Jimbo Hart, one of Isbell’s original bandmates, took time off from the group earlier this year.
Jimbo Hart, one of the founding members of Jason Isbell’s backing band 400 Unit, has officially left the group. Hart, the band’s bassist, shared the news in an online post Monday morning: “ I am no longer a member of 400 Unit. I’m grateful for all the years, all the faces I’ve played for throughout the band’s history and proud of everything we’ve accomplished. I am excited to be moving forward into a new chapter of my life and am open to all possibilities that arise. »
I’m no longer a member of the 400 Unit.
I’m grateful for all the years, all the faces I’ve played for in the course of the band’s history and proud of all we accomplished. I’m happy to be moving forward into a new chapter of life and open to all possibilities, as they may arise.— Jimbo Hart (@JimboHart) November 27, 2023
Jimbo Hart announced he was taking time off from the 400 Unit tour in June, days before Isbell and the band released their new album Weathervanes. “ I’m taking some time to take care of my mental health and resolve some old traumas “, he tweeted. Later that month, he announced to his fans that he was in rehab and regularly shared updates on his progress.
Without his regular bassist, Jason Isbell had a rotating crew of bassists, including Anna Butterss, Cat Popper and Dominic John Davis. A new press photo from Isbell and the 400 Unit shows Butterss and multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson in the band; both appeared with the band on stage during a recent episode of Austin City Limits.
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Isbell and Hart’s relationship dates back to Isbell’s days with the Drive-By Truckers. After leaving the Truckers, Isbell stayed with Hart and eventually asked him to play bass in his solo band, which morphed into 400 Unit (shorthand for the psychiatric unit of an Alabama hospital near from where Isbell grew up). Hart spoke to Village Voice in 2017 of the relationship between the musicians following a tough winter tour in 2008. “ We all called it the tour from hellHart said. But we all persevered, and those of us who stuck it out formed a very strong bond. »
Hart played on almost all of Isbell’s albums, starting with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit in 2009. Weathervaneson which he also plays bass, is in the running for the Grammy for best Americana music album.