A significant lineup shift has rocked the world of modern progressive metal today. Haken, the acclaimed U.K. outfit known for pushing the boundaries of the genre, has announced the simultaneous departure of longtime guitarist Charlie Griffiths and bassist Conner Green.
The news broke via a social media post earlier this afternoon (Monday, January 5), confirming that the band will be moving forward without two of its instrumental pillars. While the split appears amicable, the band acknowledged the magnitude of the loss in their official statement.
Addressing their fanbase directly, Haken wrote:
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the departure of Charlie Griffiths and Conner Green from Haken. We are tremendously grateful for the time we’ve spent together, creating music and touring the world, achieving things we thought weren’t possible.”
“Both Charlie and Conner are irreplacable, as musicians and individuals, and they have given so much to make this band what it is today. We cannot thank them enough, but we wish them all the best with any future endeavours. They will always be a part of the Haken family.”
“New music coming this year.”
The departure of Griffiths marks the end of a tenure that spanned nearly the entire history of the band. joining in 2008, he performed on every Haken studio album to date, helping to craft the complex, heavy-yet-melodic sound that defined records like The Mountain and Affinity. Outside of the band, he released his debut solo LP, Tiktaalika, in 2022.
Green joined the fold later, stepping in during 2014 to replace original bassist Thomas MacLean. Over the last decade, he cemented himself as a formidable presence in the rhythm section, contributing to the band’s rise in the international prog scene.
While the announcement comes as a shock to many, there were recent disruptions in the band’s schedule. Last October, Haken abruptly canceled their scheduled U.K. tour dates where they were set to support American prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria.
Despite the lineup changes, the band remains active. They spent much of 2024 on the road celebrating their 2023 studio album, Fauna, with a world tour dubbed “An Evening With Haken.” These shows featured full performances of the Fauna album alongside career-spanning sets. The tour culminated in a celebratory homecoming show at London’s O2 Forum on September 21, 2024, which was captured for the live release Liveforms: An Evening With Haken.
With the promise of “new music coming this year,” fans are now left waiting to see who will step in to fill the shoes of Griffiths and Green as Haken enters its next chapter.
