The Gentry

The Gentry From; Drogheda Active; 1979 – 1981
Style;Pop/Rock
Line up;
Vocals; Trish Rogers; ex Daylight Robbery
lead Guitar & Vocals; Eric Sharpe ex Daylight Robbery & Demented
Lead Guitar; Steve McGowan ex Demented
Bass; Trevor Boyce Ex Southern Comfort
Drums; Alan Barton Ex Rabbi
1980 line up;
Vocals; Trish Rogers
Lead Guitar & Vocals; Eric Sharp Ex Demented
Lead Guitar; Tony Kelly;
Bass; Trevor Boyce ex Cheaters & Freshmen
Drums; Brian Despard ex Jimmy Slavin Band & Cheaters

Former lab technician

Before becoming a singer Trish Rogers work as a lab tech at a petrochemical plant in Drogheda

No Connection

The Gentry are not connected to the American rock band from Portland or the Irish show band Gentry.

Record Deal

By 1980 Gentry had landed a two year record deal with Danish record label Puk. This was on the back of a Danish record executive hearing a demo tape the band recorded, The deal is for a 10 track album, most of the songs will be taken from their current live set. The band are set to do a 3 week tour of Denmark & Norway in October 1980, they will also play some UK dates. In May 1981 they return to Ireland from Denmark after completing another 16 date tour of the country. The also recorded 3 songs at the Puk recording studios & hoped to release one as a single in the summer. I believe they released at least 1 album in Denmark. There are stories in the Irish press of an album “coming soon”. But nothing firm on a release.

Line Up Changes

In September 1981 Neil Whiffen has taken over duties on bass guitar, he replaced Davy Watson. Pat Waller would replace Brian Despard on drums, he would also later be replaced by John McCrea. John and Eric had formerly played together in Lynx. In total The Gentry do 3 tours of Denmark, 2 Of England, 2 of Finland, 1 Of Canada.

After The Split Up

After The Gentry split up John would go on to play with April South while Eric joined Paul Ashford & Deke O’Brien in the Sharks.