The Neighbourhood dropped the news of their comeback in November 2024 after three years away from the spotlight, marking what feels like a genuine fresh start for the band. What makes this reunion particularly striking? The return of drummer Brandon Fried, who was previously let go amid serious allegations.
Breaking Radio Silence After Years Away
The indie rock outfit behind the inescapable anthem “Sweater Weather” broke their silence through Instagram Stories, revealing they’d quietly regrouped in late 2024. This comes after they shocked fans by announcing an indefinite hiatus back in November 2021, right after a solid decade of churning out music together.
At the time, the band got candid about hitting some rough patches as they entered their thirties. Life threw curveballs their way – relationships fell apart, family drama surfaced, and the weight of it all led them to step back from everything they’d built.
Full Circle: Original Five Back Together
The core lineup remains intact: Jesse Rutherford on vocals, Zachary Abels and Jeremiah Freedman handling guitar duties, Michael Margott on bass, and yes, Brandon Fried back behind the kit. Fried’s return raises eyebrows, considering the band cut ties with him in late 2022 after some pretty damaging accusations surfaced.
Maria Zardoya from The Marías didn’t mince words when she called out Fried’s behavior during a November 2022 encounter, labeling him a “complete creep” and detailing inappropriate conduct while he was under the influence. The band wasted no time distancing themselves from him once the story broke.
Confronting the Fallout and Finding Redemption
Fried stepped up to own his mistakes, offering a public apology to Zardoya and pointing to his struggles with substance abuse as a root cause. The band backed his decision to focus on getting clean, acknowledging that the people who spoke out actually did him a favor by forcing him to confront his demons.
What’s interesting is how the band frames Fried’s journey back to sobriety. They’ve thrown their weight behind his recovery efforts, emphasizing the bonds they’ve forged over more than two decades of friendship and creative partnership. It’s clear they see this as someone they’ve known since before fame complicated everything – not just a bandmate who screwed up.
Studio Sessions Signal Creative Revival
The Neighbourhood didn’t just announce their reunion – they’ve already been busy. The group hit the studio last November, dropping hints about new projects brewing behind the scenes. They made sure to tip their hat to the fans who kept the flame burning during their absence, expressing genuine excitement about what’s coming next.
Their last full-length effort, Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones, landed in September 2020, which feels like a lifetime ago in music years. While the band went dark, Rutherford kept busy with solo ventures, dropping two albums in 2023 and 2024 that showed different sides of his artistry.
This reunion feels like more than just getting the gang back together – the band’s talking about it as their “next chapter,” suggesting they’re not simply picking up where they left off but evolving into something new entirely.
