Departed

Departed is a UK rock band that forms in 2014 and remains active. The band name is also used by several other acts in different countries and genres, including metal projects, but this entry refers to the British group.

Formation and line-up

The band begins with Mark Pascall, who auditions for a new project in September 2013. He meets lead guitarist Ben Brookland during that process. After the planned project does not launch, the two stay in contact and later start writing together. In 2014, when Ben returns to live performance for a support show in Exeter, the writing process continues and develops into a band. Mark initially handles bass as well as vocals, before moving to vocals only, while Howie Spring takes over bass duties.

Howie Spring’s brother Connor Spring joins on drums in 2016, replacing the earlier drum arrangement. Earlier in the process, Chris Rivers of Heavens Basement records drums for the studio tracks. Jonny Rocker, formerly of Heavens Basement, mixes the recordings, and Ade Emsley masters them.

Early recordings and release

Departed records a first pair of tracks, “Steal Your Crown” and “All I Want”, in their own studio before taking them to Red City Studios for drums. These tracks form part of the band’s debut mini-album, which is then made available as a pre-sale before its official release in 2016.

Live activity

The band’s first live appearance comes in January 2016, when it opens for the American rock band Aiden in Bristol. It also plays shows with Graham Bonnet, Phil Campbell, John Coghlan’s Quo, Mitch Malloy, Chuck Mosley and Romeo’s Daughter, and appears at Frankfest in Ivybridge and Looe Music Festival. Departed also headlines a festival in the Netherlands, marking its European debut, and plays at Hard Rock Hell alongside acts including Ugly Kid Joe, Ratt, Ginger Wildheart, The Treatment and Graham Bonnet. Other appearances include an acoustic set opening for Dave McPherson of InMe, a show with Big Country in Cardiff, and dates with Bad Touch and Massive.

Musical context

The band develops from a creative partnership built around equal input and a desire to write with more freedom. The material described in the input includes “Steal Your Crown” and “All I Want”, and the group’s live and recording work centres on a straightforward rock setting.