More on O'Rourke/Sonic Youth Break Up

Billboard confirms - and says O'Rourke wants to go into film? Being in the group didn't seem to stop the other members from doing film... but whatever - as I've said before much as I dig O'Rourke's solo stuff and other collaborations, I was never really sure what he added to the group and the anti-change gene in me always looked askance at a five-person config for this band.

Sonic Youth will record its next studio album without the aid of multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke, who has been part of the band on stage and in the studio since 2002's "Murray Street." Guitarist Lee Ranaldo tells Billboard.com O'Rourke is planning to devote his full energies to his own recording projects as well as forays into film.

"Jim is going through a lot of different stuff personally and about where he sees his future," Ranaldo says. "He's really interested in pursuing stuff outside the musical arena, particularly film work. Not necessarily soundtrack work, but making films and getting involved in that community."