Parkway Drive in tribute to late Architects guitarist Tom Searle

Tom Searle (Image credit: Getty)

Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall has paid tribute to late Architects guitarist Tom Searle who died aged 28 last month following a three-year battle with cancer.

In an interview in an upcoming episode of Metal Hammer: In Residence on Spotify, McCall reflects on the “nice guy” who didn’t compromise on his music he created, and says Searle left behind a “powerful” legacy.

McCall says: “He was a really good soul – a fantastic person. We’d known Tom for 10 years – Architects were the first band we played with in London.

“He was always the cheeky, dry-witted, kind, nice guy that always had time for a chat, always found a joke in something and didn’t compromise in what he created.

“I think that’s a very lasting legacy to be able to create and have enough conviction in himself to be able to say, ‘This is what I want to put out into the world. I want it to stand for this and nothing else, no matter what people say or what direction we’re trying to be pushed into – this is who we are are and who I am.’

“To be able to leave that behind is a very powerful statement of life.”

Architects played their first show without Searle in Perth, Australia, earlier today. Last week, Architects admitted it would be an “enormous challenge” to take the stage, but said it was an opportunity to celebrate Searle’s life.

Further details on the upcoming episode of Metal Hammer: In Residency on Spotify will be revealed in due course. Listen to the previous episode below, featuring interviews with Joey Jordison, Black Peaks and The Amity Affliction.

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Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.