BREAKING NEWS: Taking Back Sunday Drummer Mark O’Connell Departs After 24 Years: ‘My Departure Wasn’t an Easy Decision’.giang

After 24 years, Taking Back Sunday’s drummer Mark O’Connell is leaving the band.

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, he announced the news in an Instagram post, which featured a note in several images.

“After nearly 25 years as the drummer of Taking Back Sunday, I want to confirm that I am no longer with the band,” O’Connell, 43, began. “It’s taken me some time to address this. Thank you for your patience as I’ve reflected on how to share my story.”

He then expressed his gratitude for the band’s fans.

“Your love and support have meant everything to me,” O’Connell wrote. “You’ve been the heartbeat of TBS, and a huge part of my life for nearly a quarter of a century. I owe it all to you.”

He continued: “My departure wasn’t an easy decision, and it wasn’t entirely my own. Over the past few years, I’ve focused on my family and personal growth, including committing to my sobriety. Unfortunately, during this time, I didn’t always feel the support I needed from those I thought of as brothers, and creative differences made it hard to move forward together.”

The drummer then revealed that he’ll be releasing new music soon “as a solo artist and with some old friends.”

“I’ve poured my heart into this project, and I can’t wait to share it with you,” O’Connell wrote. “This is a new chapter for me — one of passion, creativity, and hope. I hope you’ll join me on this journey as we continue to be a part of each other’s stories.”

He concluded: “That said, I’m grateful for the incredible memories with each of my bandmates — and all of you, as well as all the opportunities along the way. I’m choosing to focus on the good as I move into this next chapter.”

Reps for Taking Back Sunday have not yet replied to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In November, Eddie Reyes, who departed Taking Back Sunday in 2018, said on a recent episode of the Caught on the Mike… podcast that O’Connell had left the group.

“I just recently started speaking with Mark again,” he said, “who’s apparently, uh, he walked away from, er, he’s not in the band anymore.”

Taking Back Sunday, which formed in 2001, now Taking Back Sunday’s

The emo band’s current lineup includes only three members from their original lineup: lead vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist/vocalist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper.