Simply Red is splitting up after a quarter of a century together, the band’s singer Mick Hucknall announced today.

Hucknall, 47, who founded the pop and soul group in 1984, said that 25 years was "long enough for anybody".

Ignoring the tradition of fiery big band break-downs, Simply Red is splitting in an organised and civil fashion. The group will go their separate ways following their 2009 tour.

Hucknull said the band would not be recording together again, making Stay, released earlier this year, their last album.

Simply Red made their name in 1985 with the single Money's Too Tight (to Mention), which reached number 13 on the UK music charts. They went on to sell more than 50 million albums, after garnering international praise for songs like Holding Back The Years, If You Don't Know Me By Now, Fairground, and Stars.

In recent years, the line-up has changed and the group's success has failed to match the highs reached in the Eighties and Nineties.

In an interview with Gold Radio, Hucknull said it was time to move on. "There will be an end to Simply Red. I've kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 will be the last Simply Red tour."

"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album.

"The song The World And You Tonight (released last month) will be the last Simply Red single release.

"I feel good with that, I feel very comfortable with that," he said.

"It's not a very big deal but I can't change the music under the name of Simply Red and the second half of the Stay album has an edgier feel and I want to explore that side more.

"I want to be more influenced by R’n’B of the Sixties and try my slant on it, and try to invent a new form of music.

"It's a big challenge but I can't do it under the name of Simply Red."

"I just want to use my name from 2010 and try and explore something new that's got a bit more of an edge and a little more drive and I think that 25 years is long enough for anybody and I think it's worth celebrating in that sense."

Hucknall became a father for the first time this year when girlfriend Gabriella Wesberry gave birth to daughter Romy True in June. His relationship with Wesberry has ended the media attention that followed Hucknall when he dated model Helena Christensen, actresses Tracy Shaw, Martine McCutcheon and Catherine Zeta Jones.

The singer has often been accused of arrogance. He recently said: "I am one of the best singer-songwriters this country has produced. Ever.

"If people don't like me saying that, tough s***. You can't sell 50 million albums without something.

"Tom Jones told me only a few singers have got the pipes, and he's right. He has. Sinatra did. I have."

The interview, in which Hucknall announces Simply Red’s break-up, will be broadcast by Gold Radio on Saturday.

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