DUN2DEF
Interview from sometime in 2010 from my old site.
The seeds for Dun2Def were first sown in 1996 when vocalist Ferret was asked to play in a band doing some old classic punk tunes under the name '77'. In 2001 with the band getting slightly tired of playing covers, and as they found themselves writing more and more of their own material, the group began to become a bit more serious. They decided that a change of name was needed to break away from being a 'covers band' and Dun2Def came to life.
The band released the 4 track Bomb Squad E.P on Dislocate Records in 2001 and followed that up in 2004 with their self titled debut album. A number of band members came and went, most notable being the the inclusion of a second vocalist - John Ellams - before the release of the album 'Every Weekend' in 2006 which, helped some top reviews, saw the band establishing themselves on the Punk scene.
In March 2009 the band released the Split EP "Deus Ex Machina" with The Destructors which included the live favourite 'Drinking and Fighting' and a cover of 'Riot' by U.K. Subs. This was then followed up the same year by their third album, Riot City Torn which saw the band getting their best reviews yet.
Ferret (Vocals), Chris (Rythmn Guitar) and Chris B (Bass) gave us their thoughts on Punk in 2010, Bargain Booze and a 6ft dancing Orville!!??
It seems that in many of the interviews i've read about your band you get described as, ‘Old School Punks’. Does that irritate you a bit bearing in mind that you are recording, releasing and playing new material or do you just see it as a compliment as it shows you as an honest, get out & just do it type of band?
(Ferret) It’s a compliment in the way we are included in gig lineups with better known bands, but it does pretty much sum up Dun2Def.
(Chris) I think 'Old School' sums up our sound but it doesn’t mean out of date, stale or boring to me. Sure we have our reference points from the past but this is a band that is here and now and playing for today, not the past.
(Chris B) I take it as a compliment really as Ash and me are, 'just out of school punks'. I think our music tends to get grouped as 'Old School' or '77 Punk'. People have told us we sound 'Old School' but with a modern sonic twist. Most of the band are old enough to be my dad so influences old and new make their way into our sound and that mixture has got us where we are today...still skint!!
Your split EP with the Destructors last year sold out on advance orders alone. When that happened did you feel that your band are finally getting the recognition your hard work over the past few years deserves?
(Ferret) That's quite a hard question to answer. It was nice to sell it so quickly but that was down more to the Destructors loyal fan-base than to us. However, we managed to record the 3rd Dun2Def album as a result and that in its own right has received good reviews and steady sales.
(Chris) Well there’s been a few line up changes over the past 3 years but the band is still committed to the scene even though we live all over the UK. The reaction to the single and album gave us a real boost plus it's always great to have crowds singing along to your songs which is happening more and more now.
(Chris B) Yeah it’s great that the split single with the Destructors helped get us more exposure. They have a great following.
It sounds like you were ripped off a few times by promoters/venues earlier on in your career. Have you found that you are treated with much more respect now that you are well established on the scene?
(Ferret) Of course. We have been playing all over the country and you learn a lot about venues, promoters and crowds and what works and doesn’t work. I wouldn’t say we’ve been ripped off in the past but you have to start out doing a lot of gigs for nothing. Then you build it up to getting expenses and beer and then the private jets, limos and blue M&M’s?
(Chris) We always treat people how we’d wanna be treated so after a while that tends to rub off. So yes, I think we do get treated with a bit of respect.
With so many so-called ‘punk’ bands now selling out arenas & stadiums, have you noticed younger fans turning up at your gigs to check out a proper punk rock band? If so, has that given you an increased enthusiasm knowing that you’re attracting a new audience?
(Ferret) It's always good to see younger audience members but Punk Rock was never meant to be age specific. I hate that attitude that if you weren’t there in '77 you ain't a true punk.
(Chris) Yeah it’s really refreshing to get younger kids watching us, Punk ain’t the exclusive property of the 40 somethings. Just look at the mixture of ages in our band for example.
In the current economic climate do you think that punk music is more relevant now than it has been for many years and do you think that punk can break out into the mainstream again?
(Ferret) Very much so. There’s a lot of things that are the same as the late '70’s and early 80’s but mainstream again? I don’t think so!
(Chris) I don’t think Punk wants to be part of the mainstream anymore. Once bitten ...as they say. But yeah, as far as relevance is concerned you only have to listen to songs written 30 years ago to hear familiar subjects and experiences. To me Punk is just as relevant now as it always has been.
