Spoon bassist quits after 13 years

Veteran rockers Spoon have been left without a bassist following the exit of longtime bandmember Rob Pope.
The Do You stars shared the news of Pope’s exit in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday (09Jul19).
In the note to fans, he wrote, “As Spoon’s bass player since 2006, I’ve never taken for granted the thrills and challenges that have come with being in this band. Now, after some serious thought, the timing feels right for me to leave Spoon in order to spend more time with family and personal projects.
“I have nothing but love for ‪Britt Daniel‬, Jim Eno, Eric Harvey, Alex Fischel, and Gerardo Larios – the gentlemen dudes I was lucky to share the stage, bus, and studio with,” Pope continued, revealing he plans to continue performing and making music with his other group, The Get Up Kids.
Concluding the post, he added, “Before I sign off, I have to thank all of you – the fans. It’s been an absolute honor to share this experience with you. If you are lucky enough to see Spoon on the road this summer, buy ’em a few ice cream sandwiches for me.”
Pope was added to Spoon’s line-up as Josh Zarbo’s replacement, and has featured on the band’s last four albums, from 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga to 2017’s Hot Thoughts.
It’s not yet known who will fill in for Pope as Spoon prepare to hit the road for a new tour with Beck and Cage the Elephant. The trek launches in Washington on Thursday.