We Were Gentlemen

We Were Gentlemen was an American metalcore band from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

History

The band was renamed from Through The Harlots Eyes by Richard Neupert and Kalan Blehm in July 2005, in their hometown of Virginia Beach. They had previously played guitar together in various local bands for a number of years and decided to start a band of their own. The initial lineup of the band consisted of Richard Neupert, Kalan Blehm, Jason Eastridge, Matthew Harrah and Matt Lopes. Eastridge was kicked out and Lopes quit shortly after the band started. We Were Gentlemen originally tried to get Matt Tarpey, the ex-Winter Solstice frontman to sing. However he was in contract, singing for Fjord (eulogy records) at the time. In an attempt to find a singer, they contacted a friend, Ian Robinson to take over on vocals and Rodney Wood took over drums.

Throughout 2006 We Were Gentlemen did a few small East Coast of the United States tours with Abacabb and in the late summer of 2006 did a full United States tour with such bands as Ed Gein, Emmure, Remembering Never, Ligeia, Impending Doom, My Bitter End, Winds Of Plague, Arsonists Get All The Girls and Sender Receiver.

The band took a break from touring in 2007 to write new material. In that time Wood and Harrah left the band for personal reasons. Shortly after their departure, Robinson also left. In early summer 2007 Kalan went and played guitar for Northern Virginia band, Bet On Black for a while. During that time Matt Tarpey left Fjord. We Were Gentlemen saw it as an opportunity to again ask him to sing for them. Finally getting Tarpey on board in June of that year, also recruiting Steven Moody who played for Friends for Hire and The Varsity on drums and Felix Rodriguez on bass.

With the new lineup, the band started writing new songs and playing occasional shows. A mutual friend of Kalan's pitched the idea of playing bass to recently ejected Steven Tomany, the bass player and co-founder of Alesana. In May 2008, Tomany joined the band. With the band going through many changes, only to completely solidify their line-up, they have turned into a solid, tour-ready band.

On 10 May 2008 the band filmed a music video at an empty factory in Norfolk, Virginia with video production company, Scott Hansen Productions.^[1] A local news crew covered the making of the video.^[2]

In October 2008, Steven Tomany decided to leave the band, before signing with Century Media to take care of personal life. Steven and We Were Gentlemen mutually agreeing that he would play shows until a suitable replacement was found.

On 18 November 2008, We Were Gentlemen signed a worldwide deal with Century Media.^[3]

In January 2009, We Were Gentlemen recruited ex-member Matthew Harrah to play bass for upcoming shows and tours.

For the rest of 2009, We Were Gentlemen will be touring extensively in support of their debut full length "Living Hell".

"Living Hell' was released on 14 July 2009.

As of 16 March 2010, We Were Gentlemen have officially decided to call it quits. The band released the following statement on the matter:

"We Were Gentlemen is officially being laid to rest. After years of member changes, musical style changes, touring, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, We Were Gentlemen is no more. I actually was not an original member, but I am the last remaining member that was even on the “Living Hell“/Century Media Records debut.

I could go on for days about what actually happened, how the downfall began, and who we feel was responsible for a lot of problems We Were Gentlemen came across, but I’ll hold my tongue and be the better man. Truth is, when you keep getting told this is going to happen, and that is going to happen, and nothing ever comes together, the drive and desire fades away.

Like I said, I could list countless names of people who have wronged us, but what’s done is done. I have come to the point to where I am no longer interested in playing in bands seriously, and am thankful to actually be a part of this “Living Hell” called We Were Gentlemen. I want to say thanks to Kalan Blehm, Richard Neupert, Steven Moody, and Matthew Harrah for putting a lot of time, money, and effort into this band and letting me be a part of it.

It was fun while it lasted. And on a professional level, there are only a handful of people I would like to thank on behalf of We Were Gentlemen. Ray Harkins, Aaron Brisco, Andreas Magnusson, and Jesse Brust are the only people that I think actually did something for this band, and I appreciate everything they have done. There may be one final “We Were Gentlemen” show at the end of April, but that is still up in the air.

Stay tuned for more info on that. I recently recorded vocals as a guest appearance on my good friends’ band Reckoner’s(ex-Spitfire, Fjord, The End of The Universe) new EP that should be up on their Myspace(www.myspace.com/reckonervb) soon. If you haven’t checked them out, their in our top friends, and you should definitley [sic] do so! They are one of the most talented, technical, pissed off bands out right now hands down.

Other than, I will no longer be doing anything significant in music. I’m just going to focus on being an adult, starting a career, and letting the dream die haha. Kalan Blehm and Richard Neupert are currently playing for For The Fallen Dreams(Kalan on guitar, Richard on bass), so please continue to support them through that!

Steven Moody(Drums) is working on settling down and getting his life started as well, and most likely won’t be doing much with music. And Matthew “Matty” Harrah(Bass) will most likely pop up in some new band. He’s a great guy and a great musician, so I’m sure whatever he is a part of will be rad! And that’s that. We want to thank anyone who ever helped us with a show, came to a show, bought some merch on tour, let us crash at their place on tour, or genuinely were into our music.

As cliche as that sounds, we truly mean it and we are forever grateful. Thanks so much for good times throughout the years and stay tuned to the Myspace for info either way if a last show goes down or not!”

Kalan Blehm played guitar in For the Fallen Dreams from 2009 until 2012 when he joined Attila. Matthew Harrah now plays bass in Legend (Rise Records).

Members

Final line-up

• Matt Tarpey: lead vocals (2007–2010)
• Kalan Blehm: guitar/vocals (2005–2009)
• Richard Neupert: guitar (2005–2009)
• Steven Moody: drums (2006–2009)
• Matthew Harrah: bass (2005–2007, 2009–2010)

Former members

• Jason Eastridge: vocals (August 2005 - December 2005)
• Matt Lopes: drums (August 2005 - November 2005)
• Rodney Wood: drums (December 2005 - February 2007)
• Ian Robinson: vocals (December 2005 - April 2007)
• Felix Rodriguez: bass (September 2007 - May 2008)
• Steven Tomany: bass (June 2008 - Sept 2008)

Discography

References

External links

• MySpace site
• Purevolume site
• We Were Gentlemen sign to Century Media LambGoat.com. November, 2008.