Sparta vocalist/guitarist Jim Ward has given an interview to NME about the recent release of his band’s new album “Cut A Silhouette“, and how he envisions it as the end of the group’s ‘second act.’ Given that Sparta have undergone several periods of inactivity throughout their career, labeling it as such may ring with as much finality as such a description would suggest. Ward instead relayed of that record and its place in the band’s career:
“This is the final record in a chapter of a book that has been 25 years in the making. It’s the end of Sparta’s second act, but I just think that means there are a trio of records coming that will make up the new era. All the obstacles have been cleared and now we can move ahead with a full tank.”
One chapter in his life that appears to remain closed however is his time in At The Drive-In. That volatile post-hardcore group first came to an end in 2001, and after a brief return, would resurrect themselves in 2016 for a two-year reunion. Ward was ejected by the band during that latter stint, being replaced by his ex-Sparta bandmate Keeley Davis.
In this newly posted discussion with NME, Ward reflected on where his relationship stands with his former bandmates in At The Drive-In all these years later and whether or not the band feels like “unfinished business” to him:
“It doesn’t. Even if all five of us talked about it, I’m not sure we’d understand what happened. What I do know is that I wasn’t in a good place mentally, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have done my job. But I think getting kicked out, as painful as it was, was probably a blessing in disguise.
A lot of things have happened since that have been beneficial. It’s why I don’t hold any bad feelings. I still don’t speak to Omar and Cedric but if either of them called me and said they needed a kidney, I’d be on the first plane. I have a connection and a love for them that is beyond any drama.”
