Cheap Girls break up, Ian posts statement about his “predatory” behavior

Cheap Girls have decided to call it quits, with frontman Ian Graham citing his own “predatory” behavior as the reason to end the band:

Until recently, I lacked the empathy to consider how my actions effected others, and this includes my relationships with women. I’ve been manipulative, acted in predatory ways, abused the artist-fan dynamic and hurt many people along the way by making them feel unsafe, violated and disrespected.

All upcoming Cheap Girls shows and Ian Graham solo shows are cancelled (including his NYC show with Antarctigo Vespucci).

Cheap Girls last released the rarities comp God’s Ex-Wife in 2016, and recently debuted new music in an Audiotree session. Last week, Ian contributed an Evan Dando cover to an ACLU benefit compilation, and his contribution has since been removed.

Here’s Ian’s full statement:

Hey everyone, Ian here.

To me, Cheap Girls feels like something that I’ve used to exercise the worst aspects of my ego and control. It is no longer comfortable or healthy for myself or others to be involved with it. Although these negative actions have been entirely my responsibility, we have decided as a group to end the band.

Many of you know that I’ve struggled with substances for the entirety of my adult life. I definitely do not want to blame alcohol or drug addiction for ANY of my actions. Rather, I bring this up because it is through recovery that I can finally process with clarity how my actions have impacted others. I have now been clean and sober for 9 1/2 months.

I’ve encouraged anger from those around me, both professionally and personally, by repeating behaviors I now know to be problematic. Through lying and selfishness, I’ve made things much more difficult than my friends and family have deserved. I’ve been especially difficult to deal with for my bandmates.

Until recently, I lacked the empathy to consider how my actions effected others, and this includes my relationships with women. I’ve been manipulative, acted in predatory ways, abused the artist-fan dynamic and hurt many people along the way by making them feel unsafe, violated and disrespected.

I carried a ton of shame and remorse for years. There are things in my past that make me literally sick to my stomach to think about; I carried it all to the point that I had to completely change my life and make every effort I could to turn my way of thinking around. I work every day through therapy, meetings, a recovery program -anything that I can do to be the person I know I can be. I know that I do not have to live in a place filled with selfishness and ego anymore if I do the work in front of me.

As always, it is for you to decide what this band means to you and how you care to listen to the work we have done. While we always have and always will be proud of the music we’ve made, this is a very clear decision for us.

I would like to stress that this decision is incredibly positive for me and 100% necessary for my recovery.

There will be no future Cheap Girls shows. All performances I have scheduled on my own are also cancelled.

Thank you for your privacy and understanding

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