Indie-electro trio Union of Knives this week revealed that they had split up, and with the announcement came the now obligatory goodbye statement. Sometimes a band’s last words are witty, more often they’re as bitter as a lemon marinated in vinegar.

We’ve compiled a dozen of the best break-up speeches by Scottish groups, starting with the most recent. Will the last to leave please switch off the lights?

UNION OF KNIVES (January 2010)
Craig Grant (singer): “We finished recording an album in LA and we loved it. But EMI wouldn’t put it out because they were too broke from paying Robbie Williams a fortune to tour his cathedral of bullshit up and down the land. I know this post won’t be read by a lot of people. I don’t have delusions of grandeur. But throughout this long and arduous and boring and frankly exhausting process in the festival of lies that is the music industry every once in while, anyone I speak to about Union of Knives or sends me a message or whatever… the sentiment is always the same: it would be a bit of a shame if we just quit. So, to those of you who care, it is very much appreciated. Onwards and upward and all that.”
Main emotion: Anger
Next move: Craig has vowed to assemble a new band and continue making music under another name yet to be decided
Union Of Knives – We Are All Doing Drugs

DE ROSA (June 2009)
“To all who listened. De Rosa has come to an end. If you liked our music or came to see us play we’d like to thank you all. Goodbye, De Rosa.”
Main emotion: Clinical
Next move: Singer Martin John Henry plans to have a solo album out in the autumn, while keyboard player Andrew Bush has forged a formidable reputation in the recording world with his Gold Soundz portable studio venture
De Rosa – On Recollection

MAKE MODEL (February 2009)
“So we thought we would make our final announcement as a band and put Make Model to bed. Half of 2008 was quite fun and the other half was a little stressful to say the least. As a group we had some really awesome times, worked with some fantastic people and found out a lot about ourselves along the way. Good night.”
Main emotion: Fatigue
Next move: Guitarist Gordon Skene joined Frightened Rabbit in October
Make Model – Glasgow’s No.1 Most Wanted

DANCE LAZARUS DANCE (January 2009)
“Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and in the spirit of bowing out gracefully, we have unanimously decided to bow out gracefully. The band is very special to all of us but unfortunately there reaches a point where, without a structure supporting them, a band becomes unsustainable and progress becomes harder and harder. So rather than ploughing on and eventually ending up playing power ballads to five people in the 13th Note we have decided to put it to bed whilst the times are good. We’ve had lots and lots of fun and have put many big ticks in the life boxes. Peace, love and tickles.”
Main emotion: Realism
Next move: Unknown
Dance Lazarus Dance – Do The Miami Vice

MOTHER AND THE ADDICTS (July 2008)
“A quiet front has existed for some time now but the group have now disbanded, da da for now. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?”
Main emotion: Optimism
Next move: Guitarist Douglas Morland is now in Big Ned and also releases music under the moniker Older Lover
Mother And The Addicts – So Tough

THE GRIM NORTHERN SOCIAL (August 2007)
Ewan MacFarlane (singer): “This post is one of the hardest things I have had to do in quite some time. It is both with relief and regret that I have finally decided to call it a day with The Grim Northern Social. Ten years have passed since the idea to start a band called The Grim Northern Social came into my head. During that decade there have been many highs and just as many lows. The music game is a constant struggle and I feel we have taken this band as far as we can. I no longer have the strength or the want to keep kicking down doors that always seem to close again on The GNS. Peace love and thanks for keeping it grim for so long.”
Main emotion: Defeated
Next move: Ewan is the main vocalist for electro-rock act Apollo 440
The Grim Northern Social – Urban Pressure

AEREOGRAMME (May 2007)
“Reasons are multiple and complex. It is however fair to say that the never ending financial struggle coupled with an almost superhuman ability to dodge the zeitgeist have taken their toll, ensuring that we just don’t have any fight left in us. We want to thank you all for listening to our music and coming to our shows over the years. You have given us a glimpse of something truly special.”
Main emotion: Spent
Next move: Singer Craig B and guitarist Iain Cook formed The Unwinding Hours and their self-titled debut album will be released on Chemikal Underground next month
Aereogramme – Post-Tour, Pre-Judgement

ARAB STRAP (December 2006)
“After 10 years, six studio albums, three live albums and all manner of everything else, we’ve decided the story should come to a close. There’s no animosity, no drama, we simply feel we’ve run our course and The Last Romance seems to us the most obvious and logical final act of the Arab Strap studio adventure. Everybody likes a happy ending!”
Main emotion: Satisfied
Next move: Guitarist Malcolm Middleton has released five albums in a fruitful solo career, while Aidan Moffat has used more aliases and variations of his name than we can be bothered to list, the latest being Aidan Moffat & The Best-Ofs
Arab Strap – The First Big Weekend

THE DELGADOS (April 2005)
Stewart Henderson (bassist): “Physically, emotionally and financially I found it increasingly difficult to pour so much of my energy and time into something that never quite seemed to get the attention or respect I felt it deserved. I always swore that I could not carry on playing in a band that fewer and fewer people gave a fuck about – it was never going to be a dream of mine to be playing to 200 people at the age of 34 when I felt that, justice prevailing, it should have been 10 times that. I’ve knocked my pan in and I would be a traitor to myself as well as to every Delgado fan if I continued to clock on and clock off, dragging myself into a recording studio, giving half hearted, insincere interviews and generally continuing with the band when my heart wasn’t in it.”
Main emotion: Disillusionment
Next move: Alun Woodward brought out his debut solo album under the guise of Lord Cut-Glass last year, while Emma Pollock uses her own name and releases her second album in March
The Delgados – Everything Goes Around The Water

THE BETA BAND (December 2004)
Steve Mason (singer): “The minority is always right. I left the room with silent dignity but caught my foot on the mat and a thousand, thousand slimy things lived on, and so did I. This is adding insult to injuries. By the way, who’s your fat friend?”
Richard Greentree (bassist): “The Beta Band apple has over-ripened and become riddled with maggots, it must fall from the tree and let its seeds return to ground.”
Main emotion: Drug-addled
Next move: Steve is continuing with his solo venture King Biscuit Time as well as new projects Black Affair and Give Good Face, while Richard released a low-key album with his band The General And Duchess Collins. Drummer Robin Jones and DJ/sampler John Maclean formed The Aliens along with Beta Band co-founder Gordon Anderson
The Beta Band – Dry The Rain

LIFE WITHOUT BUILDINGS (September 2002)
“Some of you may have guessed this already by the lack of activity on our website and elsewhere, but we feel we should make it official and announce that Life Without Buildings is no longer a band. Thanks a million – and, you know, keep on rocking.”
Main emotion: Disinterested
Next move: It’s not known if any of the members are still involved in making music
Life Without Buildings – New Town

URUSEI YATSURA (June 2001)
“You have probably heard rumours about a U.Y. split and it is with real sadness that we have to confirm that Urusei Yatsura has disbanded. It is not easy being a full-time band and many factors have contributed to our decision. We feel our three albums, numerous singles and other releases are a great achievement and a triumph over the capriciousness of the music industry. We still love you and please, please don’t ever get into Toploader. It’s been a fucking blast.”
Main emotion: Fulfillment
Next move: Co-frontman Fergus Lawrie, bassist Elaine Graham and drummer Ian Graham formed Projekt A-Ko and released debut album Yoyodyne last year
Urusei Yatsura – First Day On A New Planet