No More Cries are based in Quesnel, British Columbia. They play an energetic blend of blues/rock informed by the masters of the genre past and present.
No More Cries evolved in 2013 with Gary on bass, Eric Johnson on guitar, and Wade Wurm on drums. Gary explains: I met Eric in his tattoo parlour and we connected like brothers instantly. I met Wade in 1988, while working at Toyota, but unfortunately he was unable to continue with us due to a much-deserved life opportunity. Richard Halliday, a long-term friend since grade two, then joined us. The connection of the three members gelled thanks to his help and experience.
Currently we are enjoying a brand new personal recording/jam space at my home with much current recording technology and vintage gear, and looking forward to recording more than 20 original songs written as a group. We're thankful for recently having the pleasure of meeting our extremely talented technical advisor and recording sound technician, also producer of his own music, Joshua Blanc. His quality mixing, visual expertise, and great personality are a valued asset to our group.
2017 brought a minor crisis to the band, with the departure of Richard in the summer. Gary, Eric, and Josh kept the spirit of the band alive while searching for a full-time drummer to match his expertise. Jason Stinchcombe helped us out at a sole Open Mic performance, and Chad Stump, from the legendary band Kordaroy, joined us.
Early 2019 saw Chad moving on, having married in the fall of '18 and stepped up as a member of the ?Esdilagh council. He continues to perform with his band Kordaroy, which celebrated its 40th anniversary at New Year's 2020.
Grant Deachman played his first gig with us in March of 2019, and he hasn't left yet so we must be doing something right! The story continues...
 Photo (c) 2019 Alefa Sakakibara |
Born July 15, 1967 in Quesnel BC, Gary William Kennedy Hartley. Grew up in the Bouchie/Milburn neighbourhood. Attended Bouchie Lake Elementary School, then later QSS and Correlieu Secondary School to 1985. Played minor football 1980-1989 including head coaching for 3 years. Spent most weekends camping and fishing with family all around Quesnel and Nazko-Chilcotin areas. Learned to play guitar at the age of 6, grew up listening to country and western: Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Tom T Hall, Ian Tyson, Johnny Rodriguez and many more until 1975; every holiday I would listen to my dad and uncles playing live music in the house, then my uncle Dwain Hartley introduced me to rock and blues - showing me easy 3-5 bar blues chords. Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, BB King, Ten Years After, Deep Purple, Dr. Hook, Elvis Presley, Beatles, Kiss, and The Eagles are a few early influences. Jethro Tull, Uriah Heep, Steppenwolf, and a real strong influence is Rod Stewart. There are many more ... The 1980s grabbed me with the harder rock based on blues licks and lyrics: Kiss, Black Sabbath, Scorpions, ACDC, Foreigner, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Great White, Quiet Riot; all the long-hair hard rock bands of the late 70s and all through the 80s. Musical family background: my father played rhythm guitar and sang vocals in a band called The Standells (1961-1965) who played every local dance hall and school dance in the Quesnel area. Uncle Gary Hartley Sr. played trumpet and sang vocals in the same band. The Standells practiced on Malcolm Street, West Quesnel, for a live party consisting of family and friends including Grandfather Bill Hartley Sr. who played electric steel slide guitar and sang when needed. I started working on cars in 1984 and continued to an auto apprenticeship at the local Toyota dealer until 1992, and ran my own successful car audio detailing business through to 2015. Building custom cars, and music of every sort, has been in my life from an early age: playing/installing custom sound systems in cars and houses, collecting home hi-fi gear and guitars. I've also been racing local Karts for over 15 yrs. Married my partner, the love of my life, Alana who is the backbone of our lives together forever, who has kept me a leader and confident in life for over 25 years. We share common interests and awesome family and many, many good friends. |
 Photo (c) 2019 Alefa Sakakibara |
Eric Johnson is still stumbling around getting into trouble, saying things he shouldn't and generally running all that enters his world though a giant kaleidoscope grinder of no BS and pure human connection.... making handmade guitars and having heart to heart talks while tattooing is a pattern of enjoyment! But ideally his running away to the mountains one day is inevitable....... |
 Photo (c) 2019 Alefa Sakakibara |
Originally from a planet called 'Australia', Joshua has been a life-long fan of music and sound. Growing up with 70's rock and 80's new wave, he tries to bring some of those flavours to the band. He has no formal music training, but a passion for synthesizers has fuelled an (unhealthy) interest in composing and recording electronic music (as 'The Manitou'). Joining the band has been a great opportunity to improve his keyboard skills. In his spare time (what's that???) he's also a writer and photographer. |
 Photo (c) 2019 Alefa Sakakibara |
Grant is a local drummer who teaches the craft. He was also one of the founders of the River City Music Association which is still going strong. His first gig with the band was the NMC Seven album release party in March 2019. He has a penchant for interesting head-gear. We are fortunate to have his exceptional skills and unique sense of humour in our tool kit. |
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Chad has thirty years' experience with his father's band Kordaroy, well-known throughout the region for playing rock and country classics and originals. Equally talented behind a guitar and microphone as he is behind the drums, he was quick to fall into step with our sound and vibe. In the short time he was with us he helped shape the evolution of some vital songs, and recorded some hard-hitting drum tracks for our album. |
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Jason came to us through a mutual friend of Eric's. He has some serious skills and helped us out of a tight spot, subbing for Chad during an Open Mic performance. |
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Allegedly born on Earth. Waylaid at a young age from common sense by the lure of easy money and fast women, Richard then spent 30+ years in (near) fruitless pursuit of the perfect music note: travelling from B.C.'s interior to the eastern provinces, into the great unknown U.S. of Ay, and into the frozen deathlands of the Yukon, playing all manner of musicisness(?) until finally returning to his home hatchery of Quesnel, B.C. to live out his teenage dreams as gong artiste with supergroup NO MORE CRIES! Richard bowed out of the band in summer '17, leaving behind four great original songs, an album's worth of superb drum tracks for our debut LP, and many cool memories. |
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Our first drummer; Wade had a laid-back, easygoing style. But - the old story - he moved away and couldn't play with us anymore :( |
Photos by Joshua Blanc except where noted.