German band The Scorpions have announced they are breaking up after 40 years together.

A posting at the bands website tells fans that they have decided to call it quits on a high note.

The statement reads:

'It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you - whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs'.

'While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was – and how much fun we were still having, in the process. But there was also something else: We want to end the Scorpion's extraordinary career on a high note. We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we've always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years'.

'We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this. Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years!'

'We uploaded the very first snippets from our new album for you.'

'And now, let's get the party started and get ready for a 'Sting in the Tail'!'

'See you on the world tour,'

Yours Scorpions'

Rudolf Schenker formed The Scorpions in Hanover Germany in 1965 but it didn't really gel until 1969 when his younger brother Michael and singer Klaus Meine joined the band.

Meine and Rudolf Schenker are the only original members although Matthias Jabs has been with The Scorpions since 1978.

They went of to sell more than 75 million albums over the years.

The big hits were 1980's 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' and the 1991 ballad 'Wind of Change'.

The good news is that while the band is breaking up, it is going to take at least two years to do so. The farewell tour is planned to go into 2012.