Quireboys ‘part company’ with singer Spike Gray

CHERISHED British rockers The Quireboys have announced the biggest line-up change in their 38-year history – the departure of singer Spike Gray.

The purveyors of Faces-inspired hard rock made the bombshell announcement on the afternoon of March 29.

In a short Facebook message, they said: “The Quireboys have parted company with Spike and continue as a 5 piece with all other current members.”

Those other members are: Guy Griffin, Paul Guerin, Keith Weir, Gary Ivin and Pip Mailing. A publicity photo including the five was included with the post.

Gray and Guy Bailey formed the band in London in the mid-1980s and they went on to be one of the most popular bands on both sides of the Atlantic of the “hair metal” era, although they consistently denied being part of that genre.

Recently, Griffin performed lead vocal duties in Gray’s absence on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in the Caribbean.

Gray has a number of solo shows planned for this week, including Wolverhampton on Thursday. Buy tickets via our link below. It will be interesting to see if he addresses this week’s events during the performances.

Fans reacted with shock, Paul Young posting: “Wha? Eh?! No way! One of THE best front man out there.”

Linzi Jones said: “We will continue to see the QB and continue to see Spike….however I feel absolutely gutted for everyone involved!!”

And Terri Morgan commented: “I saw the Quireboys without Spike on the Monsters of Rock Cuise and tbh Griff was awesome on vocals”

The band has a sold-out orchestral show scheduled for September and Gray had appeared in advertising for it.

Hear The Quireboys on our podcast HERE, HERE and HERE.