After easing the plight of freezing students with a national tour of Australia’s universities last winter, the much loved keyboard player of Bluejuice has called it a day.

Jerry Craib has been a part of the Sydney based outfit for 12 years, and has decided to bid farewell to the fun loving punk-disco-pop group.

In a statement released by other band members Jake, Stav, Jamie and James, Bluejuice preach their love for ‘Jerry the keyboard player’, with delightful humour and some quirky truths about Craib.

“The magnitude of this event for Bluejuice can be expressed neatly in two words: “FUCKING FUCK”, begins the statement from the outfit. “Jerry is the most talented keyboard player we’ve ever met (not to mention a shit-hot drummer, bass player, guitarist, and presumably sensual lover and efficient masturbator), and he is a huge part of the creative force behind the band.”

Among the enthusiastic praises in the band’s statement lies a collection of fun facts about Craib, going as far as to mention his resemblance to aquatic creatures, “Jerry has an excellent broad Australian accent that he can switch on and off in regional towns, which allows him to blend in, like an octopus. A Jerry Fucking Craib octopus.”

Bluejuice’s latest endevour in 2012 was to treat Australian University students with a special tour dubbed “Winter Of Our Discotheque” which coincided with the release of the fourth single “The Recession” from their latest album Company. Touring nationally to specific Universities, the band played with opening acts such as Deep Sea Arcade, Hungry Kids of Hungary, and The Preatures.

As our Tone Deaf reviewer in ANU Canberra reported, “easily one of the funniest and most engaging frontmen in the live arena, Jake Stone leapt into the crowd multiple times, at one point losing his microphone. Bluejuice weren’t lacking in substance or talent either, with the rest of the band sounding excellent behind both Jake and Stav, supporting their dance-worthy pop throughout the entire set.”

Our reviewer of the band’s Sydney’s University of Technology show also praised the group, saying that “Bluejuice’s energy and willingness to have fun will cement them forever as lasting Australian icons.”

The heartfelt statement ends with the nature of Craib’s disappearances during tours, known to the band as ‘JT time’, the band bids the keyboard player adieu, saying “now Jerry’s got all the JT in the world, and we wish him well in his new endeavours,” adding the post-clause: “We also wish he gets bored and comes back to play with us again.”

You can read the entire cheeky statement from Bluejuice below:

It is with great sadness and substance abuse that we must announce that after 12 years, Jerry Craib is leaving Bluejuice.

The magnitude of this event for Bluejuice can be expressed neatly in two words: “FUCKING FUCK”.

Jerry is the most talented keyboard player we’ve ever met (not to mention a shit-hot drummer, bass player, guitarist, and presumably sensual lover and efficient masturbator), and he is a huge part of the creative force behind the band. Have you ever heard what our band sounds like? It’s got keyboards all over it. That’s Jerry. Jerry Fucking Craib.

Not only that, but Jerry is the only member of Bluejuice who knows how all our equipment works, and where it’s supposed to plug into. “What’s a mono DI? Get me a drink”, is the level of knowledge that the rest of us can manage. Not Jerry Fucking Craib.

When operating a vehicle, Jerry displays a T-1000 level of single-mindedness and intensity. Indeed, in a Tarago race from Sydney to Melbourne against a liquid-alloy cyborg from the future, Jerry would win hands-down, with spare time for a cigarette and a game of online Yahtzee. That’s Jerry Fucking Craib for you.

And to cap it all off, Jerry has an excellent broad Australian accent that he can switch on and off in regional towns, which allows him to blend in, like an octopus. A Jerry Fucking Craib octopus.

Jerry is, and will remain the only member of Bluejuice whom a layman would not describe as “a total dick”. He’s generous to the point of personal sacrifice, tactful, and humble about his formidable musical talents. He can also be a stubborn fucking weirdo, but let’s not talk about that right now.

While touring, Jerry would often disappear for hours at a time, and nobody would know where he was. This period was known as “Jerry Time”, or “JT”. Now Jerry’s got all the JT in the world, and we wish him well in his new endeavours*.

Let’s hear it for Jerry Fucking Craib everybody.

We love you Jerry.

From Jake, Stav, Jamie and James

*We also wish he gets bored and comes back to play with us again.

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