Introduce yourself…
Glenn here from The Defects.
How did the band start?
The Band started in late 1978, myself and Marcus (Dukie) Duke bought ourselves a cheap set of drums and guitar and started learning a few Clash covers, we were asked to do a gig in a local community centre so we needed a singer/bass player quick, Buck was going out with my sister Sharon (now his wife) his musical taste was similar to ours plus he had a place to practice, my friend Greg Fenton stood in on bass. I think we played for around 20 minutes covering Boston Babies by Slaughter & the dogs, a few clash songs and a couple of our own rough creations, we played under the name The Mental Defex.
How did you come up with the name?
I think it was a friend of the band who called us a bunch of mental defects anyway. We dropped the mental, got ourselves a bass player Jeff Gilmore and started gathering new songs, more of our own and a few other covers.
Who would you say are your influences?
I think, I would be speaking for all of the original band here when I say we were influenced by bands like The Ruts the Clash and early Generation X. I could also say The Deadboys, Pistols, Killing Joke etc., etc., but the first three would be the most influential.
What was the punk scene like when the band formed?
The punk scene was electric in Belfast between 77-82.
How do you feel it has changed?
(It makes you wanna spit, Ulster punk 78-82 says it all).
What was the song writing process back then?
We all chipped in with lyrics and music in the original band.
Tell us about your album, ‘Defective Breakdown’…
Defective Breakdown, the album, personally I was and am disappointed with it. Don’t get me wrong I like the songs and I think the playing is ok but it never captured the true sound of the band. In a strange way the defects were a late first wave punk band caught up in the second wave and too young to understand. We were a better band before we went to London.
Tell us about your last single, ‘Suspicious Minds’…
The recording of Suspicious Minds also failed to capture what we were trying to do to the song and was one of the reasons the band split in 1984.
The band split up in 1984, what caused the split?
Things had moved on then, we as band members were getting into different types of stuff and not looking in the same direction. We played our last gig as support to The Clash in our own Ulster hall.
You guys reformed in 2010 at the Rebellion fest, what sparked you guys to reform?
In 2009 Buck was asked if the Defects would be up for doing a few gigs, we had already played a one off in 2003 at the Ulster Punk book launch. so I agreed, the two new members of the band are both good friends of myself and Buck and have both been playing for over ten years in various bands. The Defects are once again looking in the same direction.
Who have you guys done shows with?
We have done shows with quite a few bands, Anti nowhere league, Meteors, Clash, Addicts, UK Subs, etc. etc.
Where have you toured?
The Defects will play anywhere. We have dates in Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, Sunderland, Kilmarnock, Amsterdam and Blackpool, already confirmed for early 2011.
You guys have been thru a few line-up changes, tell us about the current lineup…
The New line-up is Buck-vocals Glenn-drums Roy-guitar Aidy-bass.
What do you see is the future of the Defects?
The Defects future is gig-record-gig-record-gig-record. Our First single in 26 years ‘REVELATOR’ has been recorded (yes I’m very happy with it, lol) and will be released in Jan 2011 also a live in bucks studio version of some of the tracks of Defective Breakdown (twice as good as the original) will be released.
How can people contact the band?
The Defects can be contacted on facebook and my space, also at
the defects a great fucking band Saw you at u k subs gig .Nearly as good as inflatable dolls. onion. dungannon
ReplyDeleteThe best punk band ever, my personal favourites! Top blokes!!
ReplyDeletelove you ..well you know that! :)♥
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