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Don’t Expect Any New Bon Iver Music Soon (Or Ever)

Justin Vernon teased the band's future (or lack thereof).

Sorry, sad people of the world, but it looks like Bon Iver may be singing their swan song sooner than expected.

Justin Vernon, who founded the band in 2007, revealed in a new interview with Grantland that the band has no plans for new music or touring.

It’s been four years since Bon Iver dropped their self-titled sophomore album, and things were looking hopeful when they released a new song last year for Zach Braff’s film “I Wish I Was Here.” The band was also announced as a headliner for Vernon’s upcoming Eaux Claires Music Festival in Wisconsin later this month, but as of now, that’s the only plan set in stone.

“As far as putting a record together, I don’t really know what’s happening. We don’t have any plans. We’re not being secretive — we just don’t have any plans,” Vernon admitted. “It’s just about, ‘Play the show and put all of our energy into one show’ — for once in my life, let’s just play one f—king show and care just about this one show for a goddamn change.”

Vernon teased that the band “might play some new stuff” at Eaux Claires, but was noncommittal about it. So hopefully we’ll at least have some grainy YouTube clips of new songs from the show to latch onto?

In any case, Vernon also spoke freely about being uncomfortable with fame, which may have influenced his decision to step away from the spotlight.

“I think we made a few mistakes as far as letting it, they, them, the world, the pressures, the pattern, the subscribed thing kind of spoil certain aspects of it — i.e., enjoying playing music,” Vernon said.

“I definitely care about the Bon Iver thing a lot,” he continued, “but it’s kind of my thing and there’s only so much time you can spend with yourself before you just become an asshole. So you gotta push it.”

The band soared to fame after scoring a pair of Grammys in 2012 — so much so, that Vernon was parodied by Justin Timberlake on “Saturday Night Live” that year. Vernon told Grantland that that’s the kind of media attention he’s still not entirely comfortable with.

“He was like, ‘I hope that wasn’t a problem; my wife and I really love you, and I fell in love with my wife to your music,’ and all this stuff,” Vernon said about meeting Timberlake after the fact. “And I was like, ‘Hey man, don’t worry, it’s all good, man.’ He was really nice about it, and I’m not going to let that stuff get to me. But at the same time, it does accumulate.”

For now, Bon Iver fans can at least hold out hope that Vernon will continue making music with his other outfits, including indie rock band Volcano Choir. Vernon also recently appeared with Kanye West at Glastonbury, fueling rumors that he may appear on the rapper’s upcoming album (the two also collaborated on West’s last two studio albums).

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