Bad news for those who love SYL.

"[On May 2, 2007] InsideOut Music and the Tora! Company held an exclusive media showcase for the new Devin Townsend solo album ‘Ziltoid The Omniscient’, including an appearance and Q&A session with the man himself. This turned out to not in fact include a musical performance from Devin, but a hilarious puppet show using Devin’s superb hand-made rubber Ziltoid puppet he uses in the videos on the Ziltoid MySpace page, and held a press conference from a booth on the stage of the Underworld in Camden, London. Ziltoid took questions from the audience and during his answers he mentioned Devin would be moving into the mountains, never to be seen from again.

"The audience thought it was part of the Ziltoid act, but after a while a tired looking Townsend emerged and confirmed that he is, indeed, quitting and moving to a remote town in Northern Canada. He plans to continue to make ‘a ton of music,’ some of which will be heavy, some ambient, like his other new CD ‘The Hummer’, and everything in between. He’s going to build a new studio at his new house, and will be keeping his studio in Vancouver where he produces other bands. So every now and again a Devin Townsend album will emerge, possibly on the Internet, but he won’t tour and won’t be doing any other kind of public appearances, like interviews etc.

"Eight months ago he and his wife had their first child, Reyner Liam Johnstan Townsend, and his arrival has accelerated Devin’s decision to back away from the limelight, but is not the sole reason for it. He said these are feelings he’s had for some time, and is just so tired of touring and doing interviews and being the focus of things. He also said he’s tired of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD. The last tour was a real struggle for him to muster any enthusiasm, mostly because SYL was initially created to vent all his frustrations, which no longer exist. He’s not the angry early-twenties nutter anymore. He’s a mellow mid-thirties nutter, and doesn’t feel the need to be screaming at everyone.

"So, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD is over for good. So is the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND. Devin’s music will be made solo from now on, and he will continue to produce other people’s music, but will not tour."

(Thanks: Matias Autio)

Maybe Devy will get back into it one day, who can say. Well, I guess he can… But that’s cool about him having a baby and all.