Duff McKagan is leaving Jane’s Addiction. According to Reuters, the band announced the split Monday by email.

The former Guns N’ Roses bassist joined Jane’s in March of this year. He has performed some  concerts with the band and was working with them on material for a new album.

“Hey, we wanted to thank Duff for helping us write songs for our new record,” the email reportedly said. “We love the songs we worked on with him — and the gigs were a blast — but musically we were all headed in different directions. From here Duff is off to work on his own stuff so we wish him all the best.”

While the line-up of frontman Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins has remained unchanged since 1986, Jane’s Addiction has been through five bass players. Original member Eric Avery has left and returned, most recently departing earlier this year to be replaced by McKagan. In between, the slot has been filled by Martyn LeNoble, Chris Chaney and Flea.

McKagan is a founding member of Guns N’ Roses, which he left in 1998. He formed Velvet Revolver in 2002 with former GNR members Slash and Matt Sorum, as well as Wasted Youth’s Dave Kushner and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland. VR split in 2008.

Jane’s Addiction is currently working on their first album in seven years. The last was 2003’s Strays.

Perry Farrell posted a message on his Twitter that reads, “Jane’s wishes Duff much luck with his band Loaded. What a fun time we all had working together. Look out for his record and tour this fall.”

(Photo by PR Photos)

Story provided by the Dish Information Corporation