When the Dead Kelly was first forming, the lineup changed dramatically the first couple of months. At first, I (matt) was playing the bass and handling vocals, Brian Kelly was on guitar, and Trey Laquey headed the drums. After Brian was lost in a whiskey drinking contest, I enrolled JP Kirvin as the bass player and Nick Sayway on guitar. We played a three song set at Pearl River's Mohawk studio and recieved a decent response. We could sense something was missing, though.

Trey had been playing music with Blake before we hooked up. He described his solos as wild and awe inspiring. In our minds Blake became the missing link. When he joined Blake was soon recognized as a fundimental element of Dead Kelly's sound. His musical contributionstook our smooth edges and made them into razor sharp protrusions. This did not come without a price, though.

Blake was very set in his ways, and to be fair, so was I. Even though the entire band was at odds with Blake at one time or another, it was our conflicts that were the most monumental.

Blake was kicked out the day after playing a show with the Incursion. To this day I am upset by how the split came about. I really liked Blake as a person and as a musician, and our conflicts were exacerbated by that fact. I felt like I had lost a great friend. If I could go back in time, I would make the same decison, but go about things MUCH differently.

I haven't talked to Blake in a while, but we patched things up after a year of INTENSE hatred. We started playing music again with Nicky Blanda of Mad Seed, but college halted that pursuit. I wish Blake the best at whatever he does. He is incredibly talented and intelligent and I expect him to do many great things with his life.

- Matt