GRANDADDY - GRANDADDY SPLIT

American rock band GRANDADDY are splitting up after 14 years of making music, it was announced today (27JAN06).

The Californian stars admit shunning the commercial spotlight was a mistake, as despite having a cult following, they have gained nothing financially.

The NOW ITS ON hitmakers have promised fans a farewell album titled JUST LIKE THE FAMBLY CAT, but there will be no final tour.

Frontman JASON LYTLE says, "It was inevitable. We rode it out for as long as we could.

"On one hand our stubbornness has paid off, but on the other hand refusing to buy into the way things are traditionally supposed to be done has made things worse for us.

"The realistic part is it hasn't proved to be a huge money-making venture for a lot of guys in the band.

"We've been doing this for a long time and you have to ask yourself 'Why am I beating myself up like this?' Week after week, month after month, year after year."