With work winding down on its new album, Wilco [ tickets ] has announced that multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach has exited the group.

"Yes, those rumors (if you've heard them) are true," reads a statement posted this week on the band's official website. "As Wilco wraps up work on their next record, Leroy Bach has decided to leave the band. We'll all miss working with him and of course wish him the best in what comes next."

No other information about Bach's departure--or a possible replacement--was immediately available.

Bach--previously of The Dishes and 5ive Style--was involved in the recording of Wilco's 1999 album "Summerteeth," and was named an official member of the group before the release of 2002's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot."

The only remaining original members of Wilco are frontman/guitarist Jeff Tweedy and bassist Jon Stirratt. Drummer Glen Kotche replaced Ken Coomer before "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" was recorded, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett exited after "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" was completed.

More information about Wilco's forthcoming album will be available soon, according to the band's website. The group is co-producing the set with Jim O'Rourke, who engineered "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot."

Stirratt's side-project The Autumn Defense [ tickets ] launches a tour in February; details are available at the band's official website.