James Blunt Announces Retirement, Has No Plans To Return To Music

James Blunt announced that he is leaving the music industry, and that he has no plans to return.

The English singer-songwriter is best known for his 2005 debut album Back to Bedlam and singles “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover.” Despite his album selling 11 million copies, the 38-year-old told The Daily Mail that he is leaving the music industry and has no plans to return, saying:

“I just want to take some time out for myself. I haven’t got any plans to do more songwriting. I have been chilling out since I finished my world tour and I’ve spent a lot of time in Ibiza, where I have a villa.”

Blunt said that he decided to leave the music industry after taking his first summer off in seven years with model girlfriend Sofia Wellesley:

“Sofia and I had a great time hanging out with friends on my yacht but we partied as well,” he added. “I do like a good night out and that is why it’s great fun to hang out at Barbarella. London needs more nightclubs like this.”

Blunt was an officer in the Life Guards, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and served under NATO in Kosovo during the 1999 conflict there. He has also been the subject of media interest, particularly in the tabloid press. His mother defended him recently against the criticism he receives in the press:

“I was most interested to hear Pete Waterman’s thoughts on public school rock stars,” Jane Blount said in an email to Radio 4, via NME. “His attitude is reflected by most of the critics in the UK. My son James Blunt, who is hugely appreciated worldwide, receives harsh criticism here and we have, rather sadly, been aware that it is because of his background.”

Blunt’s most recent album, Some Kind Of Trouble, was released in 2010.

Are you a fan of James Blunt? Are you sad to see him go?