It is official. After weeks of speculation and heated arguments within the camp of the band, 21st century metal revolutionaries Mind have announced their official split. There were many reasons according to frizzy haired leader Jason Smith, including the commitment, direction and purity of the band, as well as all the attention being shifted onto Jason and his new found addiction to drugs. The band has apologized to their fans, fellow musicians and record label Studio60.

Jason now claims that they are not releasing what they’ve previously mentioned to be their magnum opus Dream Serpent until everything has been sorted out. He is still working with best friend and fellow rock star Eric Quillington on their super group project, Project; Prometheus. This may also be another reason for the inevitable split; Erics influence on Jason.

Guitarist and fellow founding member Aaron Del Petro blames Jason’s lack of focus and attention to the group as the reason for the split. “I mean, all he cares about is drugs and drink. He starts all these projects, but never manages to finish them. I can’t believe this man, who used to be so caring, funny and kind has become such an arse over such a short period of time.” No one quite knows the future of any of the members since the split, although there are rumours of a band with all of the members aside from Jason involved, even though Aaron was quick to deny this, saying that the other members haven’t got it in them to start forming a new band quite so soon.

Jason Smith usually makes it pretty clear about his future, whether it’s solo or with Mind. But after P;P, no one is quite sure what to expect of him. His latest Twitter post reads “Something new coming your way #JSATRROR”. Maybe this is a new band or a new album? Maybe this is his musical project he’s been promising? Maybe it’s something totally unpredictable, as usual?

This might effect Jason’s position as the “nice guy of rock” as some people have affectionately mentioned him as before. Since his involvements with drugs, there’s been a totally new side to him. He has started to look pale and tired, and also keeps himself to himself, rather than his open and warm side.

Also involved in the situation is the aforementioned Eric Quillington, who has his own say on things:

"Mind was, and always will be, a revelation in the world of music. When I first heard them, I was just a lazy 20-year-old in a struggling rock band. Right from the start, 'Free Your Mind' blew me away. It was raw, it was gritty, it was real. Of course, the production was for shit and the music wasn't terribly unique, but there was undeniable talent underneath. Of course, I was the only one who really noticed the potential, and Mind sadly stayed in obscurity for the next while. But, then Juggernaut came out, and there was no going back. Mind became the living entity of symphonic metal, and were well on there way to becoming the biggest fucking band on Earth. Which, two albums later, they finally achieved.

Shattered Fairytale is just indescribable, in my opinion. It's this generation's 'Sgt. Pepper'. While that might sound like an exaggeration, just take a look on the impact it's had. The album overshadowed just about everything else while it was being released, and it made the notion of a track-by-track release a popular trend. I've done it with Midnight Skies, and Ryan Ross Hernandez did it with Let A Man Be Lost. The way albums have been released are changing for the better, and Mind have played a huge part in that.

I will forever feel like an apprentice to Jason Smith. The man is my closest friend, and his musical talent cannot be overstated. Although we both contributed equally to Project; Prometheus' album Dividing Divinity, Mr. Smith will always be the one with the greater amount of brilliant songs. He can step from soft acoustic rock to symphonic thrash, and it will always make sense. He, and Mind in general, are genre-less, legendary, and beloved. Their music will never die.

All in all, Mind just did a good-ass job."

So whose side are you on? Jason’s? Or the rest of the bands? More news to come as it's announced.

Greg Walls (Studio 60): It's a shame that Mind are no more speaking as a music fan rather than a boss, I know that there will be a pretty big gap in modern music now because it's pretty rare for a metal band to be so commercially succesfull without losing many of their original fans. There is space on Studio 60 Records for Jason Smith if he does decide to form another band or even go solo, the other guys will have their opportunity to remain with the label too. And of course if Mind were to return someday then this label would welcome then with open arms.

Thank you all for the kind words, it's a shame that they are no longer a part of the music industry and my life. I'm sure that they will be successful in whatever they do. I'll talk to Jason about keeping his contract with Studio60, I'm sure he'd love to. It's a very complicated situation, but I'm sure it'll clear up soon.

-Tom McAllister, Mind's Agent