 5, respectively.

Last year Kele courted controversy by claiming that while he was busy with his solo career, the remaining members of Bloc Party would be auditioning new singers to allow them to continue playing together. Bloc Party soon backtracked on the admission, which had been made to NME.