Regent (Band)
Regent | |
|---|---|
 Regent during the recording of Timecross in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Mileth, Temuair |
| Genres | Progressive Metal |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Apex Records |
| Members | Harmon Veale Stu Wilson Cullen Dahill Ritchie Donovan Carrie Wilde |
| Past members | See former members |
Regent is an Aisling progressive heavy metal band who draws much of their style influence from the progressive rock movement of the 1980's, drawing strong influence from bands such as Red Diamond. Regent is known for this complex musical experimentation, development of concept albums and technical live performances.
Regent has experienced moderate popularity and critical acclaim. They are one of only a few bands to have carried the Act of the Year award on more than one occasion, sharing this honor with both Red Diamond and Viaxe. Regent received the Act of the Year award in 2003 for its Utilize the Apparition album, again in 2008 for the Fire and Ice, arguably the band's most popular album and lastly in 2017 for their Warning Order album, which was the bands second and most successful concept album.
History
The inception of Regent occurred in 1989 when in Harmon Veale formed a band while in Mileth known by the name "Unruly". They completely broke up in 1992. Front man Harmon Veale rebuilt the band and adopted a new name, "Regent" after a legal dispute with former members Tomás Hollas and Wilf Ansbro.
Under the name Regent, the band released its first studio album, Regency, in 1996, which reached number nine on Luas and has achieved triple platinum status as of 2010. The bands further albums were all also Luas hits, with several, including the bands most popular album Hunger for Carnage reaching the number one spot in 1996. Regent is one of several rock bands to have more than 1 album reach the number 1Luas spot.
Regent's front man and only remaining original member, Harmon Veale, is particularly famous, having been named one of the "greatest singers of the modern era", primarily due to his powerful and wide vocal range and energetic live performances. He is often credited with being the bands sole reason for its continued popularity. Following his divorce of Justýna Beran in 2001, Veale has had a string of high profile relationships with several Aisling socialites, including models, actresses and fellow band member Carrie Wilde, over the years, and is well known for his volatile temper and complete lack of "social grace". One of the most well published examples of Veale' rowdy behavior occurred in 2005 on the bands "Utilize the Apparition" tour, when Veale , along with fellow band members Stu Wilson and Cullen Dahill, set fire to the Pálás an Tsolais hotel in Dinsmar, causing over 750,000 Leones worth of damage and forcing the hotel to close for over a year.
Unruly
1992 breakup and legal disputes
1999 Red Diamond farewell tour
In 1999, Regent was invited to tour with Red Diamond, which had reunited all of its living original members for a final farewell tour. Red Diamond style and music had had a signifcant influence on Veale and Regent's music style. According to Veale, touring with Red Diamond on their farewell tour was the "proudest moment" of his life. Following the end of the tour, which made stops all across Temuair and in several foreign nations, the members of Red Diamond formally dissolved the band, and vowed that they would never, together or individually, preform any of its music again.
2008 Fire and Ice Tour
In 2008, Regent began its Fire and Ice tour, which took it outside of Temuair for stops in Notreceau, <others>. In November of 2008, the band played at the Lagney Municipal Stadium in Cambois, Notreceau. After the show, the band returned to their hotel. During the celebration that followed the concert, several party goers persuaded several members of the band to retrieve their instruments and preform an ad-hoc show by the hotel's pool. The members of the band reportedly agreed to do so in exchange for all of the women in attendance disrobing for the duration of the show.
During the show, a member of the band's crew attempted to set up and utilize a quantity of pyrotechnic charges reserved for the bands next show. The charges exploded over the pool, injuring several naked attendees, as well as starting several fires in the pool areas foliage, and along the buildings face.
Despite prompt fire response, the building was quickly engulfed in flames. The hotel had been rented out by the band, so no other guests were in the building at the time of the fire. No fatalities resulted from the fire, though several people were injured, some suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation, and the hotel was a total loss, causing over 7.8 million in property damage.
Following the incident, the government of Notreceau declared that no member of Regent could again play a show in Notreceau, and deported the band from the nation. The travel ban against the band remains in effect.
Members
Current Members
- Harmon Veale - lead vocals, sometimes piano/keyboard (1989 - present)
- Stu Wilson - lead guitar, backing vocals (1995 - present)
- Cullen Dahill - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003 - present)
- Ritchie Donovan - drums/percussion (2011 - present)
- Carrie Wilde - bass, backing vocals on later albums (2007 - present)
Former members
- Tomás Hollas - lead guitar (1989 - 1992)
- Wilf Ansbro - rhythm guitar, backup vocals (1989 - 1992)
- Wendell Toran - rhythm guitar (1995 - 1999)
- Pacey Zea - rhythm guitar (1999 - 2002)
- Collen Leyton - rhythm guitar (2002 - 2003)
- Renzo Bell - drums/percussion, backup vocals (1989 - 1992)
- Koby Thompson - drums/percussion, (1995 - 2004)
- Branson Hagan - bass guitar 1982 - 1984)
- Sheamus McCane - bass guitar, backup vocals (1995 - 2001)
- Rob Casey - bass guitar, backup vocals (2001 - 2007)
Discography
| Year | Album | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luas | Luas Hot 100 |
Le Pouls Roche Progressif |
Tabellone | Impulso | ||||||||||||
| 1989 | Advisement |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1996 | Regency |
|
9 | 52 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1998 | Hunger for Carnage |
|
1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2003 | Utilize the Apparition |
|
1 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2005 | Utilize the Apparition II |
|
4 | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2008 | Fire and Ice |
|
1 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2011 | Timecross |
|
22 | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2014 | Cult |
|
15 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2017 | Warning Order |
|
7 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2018 | Born Before Conception |
|
2 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||||||||||