[ may 20, 2009 ] - TOMMY SAYS GOODBYE

Usually our emails are full of dumb quotes, fun facts, inappropriate comments, trick links, inside jokes, and otherwise moderately funny banter, but today our email will take on a serious tone.

It is with deep sadness and seriousness that we must announce that Tommy Richied, our beloved frontman, lead singer, voice of THE SLEEPERS, has decided that it is time to part ways with our band. This is a decision that he has wrestled with for some time now, but after thorough discussions and considerations, Tommy feels that this is the best course of action for him and for us. This is a decision that was made with our entire band in mind; there is no animosity or hard feelings, no Behind-The-Music-type backstabbing, as we are not only bandmates but close, if not best, friends. And we will continue to remain so long after our band is gone. What we are certain of now, though, is that the music we've made thus far with Tommy remains forever.

While this is certainly sad news that has hit us all pretty hard, the 5 of us (Tommy included) have decided that it is best if the band, band name, and music lives on. We have worked very hard and come very far (quite farther than we had once even imagined) in the 6 years we've been a band, and Tommy doesn't want us to stop or even slow down. So we won't. We can't thank him enough for not only his years as the voice of our band, but also for his support for us to move forward.

Please join us in wishing Tommy the best of luck. We truly wish him well in his future endeavors with his job and future family. We're all certain that you haven't heard the last of him.

That all being said, Tommy wants to join us on stage one last time before he calls it quits, and he will do so on FRIDAY, JUNE 12 @ SUBTERRANEAN. We hope that you'll all come out to wish Tommy the best of luck on his future endeavors and to help us close one chapter, but open another, in the life and times of The Sleepers. We'll have more summer shows to announce and new songs to release this summer, but for right now we'll focus on doin' this one last time with Tommy.

Thanks Ya'll.

See you FRIDAY, JUNE 12 @ SUBTERRANEAN