CHEVELLE Bassist DEAN BERNARDINI To 'Take A Break' From Touring

CHEVELLE bassist Dean Bernardini has announced that he will "take a break from the road" after completing this year's shows with his bandmates. He added that he will "continue to work" in music in some form or another while also putting time into his art and furniture business at home.

Bernardini has been with CHEVELLE since 2005, even though 2007's "Vena Sera" marked his first studio recording with the band.

Dean's musical journey started with drums at age five, the instrument he was playing when he first came to know Sam and Pete Loeffler of CHEVELLE. The band was playing its first show at a battle of the bands in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield. Bernardini was drumming another local band at the same competition. The trio became fast friends. Musical collaborations ensued, though it would still be a few years before Dean would officially join the band as a bassist.

Bernardini is also an accomplished visual artist and woodworker, and has contributed several paintings to the band's visual component, most notably the covers of CHEVELLE's 2009 release "Sci-Fi Crimes" and 2012's "Stray Arrows: A Collection of Favorites". When not touring or writing with the band, Dean also builds custom furniture for his clientele in the Chicago area. The Wooden Relic is his online store and gallery where he showcases his works.

CHEVELLE's final show of 2019 will take place on December 14 in Robinsonville, Mississippi.

Bernardini's full statement reads as follows: "To all my dedicated friends/fans: It is with a heavy heart that I have decided I will be taking a break from the road to spend some much needed time at home with my family. I consider myself lucky to have been a part of CHEVELLE & have shared the stage with such incredible musicians.

"These past 15 years & 6 albums have been amazing to be a part of. I will continue to work on my passion of music in some form or another & continue to put time into my art & furniture business at home. I will be finishing out this years remaining shows on stage with my brothers and band mates. For updates on what's going on in my world go to www.thewoodenrelic.com"

Earlier this year, CHEVELLE entered Joe's House Of Compression studio in Pasadena, California with producer Joe Barresi (KYUSS, MELVINS, THE JESUS LIZARD) to begin recording its new album for a tentative early 2020 release.