The Mountain Goats Announce Peter Hughes’ Departure
“Sooner or later everybody spots the exit that has their name on it.”
By Andy Kahn Aug 19, 2024 • 2:15 pm PDT
Photo by Jenny Lee Young
Longtime The Mountain Goats bassist Peter Hughes announced his departure from the band founded by John Darnielle. Hughes first played with the band in 1996 and has been a full time member of The Mountain Goats since 2002.
Alongside Darnielle, Hughes is the longest running and consistent member of The Mountain Goats, maintaining a constant presence among an at times steady stream of other band members and collaborators. Hughes leaves a current Mountain Goats lineup that includes drummer Jon Wurster and multi-instrumentalist Matt Douglas.
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A portion of the note signed by Darnielle, Wurster and Douglas reads:
“Sooner or later everybody spots the exit that has their name on it, and for Peter Hughes, my bandmate of either twenty-eight or twenty-two years depending on whether you mark the 1996 tour or the 2002 one as the start point, the time to leave the highway behind is now. He’s made the call, and all that’s left for us is to salute his legacy.
“Peter’s contribution to our band and to my life can’t be overstated. The time, toil, and sweat he has devoted to making our band better, year in and year out, will always be an indispensable part of what ‘the Mountain Goats’ meant from 2002-2024. Peter, the love Matt, Jon, Brandon and I have for you is forever, and my personal gratitude for your service not to my vision but what became our vision cannot be measured. I speak on behalf of audiences around the world when I say thank you, and that you will be dearly missed.”
Hughes and Darnielle’s upcoming planned duo tour will now proceed with Darnielle, Wurster and Douglas performing as a trio. Read the full statement from The Mountain Goats below:
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