Simply Red are to split up after 25 years together, the group’s front man Mick Hucknall has declared in a radio interview.

“I’ve kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough,” Hucknall told the Gold radio network. He also revelead that Simply Red’s ninth studio album ‘Stay‘ released last March – would in fact be the pop group’s last.

Advertisement

Hucknall explained that he would like to concentrate on his solo career, having just completed an R&B style blues album of his own. He said: “I’ve just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R&B artist. It’s a solo project and I’ve really enjoyed it – so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the [Simply Red] story.”

The band are due to disband once touring commitments are completed in early 2009.

Simply Red are one of the most successful British acts of the ’80s – sellilng over 50million albums including ‘A New Flame’ and ‘Stars’.

Advertisement

The band’s last three albums have been self made under the groups own label www.simplyred.com. ‘Stay’ reached number four in the UK album chart.