Ivan Smagghe has quit Blackstrobe over musical differences, a report on Richard Brophy’s respected blog Test Industries revealed last week, as the band prepare to embark on a series of live shows.

“He has moved away and is focused on his DJ career,” remaining Blackstrobe mainman Arnaud Robotini told Test Industries, “Black Strobe’s changeover to a live sound was difficult for him because he’s a great DJ, but he’s not a musician and he didn’t feel comfortable being on stage. Black Strobe was always about finding an equilibrium and while he brought the dance floor sensibility, maybe my influence was too strong,” he added.

Smagghe previously hinted at his departure in an interview with Skrufff in February when he said he was ‘too shy’ to perform on stage with Blackstrobe.

“You should talk to Arnaud, I do not do the live thing, I absolutely hate playing my own songs on stage, I guess not being a musician not helping,” he said.

“I think I’ve been a DJ for too long (where you can do what you want if you have the guts to) and that’s the maximum exposure for me. There is also a comedy aspect involved in playing live that I appreciate in others but can’t see for myself,” he added.

Arnaud hits the road for a series of dates shortly with a four piece Blackstrobe band comprising David ‘Siskid’ Shaw (Guitar and Keyboard), Bastien Burger (Bass and Keyboard) and Benjamin Beaulieu (Drums).

http://www.myspace.com/blackstrobe

http://testindustries.typepad.com/test/2007/04/index.html (Richard Brophy: ‘For those who are interested, remember where you read it first: Ivan Smagghe has left Black Strobe . . .’)