About Dead Lanterns
We’re Dead Lanterns, a band that started back in 1999 when a few of us just wanted to make noise and see what came out. Life got in the way, as it usually does, but the songs never really left. After years of playing in different places and on our own time, we finally decided it was time to put it all together.
Drake Rankie sings, Glenn Ware plays guitar, and Matt Ford handles the drums. They’ve been around since the early days. Robbie Blackley joined later on bass, bringing a new energy that pushed the rest of us to finally finish what we started.
Rust Gospel is the first real record from all those years of jamming, talking, and meaning to do it “someday". We’re not trying to be anything other than a group of guys making the music we’ve always wanted to make.
Drake Rankie — Vocals
Drake’s been writing songs since the early days, usually when he was supposed to be doing something else. Most of the lyrics for Dead Lanterns came out of long drives, late nights, and years of unfinished notebooks. Singing was never about sounding perfect, just about getting the words out the way they were meant to be heard.
Glenn Ware — Guitar
Glenn’s guitar work is rooted in feel over flash. He’s the kind of player who cares more about tone and space than solos, and a lot of the sound of Dead Lanterns comes from that restraint. He’s been playing alongside Drake since the beginning and has been part of the music longer than most of the songs themselves.
Robbie Blackley — Bass
Robbie joined Dead Lanterns later than the rest, but brought a fresh energy that pushed things forward. His bass lines lock everything together and gave the band the final piece it needed to finish the record. Sometimes it takes someone new to make an old idea finally move.
Matt Ford — Drums
Matt keeps the band grounded. His playing is steady, deliberate, and built to serve the song. He’s been part of the project since the early days, keeping time through every version of Dead Lanterns, from rough jams to the finished album.