Members: Jonathan Voges: Vocals Paul Meister: Drums Donovan Leighton: Bass Tim Rosenberg: Guitar Cody Holifield: Guitar In the summer of 2009, the name “Dear Departed” was created. The name sums up a typical human experience: LIFE. It wasn’t until February 13, 2010 that the band was complete. Each member has a different influential background, which makes for a diverse, unique sound. No two songs sound the same as all members are involved in the writing process of each song. Dear Departed began in January 2010 with founding members, Paul Meister and Cody Holifield, who were also in a previous band together. That same month, they added front-man and guitarist, Jonathan Voges. The search for a bassist ended with Donovan Leighton. Shortly after releasing their four-song demo, Holifield, dealing with a trying schedule, stepped aside. Tim Rosenberg joined Dear Departed in September 2010. Jonathan Voges, vocalist and guitarist, leads Dear Departed to take listeners through a variety of short stories in song form. He masters transitions from inspiring, melodic vocals and solos to hard hitting screams and guitar riffs. He brings to the band a wide range of influences and talents. Guitarist and backup vocalist, Tim Rosenberg, takes pride in his ability to lay down the edge of the band. Having a variety of heavy metal influences, his fingers are fast and graceful. His animation and energy while on stage makes for a fantastic show. Donovan Leighton, bassist and backup vocalist, provides the backbone for Dear Departed. One minute, he is slapping bass lines that are completely unique in comparison to other parts, which makes the sound full and charismatic. The next, his fingers are driven by speed and the head-banging breakdowns. Chuck Norris wishes his beard was as magnificent. Drummer, Paul Meister, hits hard and like a beast. He flows between edgy beats and explosive breakdowns with teases of double bass, and his cymbal action is wild. His general goofiness and facial expressions are just as entertaining. Most of his influences stem from metal and hard rock. Three months into the writing process, Dear Departed broke out onto the music scene. In spring of 2011, after the release of their debut album, they will begin their tour of the Midwest and the South. Dear Departed is featured on: kjagradio.com, baconrock.com, fly92wichita.com, rockgatorradio.net, hardrockradiolive.com, bleachbangs.com, and Radio Xenu (www.radioxenu.com). In a short time, Dear Departed, has established themselves as a powerhouse in their hometown of Wichita, Kansas. Their four-song demo, Bring To Pass, can be found on iTunes, Amazon.com, Napster, and Reverbnation.com. The highly anticipated debut album, including songs such as “Winter Solstice”, “Three Miles”, and “Paradise Lost” will debut in spring of 2011. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.