The End of Heads Held High

A few weeks ago, Jack informed us that he would not be able to tour anymore. It isn’t my place to spew Jack’s reasons for no longer touring out all over the Internet, as they are somewhat personal. Let me just say that Heads Held High didn’t really start behaving like a band until Jack joined. He made sure our van was in drivable condition, coordinated our practice schedule, and helped David and I book some of our longer tours. After talking, Dave, David, and I decided that a Heads Held High without Jack Holmes was something that we didn’t necessarily want any part of. That being said, the idea of not touring, and only playing shows in North East Ohio also seemed absurd.
So, after five years, two EPs, two full-length records, about a billion line-up changes, and countless tours; we’ve decided to call it a day. Heads Held High has been my everything for the last half-decade, but honestly I think ending things now is for the best. We accomplished things that I had been dreaming of since I first started playing music, including: touring with some of my favorite bands in the whole damn world, playing festivals, writing a shit ton of tunes (a great many of which I am incredibly proud of), and meeting some remarkable people along the way.
In the next few days, we will be announcing a final little East Coast tour with our fellow Cleveland natives, Foose, followed by a smattering of shows in and around Ohio. In early April, we’ll be putting together a farewell show in Cleveland, once we find a venue that is cool with making it a free show.
Now that I’ve got the depressing, and predictable doldrums of the breakup out of the way, let me just say that this is not the end for any of us as far as music is concerned. David plays in an absolutely sick Suicide-File-esque band from Cleveland that goes by the moniker TV Crimes. I’m keeping busy with my other band, Storms, which will be releasing a record in May. Finally, David, Dave, Joe, and I have decided that we are going to start something new. This new, yet unnamed, project will probably be a bit different than Heads Held High, but I imagine that the ethics and ideals of our former band will carry over into the new stuff we are writing. Look for more news on this new thing we’re doing come April.
For those of you who have supported Heads Held High by helping us fill tour dates, letting us sleep on your floor, or just coming to shows and singing along; we can’t thank you enough. It’s a humbling thing to be so dependant on the kindness and compassion of strangers. So, please know that it has meant the world to us.

Heads Held High has been: Jack Holmes, David Breda, Dave Shaffer, Joe Kep, Eddy Marflak, Kevin Summers, Rob Schultz, Joel Lefkowitz, Sonny Dubetz, Robbie Fraelich, Jon Regan, Ron Brinker and myself. There were grand ups, and some soul-crushing downs. Still, I hope I speak for everyone when I say that it has been a pleasure. Personally, these last five years have meant more to me than I can really attempt to articulate, and it feels particularly impossible to try to cram my final thoughts about what Heads Held High has been and meant into a few scant paragraphs.

Best,



Elliott Frank