Big Thief Parts Ways With Max Oleartchik
Big Thief has announced that after nearly a decade in the group, founding bassist Max Oleartchik is no longer a member of the band. The news was shared in a Facebook post citing “interpersonal reasons,” although the change is made with love.
“After many beautiful years together, Max is no longer in Big Thief. Our love for each other is infinite, and we are so grateful for all we have shared these many years together since the beginning of our journey as a band. We wouldn’t be who we are without Max. This separation marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one for Big Thief,” they wrote. “This change was made for interpersonal reasons with mutual respect in our hearts. It’s a big change for us and the four of us ask for your trust, respect, and care as we grow into the next chapter of our lives.”
Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek began performing as a duo in 2013 and expanded it into the band Big Thief in 2015 with the addition of Oleartchik. He performed on all five of the band’s albums including their latest release, 2022’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You.
Big Thief is performing in Portland, Oregon at the end of the month and are set for a European tour in August. A replacement bassist has not been named.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
