Out Violinist Neil Amin-Smith is Leaving Clean Bandit

Clean Bandit, the English electronic group responsible for such bangers as "Rather Be" and "Tears," said goodbye to their (gay and incredibly sexy) violinist and keyboardist Neil Amin-Smith, who, in a surprise move, announced he was leaving the band Wednesday morning via Instagram.

In his goodbye post, Amin-Smith thanked a score of individuals, including members of the Clean Bandit team and Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, with whom Amin-Smith was in a relationship with last year.

"I have decided to leave Clean Bandit," he wrote in his farewell post. "It was a decision that took me a very long time to reach but it is the right one. So many people have made these last four years quite unbelievable and I am so thankful for it all."

hello everyone, I have decided to leave clean bandit. it was a decision that took me a very long time to reach but it is the right one. so many people have made these last four years quite unbelievable and I am so thankful for it all. meeting (and tweeting) you guys has been really so incredible I have learned so much and seen so many things and it will all stay with me forever. your support for the music and just for me more generally is one of the most insane and amazing things I have ever experienced. I have this little box under my bed where I keep things I have collected along the way, things that people have sent to me, polaroids of me and little mix, and general pieces of touring tat that I can't bring myself to throw away, and it's all spread out on my bed right now making me smile and also cry a little bit. there are a few people I have met along the way who have kept me in health and happiness and I guess I want to say special thanks to Tec Beint our production manager who looked after me and I really think must be the most amazing dad, @tobadiah @jack2jack2jack and @griffithsliam the pieces of our incredible crew and all ridiculously kind, Alistair and Iain our long suffering and hard working managers, George my friend and super competent Dj tour manager, Briony holly Damian Phil Callum and Claire at Atlantic, @aimeecroysdill @elainelynskey and @naradkutowaroo who are total gems all three, my friend @rupeeb and also @ollyyears who have both been a huge part of how I experienced being in clean bandit, @florencerawlings @tinakeyboards and @anaisaida all amazing musicians and hilarious people, and above all my partner-in-crime and the most magnificent and powerful person I know, @elisabethtroy . I wish clean bandit all the luck even as I feel sure they won't need it, here's to all our futures

A photo posted by Neil Milan (@neil_milan) on Oct 19, 2016 at 3:02am PDT

Below, we've compiled some of the reasons why this is such sad news for the band. Particularly this:

A photo posted by Neil Milan (@neil_milan) on May 6, 2015 at 11:18am PDT

And this:

sometimes u can't sleep even though u r so tired (hehe)

A photo posted by Neil Milan (@neil_milan) on Oct 4, 2015 at 2:23am PDT

And, of course, this:

drops

A photo posted by Neil Milan (@neil_milan) on Jul 20, 2016 at 8:31am PDT

Good luck, Neil.