Taking Back Sunday’s drummer Mark O’Connell announced that he is leaving the band after over two decades.
O’Connell joined the group in 2001, two years after the band’s formation, replacing the original drummer, Steven DeJoseph.
“After nearly 25 years as the drummer of Taking Back Sunday, I want to confirm that I am no longer with the band,” O’Connell shared on his Instagram account. “It’s taken me some time to address this. Thank you for your patience as I’ve reflected on how to share my story.”
The drummer said the decision of departure wasn’t an easy one, adding it was not entirely his own. He expressed he had focused on his family and personal growth over the years, including committing to his sobriety.
“Unfortunately, during this time, I didn’t always feel the support I needed from those I thought of as brothers, and creative differences made it hard to move forward together,” the musician went on.
Speaking of creative process, O’Connell announced he will be releasing new music soon as a solo artist and with some old friends.
“I’ve poured my heart into this project, and I can’t wait to share it with you,” he wrote. “This is a new chapter for me — one of passion, creativity, and hope. I hope you’ll join me on this journey as we continue to be a part of each other’s stories.”
O’Connell concluded with the words saying he is grateful for “the incredible memories with each of my bandmates — and all of you, as well as all the opportunities along the way. I’m choosing to focus on the good as I move into this next chapter.”
O’Connell had played drums on each of the Taking Back Sunday’s releases from 2001 through the eighth studio album released in 2023, 152.
Taking Back Sunday currently consists of Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), John Nolan (lead guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Shaun Cooper (bass guitar), accompanied by Nathan Cogan (guitar) for their live performances, though the group has gone through lineup changes over the years. Still, O’Connell has remained a steady member until now, helping the band navigate different musical phases, including more recent releases like 2016’s Tidal Wave and a compilation album called Twenty in 2019, which celebrated the band’s 20th anniversary.
Following the release of their latest album 152, the band performed at Coachella in April 2024 and the emo nostalgia festival When We Were Young in October.
