|
|
| Press |
BIOGRAPHY
Recent History
Core to the bands output is the Bond/Rooney partnership which has been together since The Bombshell days and they are now augmented with a solid and formidable rhythm section in Taylor / Giaquinto.
1998 New revamped Vice Squad release album Get A Life.
1999 Vice Squad undertook a hugely successful European tour visiting 8 countries along the way. The band also agreed to play the UK's largest punk festival Holidays In The Sun and were well received. Late 1999 saw the band travel to the USA to play on the now legendary Social Chaos tour along with 14 other bands. Released this year was the Resurrection album.
2000 - This year saw the release of Lo Fi Life for the Canadian and Usa markets. Also released was the Lavender Hill Mob EP. The band was asked to contribute tracks for tribute albums to both Nirvana and Metallica on Cleopatra Records.
The band returned to play both the USA and Canada following the success of the Social Chaos tour, this time round the band covered over 11,000 miles in six weeks. Sell out shows included the legendary Whiskey A Go Go and CBGBs as fans packed venues.
2001 - This year saw the release on EMI of Bang To Rights after the album was mastered at the famous Abbey Road studios. The band again played the USA travelling over 22,000 miles, this time over an eight week tour. At this point, the band were outselling label mate Robbie Williams in the USA. Several European shows were also played this year
and the band was again invited back to play the Holidays In The Sun festival in the UK.
2002 - Most of 2002 was spent writing and recording tracks for a new album due to be released on EMI in 2003.
A very few select UK shows were played by the band to try out new material live.
2003 - This year saw the release of Rich and Famous on EMI. The album received rave reviews .
The year was spent playing gigs in the UK. A spot on Granada TV's Men and Motors managed to showcase the bands raw energy live to a TV audience. The band was again asked to play the Holidays In The Sun UK festival and were now playing in a higher spot. In fact the band played to a sell out 3000 people at The Market Arena and the band spent the
next 2 days signing autographs.
2004 - The band again decided to concentrate on UK shows and again embarked upon shows up and down the country. These were augmented with yet again a higher billing at the now renamed Wasted festival, again a sold out crowd of 3000 people saw another energetic performance. The band also played prestigious second headline appearances in Norway at Stavanger Rock and Spain at Tintorock, both festivals pulling huge crowds.
Late 2004 saw the band start to think about writing new material for a new album for late 2005 /early 2006.
2005 - The band have undertaken short tours to Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia and Greece.
The band was again moved up the bill at the Wasted Festival to second headline and again the venue was a sell out.
The band are now involved with writing and pre recording material for a new album. Also being planned are re-releases for 1998 album Get A Life, Resurrection, and Lo Fi Life.
2006 - The bands new studio album titled DEFIANT will be released on SOS Records on the 22nd of August across the American continent with releases planned for Europe and possibly Japan. Shows are already booked and continue to be booked in selected cities across Europe.
2007 New drummer Kev Taylor joins Vice Squad. Kev adds his ferocious drumming style and staunch dedication to the band making it the best line-up ever. Beki says "I decided when we held auditions for a new drummer that the job would go to whoever made 'Spitfire' sound like a fighter plane, in other words the double bass drum work would have to be quite phenomenal. Kev made 'Spitfire' sound like a jet, so he was in!"
The band continued playing gigs in the UK and were pleased to see the scene starting to thrive again.
In June the band started work on a new album at Granary Studios in Kent, which is the first time they have recorded in a commercial studio for years. Lead guitarist Lumpy says " I always thought that Beki and me were good songwriters but it wasn't until I heard the songs with Kev playing drums that I realised our true potential."
In August the band played to a jam packed Arena at the Rebellion festival in Blackpool ( people were queuing to get in but the organisers had to turn people back for fear of over-crowding ).
The rest of 2007 will see the band finish their album and play more UK dates before planning 2008 tours of the USA and Europe.
