Fitz announced earlier this summer that he would be taking some time off from touring
Kingfishr
Kingfishr have shared an update on bandmember Eoin ‘Fitz’ Fitzgibbons after he stepped away from touring earlier this summer.
Taking to social media in June, Fitz wrote: “Hi everyone, Fitz here with a quick update. I am going to be taking a short break from touring. I am all good, and it is far from anything serious, but a step back is required all the same. The last year or so has been nothing short of incredible. The venues, the occasions, the memories, we may be some of the luckiest people on the planet to get to do what we do, and I am grateful to each and every one of you for making it possible. Unfortunately with all of that comes a lot of pressure and that has caught up with me. I need a little time to recover from it.
“Kingfishr is the thing I am most proud of in life so far and the second I’m up for it, I’ll be back again but for now the boys will continue without me. Take care of each other. I’ll see you all very soon. Fitz.”
Now, his bandmates Edmond ‘Eddie’ Keogh and Eoghan ‘MoGoo’ McGrath are touring the US, and they are having the time of their lives.
“The summer gigs are ridiculous, the whole thing is ridiculous,” Eddie told RSVP Live, on the band’s huge success this summer. “Half the time you catch yourself, you’re just standing laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing is. It is all very movie-esque. One of the things I’m proud of, in terms of the unit that we have, is that we’re not taking it for granted.”
However, Fitz’s absence is being felt: “Obviously, the blemish on the situation is that Fitz isn’t with us over here,” Eddie added. “But even at that point, we jump on chatting to him back and forth and he’s taking the time he needs, which is the main thing, just to figure out where his head is at and what he needs.
“It would be naïve of us to say it’s not difficult at times. You are tired and you are pushing yourself, but sure everyone is tired and everyone is pushing themselves. Being lucky enough to be in a position where you’re exhausted, but you’re exhausted from doing something you love; surely that’s everyone’s dream.”
Despite their hectic schedule, new music is still coming. They are set to release a new single, For The Boys , on Friday the 14th of August, while at the end of July they released The Sunnyside of the Street, which is part of the upcoming tribute album, ’20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan’ , honouring the legendary Irish singer songwriter, Shane MacGowan.
“We were asked [to be a part of it] and what an honour and a privilege,” said Eddie. “Looking at the line-up of the actual album, the different names on it, it’s just so ridiculous.
“When we were recording it and doing the takes, we were like, ‘this does feel special’. There is a hell of a lot of artistic merit to him and his work.”
McGoo added: “It’s bonkers. It’s the honour of our lifetime to be considered.”
Other artists on the album, which is set to be released in full in November, include Bruce Springsteen, U2, Hozier and Glen Hansard, as well as celebrities Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, Jessie Buckley and more. To be on a tracklist with these legends is hard to wrap their head around for Kingfishr.
“The silliness has gotten out of hand,” said McGoo, while Eddie joked: “Frankly, I think it’s about time!”