Singer, and songwriter Tom Maxwell officially departed from one of the bands credited to bringing the swing revival to the mainstream -- the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

"I officially resigned from the Squirrel Nut Zippers on June 30, 1999. I can say in all honesty that I left with an open heart, harboring neither ill-will nor resentment. Basically, all things must pass and it was time to go. The particular reasons for my departure, however, are my own." Maxwell said in a statement he issued.

In a letter Maxwell gave to bandmates, he said "...Who I am as a musician is a result of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. The band was a musical epiphany for me, and I blossomed as a writer and performer in ways I could not have previously imagined...In the future I will continue to hold myself to the high musical standard set by the Squirrel Nut Zippers."

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are now looking to add more players, and Maxwell is currently working on a solo album project that is slated for release in October.