Doves have spoken about performing without frontman Jimi Goodwin, with drummer Andy Williams adding that he is “proud of him for doing really well” with his sobriety.
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The British indie rock trio have performed a series of shows sans Goodwin, who has taken a break from the band in order to focus on his recovery.
“I’m not going out live this time,” Goodwin told NME in November. “The door’s not closed on that chapter; I just have to honour my sobriety and do what I need to in order to maintain that. I’m not ready to perform yet.”
Now, in a new interview by The Guardian, the band – consisting of brothers Andy and Jez Williams – have discussed their touring life without their frontman. The siblings share vocal duties in his absence.
“It felt like Jimi was there in spirit,” Andy told The Guardian about their shows last month. “He isn’t here at the moment, but is very much a part of us.”
He added that the ability to tour again has become “quite healing”, and that their current arrangement has worked for all parties: “We’ve all really been through the wringer, but no one’s fallen out over this. I’m really proud that we’re all still good friends.”
Andy also noted that, based on the last time he saw Goodwin, he’s been “proud of him for doing really well” and “engaging with his sobriety.”
On the decision, Goodwin previously revealed to NME that the brothers “got my complete blessing” to tour as Doves without him.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for them,” he said. “They still want to be jobbing and gigging musicians. It’s part of the package for them, and it is for me too, but right now I don’t want to upset any apple carts. You’ve not heard the last of me performing again with Doves.”
The band are set to release ‘Constellations For The Lonely’ in February 2025 as a follow-up to their chart-topping 2020 album ‘The Universal Want’ – marking the trio’s first full-length record in 11 years, following 2009’s ‘Kingdom Of Rust’.
On the album, Goodwin told NME: “We’ve always been notoriously slow, but we’ve been sat on this album for a year. For us, that’s ridiculous.”
“To be sitting on material that was signed off and in the can and the year ago and to only have it coming out next year is a massive achievement for Doves. With ‘The Universal Want’, we came back after that break with renewed passion for each other and feeling blessed that the chemistry was still there.”
