Two decades after marrying at the height of Montreal’s indie rock renaissance, Arcade Fire co-founders Win Butler and Régine Chassagne have announced their separation. The couple, whose onstage chemistry became as iconic as the band’s sweeping anthems, shared the news Thursday on social media, marking the end of a marriage that began in 2003, just as the group was finding its voice.
“After a long and loving marriage, Win and Régine have decided to separate,” the statement read. “They continue to love, admire and support each other as they co-parent their son.” Butler and Chassagne met at McGill University during the band’s formative years, and their creative partnership propelled Arcade Fire from Montreal club stages to global recognition, culminating in a 2011 Grammy for Album of the Year with The Suburbs. That record captured the restless energy of suburban life with a distinctly Montreal sensibility, a sound that married art-rock ambition with heartland earnestness.
Despite the personal shift, both insist the band will carry on. “Their bond as creative soulmates will endure, as will Arcade Fire,” the statement continued, adding that their humanitarian work in Haiti through the KANPE Foundation remains a shared priority. “The band send their love and look forward to seeing you all on tour soon.” Arcade Fire released their seventh studio album, Pink Elephant, earlier this year and has been touring steadily since.
The announcement arrives three years after Butler faced allegations of sexual misconduct from four individuals in a 2022 Pitchfork investigation. Butler acknowledged extramarital relationships at the time but denied wrongdoing, stating all encounters were consensual. The controversy cast a shadow over the band’s WE album cycle, though they’ve continued performing.
For Montreal, Arcade Fire has long been more than a band — they’re a cultural touchstone, proof that sprawling, uncompromising music could emerge from the city’s indie scene and conquer the world. Whether that legacy can weather both personal and public turbulence remains an open question, but for now, Butler and Chassagne seem determined to keep the fire burning, even if the shape of the flame has changed.
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