You were rightly very proud of Riot City Torn when it came out last year. Looking back at the album, bearing in mind that you have been playing the songs live for about a year now, are there any tracks that you feel are even better now than the recorded versions after thrashing them around live?
(Ferret) We try and mix up the set and play songs from all the albums. Riot Torn City was exactly how we wanted it to sound and live the songs are so powerful.
(Chris) Thanks yeah we were really happy with the recording. Tom Savage at Jigsaw studios is a genius and got our sound spot on. Live we play all the songs a bit quicker than on record and I always like 'Drinking and Fighting' - that comes across well live.
What tracks from your albums generally get the best reactions from audiences at your gigs? And does it seem that the audiences favourites are also your own personal favourite songs?
(Ferret) 'Don’t Give Up The Rifle' from the 1st Album. 'This Time', 'You’re Dead' and 'Sometimes We Shine' from the 2nd. 'You’re a Disease', 'Crowded Room', 'Headz' and 'Bargain Booze' from the last all seem to get a good reaction and we enjoy playing them.
(Chris) 'Bargain Booze', 'You’re Dead' and 'Drinking and Fighting' tend to get people singing along. My own personal favourites to play are 'Headz', 'Drinking and Fighting' and 'Lights Out'.
(Chris B) 'Bargain Booze' is definitely a favourite. Once we sing one chorus people pick up the words and you can see them singing along. A lot of people can associate with it as they are “all fucked up and covered in shit tattoos” like us!! And "spend all their money at Bargain Booze" or their local equivalent.
Where are your favourite cities & venues to play live? Also, how much have audiences abroad picked up on your albums and where do you get the best crowd reactions?
(Ferret) We have had some great gigs abroad. Athens was superb. A big thank you to Jungle Fever, Human Battle and the 77-82 Team and Gent in Belgium. Also thanks a lot to Lost Union and the Dancing Morons, especially Flaps and Wouter.
(Chris) Athens with the Partisans was without doubt the highlight for me along with our Rebellion performance last year at the Winter Gardens. We also love playing at the Bridgehouse 2 in London for Clive and Gemma who do so much for the scene. Always feels like we are playing to a home crowd there even though none of us are from London.
(Chris B) I loved Athens with the Partisans. That place was crazy. A club called the AN Club packed inside and out, they went berserk. And they were singing along to the songs too! London is always good - the Bridgehouse 2. We always get a good reception there and people actually dance too. That doesn’t seem to happen at many punk gigs now unless the band are really well known.
You're playing Rebellion again in August. What are your memories of your gig there last year and do you have anything special planned for your set - such as new material/guests joining you on stage?
(Chris) My memories of Rebellion last year will always be coloured “Green” thanks to that 6ft Orville dancing around onstage with us. It gave people a laugh and has been talked about for months and watched 100’s of times on You Tube - so all I can say is watch this space for this year when we play the Empress Ballroom on the Saturday..... The set will be drawn from all 3 albums but as we only have approx 30 minutes it’s difficult to squeeze everything in but we’ll do our best to play as many favourites as possible.
The Dun2Def & Orville link -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvPWOmlTpLQ
You appear much happier as a band now that guitar duties are shared between Chris & Ash and also that Ferret performs most of the vocals on his own. Is that because you feel that you now have defined your sound so much more than on your earlier material?
(Chris) Yes our sound is very different on all 3 records but I think that the sound we have now compliments all the songs. They’ve now been arranged so that Ferret sings the majority of them on his own as much as possible cos he’s got such a distinctive voice and vocal delivery. The rest of us - Rob on Drums, Ash on Lead Guitar, myself on Rhythm Guitar and Chris B on Bass - just seem to have hit on the right formula to back him.
Are you planning on releasing any new material this year? Also, even though you have a few gigs booked up here and there, when can we expect another full tour from you guys?
(Chris) We have a few ideas kicking around and it would be good to get an EP out there before the year-end but there are no firm plans as yet. As for touring, it’s unlikely we will undertake a full UK tour in the current economic climate plus most of the band have day jobs or university. But we will still do what shows we can here as well as the places abroad we have played before such as Greece, Belgium, Italy and Holland and a few we haven’t such as Germany, France and Scandinavia. We’re just like anybody else, a bunch of mates who love the music but who also love getting out and seeing a bit of the world. We’re lucky to be able to do that.
You can buy the bands third album 'Riot City Torn' from itunes.
My thanks to to Ferret, Chris B and especialy Chris for sorting the interview and the track for download. Cheers.
