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Sigur Ros drummer Orri Pall Dyrason quits after rape allegation

Written by on 02/10/2018

Sigur Ros drummer Orri Pall Dyrason has quit the band following a rape allegation.

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In a message posted on his Facebook page, the musician said it had been a difficult decision but he did not want the “serious allegations” to affect the band “and the important and beautiful work that has been done there for the last years”.

It comes following an Instagram post by a Los Angeles artist, who claimed Dyrason assaulted her twice in January 2013. Her account has been set to private and the post has reportedly since been deleted.

On Monday, singer Jonsi Birgisson and bassist Georg Holm addressed the claim on the band’s Facebook page, saying: “In the wake of the extremely serious and personal allegations made against him in recent days we have today accepted the resignation of our bandmate Orri Pall Dyrason to allow him to deal with this privately.”

The message was followed by a post by Dyrason, who said he wanted to thank friends and family for their support and trust.

“This matter has undeniably taken its toll on me for the past few days,” he said. “Justifiably, some will say, and I do not intend to argue with those people.”

He continued: “In light of the scale of this matter, I have decided to leave Sigur Ros. That is a difficult decision for me, but I cannot have these serious allegations influence the band and the important and beautiful work that has been done there for the last years. A job that is so dear to me.

“I will do anything in my power to get myself out of this nightmare, but out of respect for those actually suffering from sexual violence, I will not take that fight public.”

The woman who made the allegation reportedly said she decided to do so following the testimony of Professor Christine Blasey Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Sigur Ros formed in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1994, with Dyrason joining in 1999 following the departure of the band’s original drummer.

They have released seven albums, three of them certified platinum.

Hoppipolla, the band’s biggest single, charted at number 24 in the UK in 2006 and has been used in several TV shows, films and adverts.

(c) Sky News 2018: Sigur Ros drummer Orri Pall Dyrason quits after rape allegation