Simply Red announces ‘sad news’ Dave Clayton is leaving the band over touring: ‘We fully respect his decision’

Dave Clayton has carried out with Merely Purple since their House album (Image: Getty)

Merely Purple has confirmed its keyboardist Dave Clayton has stop the band after practically 20 years.

The musician joined the Holding Again the Years hitmakers again in 2003 for his or her album House and has extensively toured everywhere in the world with the group, led by vocalist Mick Hucknall.

However on New Yr’s Eve, the Stars performers’ Instagram account posted an announcement, revealing the ‘unhappy information’ Dave had determined to concentrate on his private life and depart the limelight.

Sharing an image of Dave on stage, they wrote: ‘Unhappy information for Merely Purple. Our expensive good friend and colleague Dave Clayton has introduced that he not needs to tour and is inevitably leaving the band. We absolutely respect his choice. Touring is a problem even for younger bucks!

‘Dave is a stunning, admirable human being who we perceive needs to spend extra high quality time together with his pleasant accomplice Sue.

‘All at Merely Purple want him a affluent and glad future and thank him for his fantastic contribution over a few years. Merely Purple HQ.’

Dave has toured everywhere in the world with Merely Purple (Image: Redferns)

Dave Clayton performing with Merely Purple in Germany (Image: Getty Pictures)

Merely Purple shot to fame within the 80s with the discharge of their debut solo album Image Guide in 1985.

Since then, they've had ten songs attain the highest 10 within the UK Singles Chart, together with If You Don’t Know Me by Now, which additionally climbed to the highest of the Billboard Sizzling 100.

Within the UK, the band has had 5 primary albums, with Stars being the perfect promoting album of the yr within the UK for each 1991 and 1992.

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Merely Purple’s line-up has modified over time (Image: Motion Press/REX/Shutterstock)

Their awards embrace two gongs for Greatest British Group on the Brit Awards in 1992 and 1992 and three Grammy nominations for Greatest New Artist, in addition to two nods for Greatest Pop Efficiency by a Duo or Group.

Merely Purple’s final album was 2019’s Blue Eyed Soul which debuted at quantity six on the UK album charts, promoting practically 100,000 copies in its first week.

Mick, 62, had beforehand introduced in 2009 that Merely Purple had been splitting up, having stated he had ‘determined that the 25 years goes to be sufficient.’

Mick Hucknall is the one OG member remaining in Merely Purple (Image: Getty)

The ‘last’ live performance took play on the O2 Enviornment in London in December 2010, with the gig streamed in cinemas throughout the UK.

Nonetheless, 5 years later Merely Purple introduced they'd be reforming in 2015 for a Thirtieth-anniversary tour and have carried out and launched music ever since.