After over twenty years with the Aussie rock group The Casanovas, longtime bassist Damian “Damo” Campbell has left the band.
Campbell made the announcement on the band’s social media accounts on Saturday (24 August), detailing the “unforgettable moments” alongside apparent bittersweet times within the band, claiming that members have “grown apart” and relationships have become “skewed” following recent line-up changes.
The musician’s statement begins, “After more than 20 incredible years with The Casanovas, the time has come for me to part ways from the band.
“It’s been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and plenty of laughs! I’m deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to rock’n’roll with such a great band… It’s been a wild and wonderful ride. Great times, indeed!”
Campbell continued, “While I’m incredibly grateful for memories that we’ve shared, I’m also disappointed that, as individuals, we’ve grown apart. Sadly, recent line-up changes have somewhat skewed relationships, and it’s clear that the time has come for me to step away.
“Though this chapter is closing, the music and memories we’ve created together will always be cherished. Thank you to all the fans for the love and for being part of this great adventure – Damo”.
Campbell’s departure announcement arrived almost exactly a year after The Casanovas released their fifth album, Backseat Rhythms, on Rubber Records.
A quintessential Casanovas album, Backseat Rhythms found the band channelling their “riff-heavy and melodic ’70s hard rock” influences and marked the follow-up to 2020’s Reptilian Overlord.
In 2019, longtime drummer Jordan “Jaws” Stanley left the band. Stanley was replaced by Brett “Wolfie” Wolfenden, who joined the Casanovas led by singer and guitarist Tommy Boyce and Campbell.
Formed in 1999, The Casanovas have hit the road with acts including The Datsuns, Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, The Darkness, The Living End, The Black Crowes, Airbourne and more, with appearances at Big Day Out and spins on triple j.
Cherry Bar owner James Young previously said about the band: “It’s like they’ve captured all my favourite rock acts – Cheap Trick, Stones, Kiss, ZZ Top & AC/DC, and crammed them all into their own jar of Vegemite.”