Interview from sometime in 2010 from my old site.
The seeds for Dun2Def were first sown in 1996 when vocalist Ferret was asked to play in a band doing some old classic punk tunes under the name '77'. In 2001 with the band getting slightly tired of playing covers, and as they found themselves writing more and more of their own material, the group began to become a bit more serious. They decided that a change of name was needed to break away from being a 'covers band' and Dun2Def came to life.
The band released the 4 track Bomb Squad E.P on Dislocate Records in 2001 and followed that up in 2004 with their self titled debut album. A number of band members came and went, most notable being the the inclusion of a second vocalist - John Ellams - before the release of the album 'Every Weekend' in 2006 which, helped some top reviews, saw the band establishing themselves on the Punk scene.
In March 2009 the band released the Split EP "Deus Ex Machina" with The Destructors which included the live favourite 'Drinking and Fighting' and a cover of 'Riot' by U.K. Subs. This was then followed up the same year by their third album, Riot City Torn which saw the band getting their best reviews yet.
Ferret (Vocals), Chris (Rythmn Guitar) and Chris B (Bass) gave us their thoughts on Punk in 2010, Bargain Booze and a 6ft dancing Orville!!??
It seems that in many of the interviews i've read about your band you get described as, ‘Old School Punks’. Does that irritate you a bit bearing in mind that you are recording, releasing and playing new material or do you just see it as a compliment as it shows you as an honest, get out & just do it type of band?
(Ferret) It’s a compliment in the way we are included in gig lineups with better known bands, but it does pretty much sum up Dun2Def.
(Chris) I think 'Old School' sums up our sound but it doesn’t mean out of date, stale or boring to me. Sure we have our reference points from the past but this is a band that is here and now and playing for today, not the past.
(Chris B) I take it as a compliment really as Ash and me are, 'just out of school punks'. I think our music tends to get grouped as 'Old School' or '77 Punk'. People have told us we sound 'Old School' but with a modern sonic twist. Most of the band are old enough to be my dad so influences old and new make their way into our sound and that mixture has got us where we are today...still skint!!
Your split EP with the Destructors last year sold out on advance orders alone. When that happened did you feel that your band are finally getting the recognition your hard work over the past few years deserves?
(Ferret) That's quite a hard question to answer. It was nice to sell it so quickly but that was down more to the Destructors loyal fan-base than to us. However, we managed to record the 3rd Dun2Def album as a result and that in its own right has received good reviews and steady sales.
(Chris) Well there’s been a few line up changes over the past 3 years but the band is still committed to the scene even though we live all over the UK. The reaction to the single and album gave us a real boost plus it's always great to have crowds singing along to your songs which is happening more and more now.
(Chris B) Yeah it’s great that the split single with the Destructors helped get us more exposure. They have a great following.
It sounds like you were ripped off a few times by promoters/venues earlier on in your career. Have you found that you are treated with much more respect now that you are well established on the scene?
(Ferret) Of course. We have been playing all over the country and you learn a lot about venues, promoters and crowds and what works and doesn’t work. I wouldn’t say we’ve been ripped off in the past but you have to start out doing a lot of gigs for nothing. Then you build it up to getting expenses and beer and then the private jets, limos and blue M&M’s?
(Chris) We always treat people how we’d wanna be treated so after a while that tends to rub off. So yes, I think we do get treated with a bit of respect.
With so many so-called ‘punk’ bands now selling out arenas & stadiums, have you noticed younger fans turning up at your gigs to check out a proper punk rock band? If so, has that given you an increased enthusiasm knowing that you’re attracting a new audience?
(Ferret) It's always good to see younger audience members but Punk Rock was never meant to be age specific. I hate that attitude that if you weren’t there in '77 you ain't a true punk.
(Chris) Yeah it’s really refreshing to get younger kids watching us, Punk ain’t the exclusive property of the 40 somethings. Just look at the mixture of ages in our band for example.
In the current economic climate do you think that punk music is more relevant now than it has been for many years and do you think that punk can break out into the mainstream again?
(Ferret) Very much so. There’s a lot of things that are the same as the late '70’s and early 80’s but mainstream again? I don’t think so!
(Chris) I don’t think Punk wants to be part of the mainstream anymore. Once bitten ...as they say. But yeah, as far as relevance is concerned you only have to listen to songs written 30 years ago to hear familiar subjects and experiences. To me Punk is just as relevant now as it always has been.
