News

Bowling For Soup guitarist Chris Burney has retired from the band

The band will carry on as a trio after the guitarist bowed out to focus on his health. "He retires a legend" Jaret Reddick tells K!

Bowling For Soup guitarist Chris Burney has retired from the band
Words:
Nick Ruskell

After seven months playing as a trio while guitarist Chris Burney focuses on his health, Bowling For Soup have announced that he has retired from the band for good.

The Texas pop-punk heroes appeared at last year's Download as a three-piece, after Chris left their European tour to return home. In a message to fans on Instagram, they revealed that they will be carrying on as they have been, rather than replace him.

"To All Our Amazing Bowling For Soup Fans…

"It is with a heavy heart we announce that Chris Burney has made the decision to retire from his stage-right post in the band he co-founded in 1994.

"Some recent medical developments, 30 years of rocking balls and touring non-stop have made it difficult to continue. We are bummed to not have Chris by our sides, but absolutely support his decision.

"The three of us will carry on, with Chris’ Blessing, and continue to build the legacy of this band we all love so much. We will not be replacing Chris or touring with a touring guitarist. You cannot replace a legend. We were brothers when we started this journey…and brothers we remain.

"See you at the shows and in your ears."

Talking to K!, singer/guitarist Jaret Reddick, with whom Chris co-founded the band in 1994, said that Bowling For Soup "would not be where we are without him."

"He and I started this band 30 years ago, almost 31 now, and at one point, he was kind of the face of the band," he says. "I can't say it enough: we we wouldn't be us, or where we are, without him.

"We're very thankful for all the time that he put in. The guy retires a legend. There's something to be said for that."

The band return to the UK in February to celebrate 20 years of their landmark A Hangover You Don't Deserve album, alongside Wheatus and Magnolia Park.

Catch them at:

February 2025

5 Blackpool Empress Ballroom
6 Edinburgh O2 Academy
7 Stockton On Tees Stockton Globe
8 Manchester Aviva Studios
9 Wolverhampton The Civic At The Halls
11 Plymouth Pavillions
12 Swansea Arena
13 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
14 Brighton Centre
15 Bournemouth Intl Centre

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