Beki says " This is by far the best band I've ever played in, being on stage with these guys is like sitting on top of a speeding train. It's completely exhilarating and extremely loud, which is how it should be." |
dBd formed in 2002 as four different personalities, united by the energy & passion of their music. Owing much of their sound to the aggression & ideals of bygone punk rock idols such as The Clash, The Ramones & Billy Bragg, intertwined with the modern sounds of Greenday, Rancid & Dropkick Murphys. The four share the same goal, wanting people to drink, dance & sing along to their tunes whether it’s in a sweaty, cramped watering-hole or blasting from your CD player. To the media it’s anthemic punk rock. To dBd, it's our life.
For the past five years dBd have toured frequently across the UK. Our shows range from tiny dives to huge stadiums and festivals and the band loves them all. In 2006 dBd completed a tour of the USA which included the infamous British Invasion 2k6, San Bernardino CA. The band has been invited to return to the USA for an extended tour so watch out for shows near you soon.
dBd have played alongside some of the greatest bands in the world, it has been an honour to perform with Vice Squad, The Adicts, Sham 69, The Real McKenzies, The Varukers, The Dogs D'Amour, 999, Goldblade, Suicide Bid, King Blues and far too many more to mention, we have made some great friends along the way. Watch out for dBd supporting some top acts in 2007 including Madness, The Who and The Zutons at the Knowsley Hall Music Festival and the UK Subs at Rebellion (Wasted) festival.
The band has several recordings; most notably their debut full length album ‘Nobodys Heroes’ (2006) which is released on SOS records, not forgetting their last two EPs, ‘This Time’ (Feb 04) and ‘Rise As One’ (Aug 04). |
| High Res Pic For Promo / Flyers | | |
| High Res Pic For Promo / Flyers | | |
| High Res Pic For Promo / Flyers | | |
| Fungalpunk DEFIANT CD Review May 2007 | | |
VICE SQUAD - DEFIANT
Its been along time since I heard anything new from this lot and on the initial hearing its been worth the wait. Despite not being the greatest Vice Squad fan I really enjoyed listening to this especially the first 8 tracks which have an abundance of venom and cracking punk moments. There's nothing new on offer here but hey when its this good there doesn't have to be as Beki and the boys play some real meaty music on a fine album. This effort and the 2001 EMI release 'Bang to Rights' are the best Vice Squad stuff around and there are plenty of great tracks for the seeker of good old fashioned punk rock. As said its the first 8 that light my fire and the titles say it all about this bands attitude - 'Voice Of The People', 'Britain Is Still Burning', 'Fast Forward', 'Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down', 'Defiant', 'Ordinary Decent', and 'The Story Of My Life' just compliment each other perfectly and set such a standard that for me the remaining tracks fail to live up to. Thats a personal thing though and I wouldn't deter anyone from trying this album out for themselves. For me though the real pleasure comes when you see a band who has been around for so long actually improve with each release rather than just go through the motions and get by on mediocre shite. If you have a few quid spare you could do a lot worse than spend it on this CD.
CLICK HERE - YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE REVIEW ONLINE AT FUNGALPUNK
|
| Autona Zine GERMAN Defiant CD Review | | |
| 3rd Generation Nation GERMAN Defiant Review | | |
| About.com - Defiant Review | | |
REVIEW TAKEN FROM ABOUT.COM by Ryan Cooper
Vice Squad - Then And Now
Guide Rating - 4 out of 5 stars
New School Vice Squad Is Still Pretty Old School
The band's prevailing themes are still very much old school punk rock, revolving heavily around political rebellion and personal expression. This comes out right up front. The album opens up with the driving "Voice Of The People" and it's pointed line "Freedom of speech is against the law. Now we're all Criminals." It's quickly followed by the catchy "Britain Is Still Burning," which calls out the fact that even though punk rock may have made it into the mainstream, there is still a stronghold of "true punk rockers" that follow the rebellious ideas of the political side of punk rock.
The music, however, is much tighter than in the old days. This latest incarnation of Vice Squad is tight, and while they flirt with metal riffs and guitar solos, there is never any way you would hear a song and think for a moment this was anything but a punk band.
There are tons of great songs on this album. The melodic anthem, "Don't Let the B***ards Grind You Down" has all of the qualities of a true old school anthem, with all of its message and energy, paired with a chorus that will easily get a crowd pumping its collective fist. "Defiant" has a catchy riff that reminds me a bit of "Summertime Blues" for a moment, and then digs deep into an '80s-era punk hook and yet-another fist-pumping chorus.
