You can't stop The Music. Oh, you can.

The Music - who had an all-too-brief Imperial Phase - are calling it a day. Official statement time:

The Music formed in Kippax near Leeds in 1999 after attending high school together and came to prominence in 2002 with the release of their hugely acclaimed eponymous debut album. Their song "The People" was a radio hit throughout the world and saw them tour extensively throughout Europe, America, Australia as well as numerous trips to Japan, where the band enjoyed a great rapport with a fervent and loyal fanbase. Two further albums followed, 2004's "Welcome To The North" and 2008's "Strength In Numbers". Over the last decade, the band have played main stages at every major festival from Fuji Rock to Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds and Big Day Out, sell out shows throughout the world and gained a reputation as an incendiary live band. All good things though, come to an end, and The Music have decided that it's the right moment for them to call time on the band and start new chapters in their musical careers, but not before one last batch of shows to thank the people who have supported the band throughout their careers so far and go out on an absolute high.

The band said of these shows:

"We've come so far together and now it's time to end things the right way and in the place we love the most - onstage playing live. We're going to give it our all for these last times together and it's going to be emotional, but were really glad to get back to Japan one last time where people have been so good to us over the years, and we send our love and thoughts to everyone there who has been affected by the terrible events of March 11th. We'll be saying thankyou to so many people over these dates and we'll start now by saying thanks to anyone who's been with us on this incredible trip. We're all looking to the future and what comes next, but we'll always be grateful for the years, times and experiences we've shared. We're going to make these shows as much of a party as we can, and we hope people turn up to celebrate with us."

Those farewell dates:

July

25 Osaka - Big Cat
26 Nagoya - Club Quattro
27 Tokyo - AX

August

04 London - Shepherds Bush Empire
05 Leeds - O2 Academy

And this is why we'll miss them...