a-ha to finally call it quits

[tiger_mn]

From an email:

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a-ha Say Goodbye With A 2010 Farewell Tour
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With their latest album 'Foot of The Mountain' enjoying both commercial success and critical acclaim, a-ha has decided to call it a day.

As a consequence, a-ha will not be releasing any further albums in the future.

The band would like to thank their fans and everyone who has contributed to their amazing journey, and say:

"We've literally lived the ultimate boy's adventure tale, through a longer, more rewarding career than anyone could hope for.

Doing this now will give us a chance to get more involved in other meaningful aspects of life, be it humanitarian work, politics, or whatever else - and of course through new constellations in the field of art and music. We are retiring as a band, not as individuals.

Change is always difficult and it is easy to get set in one's ways. Now it is time to move on."

2010 marks the 25-year anniversary of a-ha's multi-platinum debut album 'Hunting High & Low' and the debut single "Take On Me" which, with the aid of a truly unforgettable video, went on to become a number 1 in 27 countries worldwide, including the USA.

The band will embark on a final world tour in 2010 to end their collaboration on a high note. The last concert will take place in Oslo on December 4. See you there!

*end of snip*

I thought Foot Of The Mountain was a pretty good effort, but it's probably time to end the ride.

[coop41]

I really have been surprisingly digging their latest single too

[tenohtwo]

There's one more a-ha tour we won't get to see in the U.S. I'd be shocked if they got any promotion here. Shame.

Minor Earth, Major Sky was my favorite of their more recent releases, still haven't heard the new album, thought Lifelines was hit-and-miss, and liked Analogue a little more. Based on strength of songs, I still think the debut is their best album overall, Scoundrel Days a close second.

1002

[obs]

Time for some reissues to milk it, and bring some rare shit to the fans [:D].

[DJ Phoenix]

[quote][
2010 marks the 25-year anniversary of a-ha's multi-platinum debut album 'Hunting High & Low' and the debut single "Take On Me" which, with the aid of a truly unforgettable video, went on to become a number 1 in 27 countries worldwide, including the USA.

[/quote]

This probably means a *nice*(Hoping) re-issue/remaster w/tons of bonus mixes? I know there were a few "Take On Me" extended's/different mixes that didn't make it onto cd? Maybe they'll do this now?

And you're right, some rare(unreleased) stuff is in order as well.

"Keepin the '80s alive!"

[Sean]

One of the greatest New Wave bands of all time in my opinion. I'm glad they are going out in style. This last album they released is a memorable one and is up there as one of their best. Hope they do remasters and hope they do it right. What I would love to see for each album is the original remastered, a second disc with extended versions and rarities, and a dvd with the videos from the respective album along with a handful of tv appearances. I guess what I want is similar to the recent Duran Duran "Rio" remaster.

[jaybag]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Sean[/i]
<br>Hope they do remasters and hope they do it right. What I would love to see for each album is the original remastered, a second disc with extended versions and rarities, and a dvd with the videos from the respective album along with a handful of tv appearances. I guess what I want is similar to the recent Duran Duran "Rio" remaster.
[/quote]

I don't know if it'll go the "Rio" route, but Hunting High And Low is getting remastered and is coming out next year. No details yet on what it'll include. Scoundrel Days and Stay On These Roads desperately need a remaster as well.

I've already got tickets to their last two shows in Oslo in December 2010. I live in L.A. In completely unrelated news, I'm a freak.

[obs]

Cool. I don't need a double disc, but it would nice to get the majority of the 12" singles included, and possibly the original version(s) of Take On Me. The actual album is <40min, so there's lots of space for extra tracks.

4:51 Take On Me (Extended Version)

8:29 The Sun Always Shines on TV (Extended Version/Steve Thompson Mix)
6:38 The Sun Always Shines on TV (Instrumental)
3:07 Driftwood

7:03 Train of Thought (Reflection Mix)
8:34 Train of Thought (Dub Version)
1:55 And You Tell Me (Demo Version)

6:03 Hunting High and Low (Extended Version)
3:12 The Blue Sky (Demo Version)

Won't be able to fit everything, but they could lose the dub/instrumentals.

[Sean]

Jaybag, you are a lucky man! I would love to go see A-ha live.

[Berserker]

According to the band, they will be touring the U.S. for two weeks next May as part of the farewell world tour.

[birdmadgirl]

An excellent, though sadly underrated, band. It's too bad that most people in the U.S. only know them for "Take On Me." I think they have a really impressive body of work and I'm bummed that they're quitting.

[jaybag]

Not lucky, Sean, just crazy! Norway in December?!?

I WAS lucky that I got sent to London on business in December 2006 and was able to see them on their Analogue tour. They're phenomenal live. Too bad they were in fact a one-hit wonder here - I'd tell people I saw them in concert and everyone's joke was "did they play Take On Me?" (yeahhh, that joke gets funnier every time I hear it.). People would be surprised how much their sound evolved - their newest (and final) album sounds a lot like their first, but in the middle they rocked out a bit and even got pretty dark on one album (Memorial Beach).

They added a 3rd show on that Thursday and I got tickets to that one today too. I figure if I'm going to go all that way (and since those are their final shows) I might as well see them all I can!

[Sean]

Oh my Berserker, I hope you're right. I hope they come to Southern California. That would make my year.