Ever since Mumford and Sons hung up their suspenders for the “foreseeable future,” the members of the band haven’t been able to attend any public event without being bombarded with reunion questions from fans, journalists, and time-travelers from the 1800s alike. Vulture recently spoke to banjo player Winston Marshall at a screening of the National’s Mistaken for Strangers documentary (which is very good!) about the group’s future, and his answers shook barns everywhere to their core.
“I wish I had something to say about Mumford & Sons. It was a good time,” said Marshall. “It’s over.” Totally over? “Yeah, We had a good time, though, you know. It was good.” Should we expect a reunion tour? “Well, I dunno, fucking, that would be awesome. But, you know, it is what it is, I guess.”
Whatever his next project is, it’s safe to say it won’t involve a banjo. Responding to a question about whether Mumford & Sons had “killed” the banjo, Marshall was, shall we say, blunt: “I think ‘killed’ is an understatement. We murdered it. We let it, yeah — fuck the banjo. I fucking hate the banjo.” Sheesh. Is it just us, or do we like Winston Marshall way more all of a sudden? (Via)
Fortunately/unfortunately, depending on your feelings of earnestness and beards, that wacky Marshall was being quite the jokester. According to Consequence of Sound, “A publicist for the band has confirmed to [CoS] that Marshall’s remarks were made in jest.” He’s not the only kidder in the band: frontman Marcus Mumford always answers “yes” when he’s asked whether the group is done.
YOU CAN NEVER KILL THE STRUM.
