James Murphy's been talking about laying down his LCD Soundsystem moniker for some time now, and always said that last year's 'This Is Happening' would be the outfit's final album, so it's no great shock to hear that the New York musician has finally made it official by announcing a farewell gig for Madison Square Garden.

News was announced that the final ever LCD Soundsystem gig will take place at the famous NYC arena on Saturday April 2nd via a post on the band's official website.
"It will be our last show ever. We are retiring from the game. Gettin' out. Movin' on. But for just one more night, we will be playing with friends and family for nearly 3 hours - playing stuff we've never played before and going out with a bang. And we'd like you to be there. If you would, we'd love it if people all came in white. Or black. Or black and white. And come ready to have fun, please."

It was also revealed that fellow New Yorkers Liquid Liquid will support LCD Soundsystem on the night.

Speaking to Pitchfork last July, Murphy revealed his thinking behind the choice of venue.
"It's all just gotten bigger than I planned or wanted. Not that I'm against it but I don't want to get bigger. What's the goal now-- get fucking huge? I don't want to be a famous person. It's fucking great where we are. I get on an airplane and nobody has any idea who I am. I just want to do other stuff. And since we know we're not gonna do another record I feel freer to do the biggest shit I possibly can. Like, 'Fuck it, we should play Madison Square Garden.'"

Our own John Balfe spoke to Murphy about his reasons for ending such a popular project last May while he was stranded in Europe by volcanic ash.
"I'm 40, we all have lives. I love this band and I wouldn't want to be in another band at all. I wouldn't want to stop and form another band, or something stupid like that. I love it. But the problem is you shouldn't do it if you're not going to do it well. To do it well, to do it in a dignified way requires it to be almost your entire life. This is all I do. I used to be able to do this, plus a label, plus DJing, plus remixes, plus producing. I can't do those things anymore.

"I figured that, rather than feeling compromised, I'd prefer to dedicate the next year and a half to make this record the best I can and do the tour the best I can and then just stop being this kind of a band that makes an album and goes on tour and does videos and things. I'm not going to make a new band. I'll probably still make music with LCD Soundsystem, but I'll probably just make singles and go back to it being a 'project' which is a part of my life, rather than a job that demands a year of Pat's life and Nancy's life. It's a big commitment. I'd rather go back to it being a part of my life instead of all of my life."

To read John's full interview click here.

**Updated**

LCD Soundsystem have added a further four New York dates to their schedule ahead of the Madison Square Garden gig, now playing Manhattan's Terminal 5 from March 28th to 31st.