Sleater-Kinney's drummer Janet Weiss quits the band

Sleater-Kinney's long-serving drummer, Janet Weiss, has revealed that she has left the band, ahead of the release of their highly anticipated new album, The Center Won't Hold.

Taking to Twitter, Weiss shared 'A Letter To The Fans', announcing the "big changes":

Big changes. pic.twitter.com/PWWHMWDLU9

— Janet Weiss (@jazzzhand) July 1, 2019

Weiss reflected on "the magnificent times" she has shared with her bandmates, but stated that Sleater-Kinney "is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on."

In a message posted on the band's Instagram account, Sleater-Kinney wished Weiss well:

Despite being "saddened by Janet's decision to leave Sleater-Kinney", her bandmates expressed that it "has been an incredible privilege to work with such a talented musician and drummer over the course of so many albums, including The Center Won't Hold."

Sleater-Kinney are set to perform at Dublin's Vicar Street next March, in support of their upcoming album. The Center Won't Hold, produced by St. Vincent, will be the group's tenth album.

"I think for Carrie [Brownstein] and Corin [Tucker] it was liberating to explore a different sound palette," Weiss commented in a statement about the release. "Annie (St. Vincent) has a lot of experience building her own music with keyboards and synthesizers so she could be our guide to help us make sense of this new landscape and still sound like us.”

Weiss has also played and recorded with Bright Eyes, Quasi, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Shins and Wild Flag.