And I'll take this moment to admit that when I saw this album had a song with the title "The Story Of My Life," I was mildly apprehensive at hearing yet another cover of the Social Distortion song. It's not that song. Instead, the song is a driving dark tune described by the band as "almost a Christmas song but without the goodwill". Indeed, it's a dark powerful tune, that offers a nice tempo change, and is then quickly followed up by the fast rocker "You Can't Do That," a song with a... questionable chorus... let's just say that one wonders if you're hearing a blatant four-letter word or simply Beki Bondage's accent.
It's nice to hear that time hasn't mellowed Beki Bondage, but has made her a better singer teamed up with better musicians who can keep it together as they hammer out tight thrash riffs. While she occasionally sounds like more than a few different '80s icons, the band always lets you know this is old school British hardcore punk - played a lot better than many of the bands did it when they were first trying it.
|
| www.punk77.co.uk - Defiant Review | | |
| Black Velvet Magazine DEFIANT Review | | |
There are many people who will remember Beki Bondage as one of the first ladies in the early years of punk rock.
Well Beki is still turning out fire driven rock n roll to fans old and new.
Vice Squad deliver their songs with conviction and energy.As you'd expect they are quite controversial in their lyrical content.Defiant,the title track is the strongest song on this cd and is well worth checking out.
You dont have to be under 25 years old deliver powerful rock music.
Vice Squad is living proof this.Beki and her band are a shining example leading the way both for women in rock and young bands to follow.
Suzi Williams |
| Suburban Horror Defiant Review Nov 2006 | | |
Vice Squad
Defiant
SOS Records
8 out of 10
Band Website
Vice Squad is a sharp, female fronted band that could show that two-timing Brody Dalle a thing or two about punk rock. Vice Squad is about the most authentic band playing punk rock today. They're British, they rant about the government, and they started playing in 1978. The band broke up in 1985, started back up again in 1998 and they've been writing, recording and touring ever since. However, this is no sleazy money-making reunion like the Sex Pistols. The group is serious about their music, and continuous quality, track to track reveals their dedication.
While many of their lyrics are the typical punk anti-government dissent, frontwoman Beki Bondage has a way with them; she can take those words that may have seemed like a simple slap on the wrist and transform to a baseball bat to the stomach. A few tracks are a bit vexing because of the anti-government can get tired, no matter how killer the band is. There are a number of really great tracks. In terms of a favorite song, "Don't Let the Bastards bring you down" is the best answer I can give you.
I never thought that a band that has been around for so long can still be surprisingly relevant and fresh. Admittedly, I'm not too familiar with their previous work. But what I have heard it's just as good, except this newer work seems to have a sharper, even metal-tinged edge.
England and Europe in general are very lucky to call this group their own. Check this band out, and support them on their next tour to the states.
~Mike Lopez |
| BBC RADIO 3 BADFEST REVIEW | | |
Punk Friday: Badfest begins with a bang!
Katy Lewis
The second Badfest opened at Twinwood Arena in Beds with proof that punk is definitely not dead!
I was a punk for about three weeks in 1985. I bought a black studded dog collar from my local pet shop and watched The Great Rock and Roll Swindle about 25 times.
Since then, I have enjoyed listening to the odd track and have always loved The Sex Pistols and the freedom of expression that punk music stood for, but have not followed it religiously.
However, the opening night of the second Badfest at Twinwood Arena was named Punk Friday, and it showed me exactly what I'd been missing for the past 20 years or so!
When you think of punk you tend to think of strange hair, odd clothes, shouting and swearing, so I wondered exactly what the evening would hold as I headed towards the arena.
What I was met with was a fantastic celebration of music for two generations. Yes there was the hair and the clothes, but at the start of the evening anyway, many people were sitting down on the grass in a civilised fashion eating fish and chips. And now, two decades futher on there were whole punk families at this event. The punk parents had brought along their mini-mes and as the evening wore on and the moshing got a bit more energetic, the organisers allowed the kids to be lifted over the front barrier to sit right in front of the stage.
