Wellington saxophonist Warren Maxwell has left chart-topping band Fat Freddy's Drop to spend more time with his young family in the Wairarapa.
Maxwell told the Dominion Post he was sad to leave the group but could not commit to the hectic touring schedule anymore.
In a statement postedon the band's website, Fat Freddy's said:
"There has been a rumour floated in a local Welli newspaper, along the lines that Flash has left Freddy's.
"And some of you with sharp ears may have noticed a chap by name of Scott Towers jamming on the sax with the bros in recent live gigs.
"Well, Fitchie [band leader Chris Faiumu] says: 'You can never leave Freddy's. Flash has just gone undercover in the Wairarapa for [2]007'."
Former frontman of reggae group Trinity Roots, Maxwell was one of five recipients to receive an inaugural New Generation Award last year - a $25,000 award intended to support artists "who demonstrated excellence in the early stages of their careers".
At the time, Maxwell said he would use the money to build a studio in the Wairarapa.
"I've always had a dream of having a bit of land that I could live on and have a studio. That's pretty much what this will enable. I'll be able to build a barn over in the Wairarapa and put a studio in it, in a kind of concrete-free environment."
Maxwell has not said if he intends to return to the band, but described the split as "amicable".
