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Keeps yours eyes peeled folks, our debut EP, 'Kill yourself to this', will be available on all the usual channels (Spotify, iTunes etc) in the next few weeks. Head on over to our Facebook page if you want to check out the first two tracks, and whilst you're there, give us a like! #whenweweredead #metal #femalefrontedmetal #metalrevival #metalband #glasgow (at Glasgow, United Kingdom)
Come see us live! Sunday 23rd July at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow, 7pm onwards. Message us for discounted tickets. Also check out our YouTube page, for a limited time we have 2 tracks up from our upcoming EP, and whilst you're there subscribe to our page. Every time someone subscribes to our page a hipster dies 🤘#whenweweredead #metal #femalefrontedmetal #glasgow #gig #ivoryblacksglasgow #music (at Glasgow, United Kingdom)
Hard at work - 4/5/16 rehearsal, working on latest song, our ninth, ready for @dangerfaery to add some epic vocals #metal #metalforlife #whenweweredead #rehearsal (at Lofi Studios Glasgow)
The story so far...
In a galaxy, far, far...no wait, wrong story.
30th March, 2014 is when this little endeavour started. My name is Dan and I’m proud to say I’m THE guitarist in a metal band called When We Were Dead. The reason for the capitals is because I would say it’s more the exception than the rule for a metal band to only have one guitarist but don’t worry, I’m loud enough for two.
That was the date I sent a message to a guy I used to work with (who I now know to be Chris, he was working under a pseudonym at the time - I’ll let your imagination run wild about what the story is there) asking him if he wanted to start a band. We had sort of talked about it before but never in any way that could be considered as ‘making plans to start a band’. Both of us had been in bands before and may have slipped into the mindset that the time to make the dream happen had passed so we had talked about it mostly in terms of nostalgia.
He replied with the correct answer which was along the lines of ‘yeah I’ve been thinking recently it’s time to be in a band again’. It’s on.
We met at All Bar One in Glasgow after work (it was the nearest place to us both, don’t judge) and talked music. We both agreed that if we were going to do this it could really only be one genre - Metal \m/. Despite both of us growing up on a healthy diet of metal, we had played in mostly rock bands, it was time to play what we knew best.
We also both agreed that we had the biggest challenge still to face, the single biggest challenge that 99% of all bands have - finding a drummer. Our challenge was even bigger, we didn’t just have to find a drummer, but one who was ideally a similar age, could play metal, ideally play metal very well, available, and keen to play metal. Did I say metal enough times there?
Despite the odds, we agreed to continue the quest. On the way out Chris mentioned that it was an incredibly long shot but would message a guy he went to school with who had played drums in lots of bands, including metal.
A week or so went buy and then Chris got in touch and said something like this ‘Spoke to Tim, he said he had been thinking about getting a band together for a while, but there is only one condition...it has to be metal’. If anyone ever wanted a sign from fate that something is meant to happen, I give you this. If you’re a musician, you should also now be a believer in fate after reading that.
We arranged for us all to meet...yes, All Bar One again. I’m so sorry for this.
We met, we talked, we liked each other...or at least did a good job of pretending. Tim was in. Next step, can we play together? Time to get in a rehearsal studio and find out.
I had been playing around with a lot of guitar riffs so I uploaded some to SoundCloud for everyone to listen to before the rehearsal to give us something to work with.
17th July 2014, we plugged in at LoFi studios in Glasgow and went for it. Song 1 (which we still play today without a name) was born and was an experiment in just how heavy we can make a song without vocals. Turns out, pretty heavy indeed.
A huge chunk of time ensues whilst we write all our own music - 18 months to be precise. We didn’t really pay much attention to what kind of metal we wanted to be, just what we didn’t want to be in the hope that we’d find a sound that we all could identify as ‘ours’. I think we have discarded about three times as many riffs and songs as we’ve written on the basis that it sounds too much like someone else. One thing is for sure, we’re ruthless in cutting tunes loose.
During that time, as well as Tim getting shot, we become more aware that at some point we’d need a vocalist. The idea of having a female vocalist was mentioned quite early on as something that would definitely make our music interesting. There are so few female metal vocalists it was difficult to say what exactly about it that appealed to us but collectively it was an idea that stuck.
Chris happened to mention a girl he works with was in a band and she was into rock/metal so would ask her if she was interested. As I’m writing this, I’m realising Chris has actually single handedly been the kingpin of making this happen, I shall never again just refer to him as ‘the bass player over there’.
Chris spoke to Nicola, she was keen.
Another big chunk of time goes by and we continue to write more music, post sounds on SoundCloud and YouTube, Nicola (Nicky from now on) likes and writes.
16th March 2016, is the date Nicky shows up to LoFi to hear us in person and decide if she wants to join the adventure. She does.
30th March 2016, we become a proper band with a vocalist. I am going to speak for all of us and say that Nicky brought exactly the dimension of tone, aggression, and style that we had all wanted to the vocals.
6th April 2016 - We finally have a name. When We Were Dead. I’ve skipped over the part where I annoy everyone in the band constantly for months trying to agree a name.
So here we are. We want to take over the world just like every other band that has ever been. Let’s see what happens.
As of now we are refining the songs with Nicky lyrics and vocals with a view that we will record something properly as soon as possible and then gig our little hearts out because whatever happens, playing live is where it’s at.
Written by Dan.
You. Breakfast Club Shirt. WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT PLEASE!?
erm it was actually at primark; i honestly wouldn't know where else they might sell it sorry
I follow you because when you don't even know me you helped me and made my day (: and anyway your blog is freakin awesome!
aw of course! i'll always be here to help :) and thank you!!!
Thank u for the follow ! Your blog is gorgeus !
Right back at ya :-)
You're very cool Giulia..
lol thank you :--)