This was probably unnerving for the likes of the UK Subs and Sham 69 who are more used to having beer thrown at them. But while there was still a bit of that, they coped well with their new audience, with the inimitable Jimmy Pursey telling the youngsters, "Don't take any notice of me, I'm a very naughty man!"
The evening had started with a bang with newcomers The Itchy Tits, an all girl band (as you might have guessed!) whose lead singer Lizi was a kind of Garbage meets PJ Harvey meets Juliette and The Licks.
They seem destined for even bigger things and handled the hecklers well, getting the early arrivers going with a really good sound and a nice distinctive punk image.
Vice Squad were introduced as a band that had outsold Robbie Williams in the US. When you think about it, this is not that hard because Robbie has taken a while to get going in the States but I'm not quibbling - this band were fantastic!
Beki Bondage has been their lead singer since 1979 and didn't look any the worse for wear for it! A cross between Debbie Harry and Siouxsie Sioux [although probably looking better than both of them!] she had an amazing voice and stamina to match as the band poked fun at both Daily Mail readers other people they didn't like!
They had anthemic songs you could sing along to although as my favourite involved the "c" word I can't really give an example here! The tuneful rock and roll was kicking and this is where the mosh pit really got going - it was going to be carnage but the good thing was that if you couldn't face being involved you didn't have to. It definitely wasn't a "Rock and Roll Massacre" as their final song so eloquently suggested.
The UK Subs celebrate their 30th year in 2007 and when you see an act like this you realise what an achievement it is. Yes - Sir Cliff Richard may have been going for what seems like dozens of decades but he doesn't exactly throw himself around the stage does he?!
These are a classic punk band who whipped the crowd up into even more of a frenzy. They were the first band to do an encore and probably had the oldest lead singer but this didn't matter a bit. He was up there, beer in hand, ready to rock. And he did! "This is the theatre of punk rock, right here, right now" he said, pointing to the moshers and he was right.
Then, just as you thought that things couldn't get even more frenzied, they did, as The Ruts took to the stage, and much of this was because they hadn't played together for about 16 years! Their reunion was down to Buster Bloodvessel who persuaded them to reform for this festival - he should justifiably be very proud!
This was a little different as while The Ruts were very punk, they also had numbers that were varied in tempo so while there was a lot of "explosive punkery" such as the anthemic 'Babylon's Burning' they also included some more reggae/ska beats such as the excellent 'Staring at the Rude Boys'. These are great musicians that once again proved that punk is not just a noise!
Then it was onto the headliners, the wonderful Sham 69 fronted by the charismatic Jimmy Pursey who finished off the first day of Badfest in real style. This band have recently enjoyed chart success with their summer England song - a version of their classic working class anthems Hurry Up Harry but here they showed to the young ones at the front what they could really do, and reminded the older ones what a top band they are!
Their raw energy somehow got an already revved up crowd going for it even more, something that I hadn't thought possible! And after hearing such classics as Hersham Boys and newer material like my favourite "ASBO Sports Day" and "Medic" written on September 11th 2001, the crowd went to their tents well satisfied at an excellent line-up that did justice to the music that they love and really showed that after 30 years punk is still as strong as ever!
I'm definitely going to buy a Vice Squad album with my new life anthem on it [un-repeatable!] but for now, roll on Ska Saturday!
|
| LA WEEKLY - JAMES MORELAND PREVIEW OCT 2006 | | |
Click on the Link below to read James Morelands preview article ahead of the bands Hollywood show on the Defiant promotional tour.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PREVIEW
|
| INTERPUNKS TAKE ON "DEFIANT". | | |
Vice Squad
Defiant
This CD is rocking hot! One of the best live acts with brilliant guitar, solid rhythm, and the "finest female singer around." |
| PUNK 4 LIFE "DEFIANT" REVIEW | | |
This is the first studio CD from Vice Squad for three years and long overdue it is. Fans have had a long wait but i'm sure they won't mind after hearing 'Defiant'. Raw and aggressive this is Vice Squad back to something like their best. Never a real fan of the band in the past this album has gone some way to changing my opinion. The album kicks off with 'Voice Of The People' which I can see rapidly becoming a favourite with fans. A lot of the songs on the CD have that anthemic quality that the band has always had and probably always will, but that ain't a bad thing. Other songs off the CD that I favoured were 'Britain Is Still Burning','Fast Forward', 'You Can't Do That', and 'Antisocial Insecurity' but it's nearly all good. In honesty the long wait has been worth it and this is a quality CD.
