An Epochal Open Letter from Ben Gibbard to Death Cab for Cutie, Our Fans, and the Whole Death Cab Community
To my bandmates, our dear fans, and the broader Death Cab for Cutie family,
As I sit down to compose this letter, I am overcome with profound, overwhelming appreciation. It’s difficult to express how much this trip has meant to me—how being a part of this band and being loved by all of you has shaped my life, voice, and spirit. This is more than just a thank you; it’s a love letter to a dream that became a reality and continues to expand with each note, show, and connection we’ve established over time.
From our humble beginnings in Bellingham, Washington—recording in bedrooms and basements, chasing melodies and meaning—none of us could have imagined the journey ahead. We didn’t establish Death Cab for Cutie with lofty goals of popularity or success on the charts. We just wanted to create something honest and authentic. And the fact that this song has touched so many people’s hearts around the world continues to amaze me.
To my previous and present bandmates, thank you for your trust, talent, and steadfast belief in what we were creating. Your genius has enhanced every lyric, guitar chord, and harmony that I’ve created. We’ve seen each other through late nights and long tours, quiet times and loud applause, and I wouldn’t exchange any of it.
To our fans, your devotion has been the band’s heartbeat. Every night, you’ve sang our words back to us with such passion and commitment. You’ve shared your stories, heartbreaks, and healing journeys, all woven into our music. You’ve turned this music into more than simply sound; it’s become a part of your lives. And by doing so, you have rendered it sacrosanct to us. I am continually humbled by your devotion and the way you’ve carried our music with you through each stage of life.
To the entire Death Cab community—the venues, road crews, engineers, producers, and friends from other bands who inspired and supported us—you are the unsung heroes of our story. Thank you for providing us with space to expand, platforms to be heard, and rooms to fill with sound and memory.
This isn’t a goodbye. It is a celebration of what we have created together. The journey is still unfolding. The songs keep coming. The stage is still calling. But today, I just want to say, with all my heart, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of something so important, something that has gone beyond music and formed a lifelong friendship.
We’ve grown together. We’ve endured storms. And we have produced something that will last.
With love and always—
Ben Gibbard
🎶💙 #ThankYou
#DeathCabForever
#StillRunning