Nick Cave has announced the split of his Grinderman project.

The singer said the group are “over” as they played the final date of their current Australian tour at the Meredith Music Festival this weekend.

He told the crowd: “That’s it for Grinderman. It’s over. See you all in another ten years when we’ll be even older and uglier.”

Grinderman – which also included members Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos – released two albums, a self titled debut in 2007 and follow up ‘Grinderman 2’ in 2010.

The band have yet to release an official statement or explain the reasons for their split.

Last year, drummer Jim seemed hopeful that the band would continue, and would find another direction to go in “sonically” in the future.

He told website FasterLouder.com.au:”It’s a bit early to be saying Grinderman’s always going sound a certain way.

“I already think there’s a big difference between the first album and the second album personally so who knows where Grinderman’s going to go sonically from here.”