You were rightly very proud of Riot City Torn when it came out last year. Looking back at the album, bearing in mind that you have been playing the songs live for about a year now, are there any tracks that you feel are even better now than the recorded versions after thrashing them around live?
(Ferret) We try and mix up the set and play songs from all the albums. Riot Torn City was exactly how we wanted it to sound and live the songs are so powerful.
(Chris) Thanks yeah we were really happy with the recording. Tom Savage at Jigsaw studios is a genius and got our sound spot on. Live we play all the songs a bit quicker than on record and I always like 'Drinking and Fighting' - that comes across well live.
What tracks from your albums generally get the best reactions from audiences at your gigs? And does it seem that the audiences favourites are also your own personal favourite songs?
(Ferret) 'Don’t Give Up The Rifle' from the 1st Album. 'This Time', 'You’re Dead' and 'Sometimes We Shine' from the 2nd. 'You’re a Disease', 'Crowded Room', 'Headz' and 'Bargain Booze' from the last all seem to get a good reaction and we enjoy playing them.
(Chris) 'Bargain Booze', 'You’re Dead' and 'Drinking and Fighting' tend to get people singing along. My own personal favourites to play are 'Headz', 'Drinking and Fighting' and 'Lights Out'.
(Chris B) 'Bargain Booze' is definitely a favourite. Once we sing one chorus people pick up the words and you can see them singing along. A lot of people can associate with it as they are “all fucked up and covered in shit tattoos” like us!! And "spend all their money at Bargain Booze" or their local equivalent.
Where are your favourite cities & venues to play live? Also, how much have audiences abroad picked up on your albums and where do you get the best crowd reactions?
(Ferret) We have had some great gigs abroad. Athens was superb. A big thank you to Jungle Fever, Human Battle and the 77-82 Team and Gent in Belgium. Also thanks a lot to Lost Union and the Dancing Morons, especially Flaps and Wouter.
(Chris) Athens with the Partisans was without doubt the highlight for me along with our Rebellion performance last year at the Winter Gardens. We also love playing at the Bridgehouse 2 in London for Clive and Gemma who do so much for the scene. Always feels like we are playing to a home crowd there even though none of us are from London.
(Chris B) I loved Athens with the Partisans. That place was crazy. A club called the AN Club packed inside and out, they went berserk. And they were singing along to the songs too! London is always good - the Bridgehouse 2. We always get a good reception there and people actually dance too. That doesn’t seem to happen at many punk gigs now unless the band are really well known.
You're playing Rebellion again in August. What are your memories of your gig there last year and do you have anything special planned for your set - such as new material/guests joining you on stage?
(Chris) My memories of Rebellion last year will always be coloured “Green” thanks to that 6ft Orville dancing around onstage with us. It gave people a laugh and has been talked about for months and watched 100’s of times on You Tube - so all I can say is watch this space for this year when we play the Empress Ballroom on the Saturday..... The set will be drawn from all 3 albums but as we only have approx 30 minutes it’s difficult to squeeze everything in but we’ll do our best to play as many favourites as possible.
The Dun2Def & Orville link -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvPWOmlTpLQ
You appear much happier as a band now that guitar duties are shared between Chris & Ash and also that Ferret performs most of the vocals on his own. Is that because you feel that you now have defined your sound so much more than on your earlier material?
(Chris) Yes our sound is very different on all 3 records but I think that the sound we have now compliments all the songs. They’ve now been arranged so that Ferret sings the majority of them on his own as much as possible cos he’s got such a distinctive voice and vocal delivery. The rest of us - Rob on Drums, Ash on Lead Guitar, myself on Rhythm Guitar and Chris B on Bass - just seem to have hit on the right formula to back him.
Are you planning on releasing any new material this year? Also, even though you have a few gigs booked up here and there, when can we expect another full tour from you guys?
(Chris) We have a few ideas kicking around and it would be good to get an EP out there before the year-end but there are no firm plans as yet. As for touring, it’s unlikely we will undertake a full UK tour in the current economic climate plus most of the band have day jobs or university. But we will still do what shows we can here as well as the places abroad we have played before such as Greece, Belgium, Italy and Holland and a few we haven’t such as Germany, France and Scandinavia. We’re just like anybody else, a bunch of mates who love the music but who also love getting out and seeing a bit of the world. We’re lucky to be able to do that.
You can buy the bands third album 'Riot City Torn' from itunes.
My thanks to to Ferret, Chris B and especialy Chris for sorting the interview and the track for download. Cheers.