Eric Michael Ireland (1984 – 2025)

Eric Ireland was born in Whitehorse and grew up in the Porter Creek subdivision. He learned to play the electric guitar at age 12 and was drawn to the energy of rock and heavy metal.((“In loving memory of Eric Michael Ireland.” //Yukon News// (Whitehorse), 10 October 2025.)) Eric formed the band  Nemesis while in high school with two other core members: Mike Jones on guitar and Yves Paradis on drums. In the early days, Nemesis was the house band for the old Capital Hotel bar. In later years, Glen Emond played bass with the group. Nemesis was a very loud thrash-metal band and once, during a show at the Alsek music festival in Haines Junction, a technician gauged them above 130 decibels. The band released two albums: a self-titled release in 2005, and //Bad Blood// in 2007.((John Thompson, “Nemesis turns 10.” //Yukon News// (Whitehorse), 17 June 2011.))