Tim |
| FFRUK "DEFIANT" ALBUM REVIEW | | |
| Insomnia Magazine "Defiant" Review | | |
Vice Squad - Defiant
(SOS Records)
Nearly twenty five years ago as a young early teen punk rocker i bought an EP called Last Rockers by an up and coming Bristol punk band called Vice Squad.The EP had an immediate impact on my life and i instantly gained great admiration for the band and in particular their give it all youve got singer Beki Bondage.
Two great albums followed the EP with No Cause For Concern and Stand Strong Stand Proud.Then Beki left the band and my interest in Vice Squad faded a little but i still followed Bekis career closely with Ligotage and The Bombshells.
When the highly talented singer/songwriter decided to put Vice Squad back together with different musicians there were few more excited about the prospect than me.The new look band released yet more great albums with Get A Life,Lo-Fi Life,Rich and Famous and the excellent Resurrection which was a re working of all the old Vice Squad classics with the new line up of the band.
Well the band are back with Defiant which is without doubt their strongest and most complete album to date.If you arent too familiar yet with the new line up and new sound of the band,dont expect to hear a re working of No CAuse For Concern like many other bands trying to emulate their breakthrough album.What we have here is a fresh band and a fresh sound that musically,vocally,and lyrically offer so much more than the early punk sound of the band.
Dont get me wrong,this is a total punk album and the roots of Vice Squad are very evident but it is just so much more.Vocally Beki gives her best performance to date and you can tell just how much time was spent on getting the sound and atmosphere of the album just right.
Well played,well written,well produced and fantastic arrangement make this an album not to be missed.This is punk at its very best with an added metal edge to make this an essential buy for fans of the band both old and new.
Defiant is certain to open a lot of new doors to a band that thoroughly deserve it.
Mark |
| A brief media introduction to "DEFIANT" | | |
August 2006 - Media Preview
The new Vice Squad album 'DEFIANT' is to be released on US label SOS.
Featuring 11 new songs and 3 re-recordings of songs previously released in the UK only.
The album kicks off with 'Voice of the People', a powerfully riffing beast which delivers a stinging criticism of so-called democracies
where the wishes of the people are easily swept aside in favour of the interests of the rich, powerful and corrupt.
'Britain is still Burning' is a tribute to rebels new and old, anthemic and melodic but definitely kicking ass !
'Fast Forward' is 2 minutes of in- your- face frustration penned by Beki in a moment of shear, erm, frustration.
'Don`t Let The Bastards Grind You Down' - the title says it all!! This one will sound great on the terraces.
'Defiant' The album`s title track, a hymn to perseverance and horribly catchy too.
'Ordinary, decent...?' A diabolical riff underpinning a diatribe against the smug middle classes and their fake respectability. Wonderfully cathartic.
'The Story of My Life' almost a Christmas song but without the goodwill. Thundering tom toms, angelic choirs and neo gothic guitars sweep under the bitter lyric.
'You Can't Do That' fast, furious and funny. Is that a four letter word in the chorus or is it 'can`t'???
'Vermin' an anthem for the under classes and the dispossessed, but not just about musicians.
'War of Attrition' a multi-textured example of the genius of the Bond/Rooney song writing partnership. The sweetly lush vocal beguiles then comes to a screaming climax delivering the message loud and clear.
'Antisocial Insecurity',
'The Great Fire Of London' and
'You Can`t Buy Back The Dead' are re-recordings of songs previously only available on release in the UK. The band thought they deserved to be heard by a wider audience so included them on 'Defiant'.
'Spitfire' named after the ultimate symbol of defiance, this last song swoops across thundering drums and bass and ends in bursts of machine gun fire. Not subtle.
|
|
|
|
|
