Defiance - Biography
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Biography
Formed in 1985 by Brad Bowers (guitar), Mike Kaufmann (bass) and Matt Vander Ende (drums). In 1986 Doug Harrington (guitar) was added to the line up, but due to personal differences between Doug and Brad, they replaced Doug with Jim Adams (guitar) in late summer of that year. After Jim had been in the band for about 5 months he too began to experience 'personal differences' with Brad. The band decided to let Brad go and bring back Doug into the fold.
In early 1987, Mitch Mayes joined the band (vocals). Defiance did several shows with this line up and recorded their first demo. Shortly after the demo was completed, Mitch left the band and was replaced by Ken Elkinton (vocals) and soon after they recorded their second demo "Hypothermia". This demo caught the attention of Roadrunner Records who signed the band to a record deal in the Summer of 1988. Defiance then traveled to Vancouver Canada to record their first album with Jeff Waters of Annihlator as producer.
1989 saw the release of their debut album "Product of Society" and soon after Elkinton was replaced by Steev Esquivel.
In 1990 they released their second album "Void Terra Firma" which was recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Cotati, CA with John Cuniberti doing the production duties.
Two years later in 1992 came the band's finest work to date,"Beyond Recognition". This album was recorded at Bayview Studios in Richmond, CA and was produced by Rob Beaton. This would turn out to be their last.
Adams and Van der Ende immediately took their leave from Defiance and were therefore superseeded by guitarist Brian Wenzel and drummer Mike Bennett.
Brian Wenzel and Mike Bennett not only joined the band Defiance in 1993, they also *left* the band within months of joining. Jim Adams returned to replace the ousted Wenzel and Mike Bennett left on his own a few months later. Bennett was replaced by Tyson Leeper on drums. Defiance continued to write new material and did several local shows with this line up before Steev Esquivel left the band in late 1993. During the search for a replacement, Tyson also left Defiance. Steev was replaced by Dave Godfrey White (Heathen) and the next drummer to join the ranks of Defiance was Paul Bloemink. After doing a few shows and recording a demo with Rob Beaton (Defiance, Heathen) producing, the decision was made to replace Paul with Hugo Barrientos on drums.
It was at this time, the band decided that the new material sounded nothing like the Defiance that had recorded the first three albums, and made the move to change their name to Inner Threshold. Inner Threshold continued to record and play shows until 1995, when Adams and White exited and were replaced by Chris Long on vocals and guitar.
The band then changed their name again to Under. Under played shows and recorded numerous demos until finally calling it quits in 1999.
Defiance regrouped in 2005 with four of the original members. With the addition of new drummer, James 'Flatline' Raymond to the group in the summer of 2005, the group had began to work towards completing a new four song EP.
In March of 2006, Defiance signed with Corporate Punishment Records. They are currently working towards completing a full length CD and DVD, with the addition of Mark Hernandez on drums, replacing James Raymond.
In early 1987, Mitch Mayes joined the band (vocals). Defiance did several shows with this line up and recorded their first demo. Shortly after the demo was completed, Mitch left the band and was replaced by Ken Elkinton (vocals) and soon after they recorded their second demo "Hypothermia". This demo caught the attention of Roadrunner Records who signed the band to a record deal in the Summer of 1988. Defiance then traveled to Vancouver Canada to record their first album with Jeff Waters of Annihlator as producer.
1989 saw the release of their debut album "Product of Society" and soon after Elkinton was replaced by Steev Esquivel.
In 1990 they released their second album "Void Terra Firma" which was recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Cotati, CA with John Cuniberti doing the production duties.
Two years later in 1992 came the band's finest work to date,"Beyond Recognition". This album was recorded at Bayview Studios in Richmond, CA and was produced by Rob Beaton. This would turn out to be their last.
Adams and Van der Ende immediately took their leave from Defiance and were therefore superseeded by guitarist Brian Wenzel and drummer Mike Bennett.
Brian Wenzel and Mike Bennett not only joined the band Defiance in 1993, they also *left* the band within months of joining. Jim Adams returned to replace the ousted Wenzel and Mike Bennett left on his own a few months later. Bennett was replaced by Tyson Leeper on drums. Defiance continued to write new material and did several local shows with this line up before Steev Esquivel left the band in late 1993. During the search for a replacement, Tyson also left Defiance. Steev was replaced by Dave Godfrey White (Heathen) and the next drummer to join the ranks of Defiance was Paul Bloemink. After doing a few shows and recording a demo with Rob Beaton (Defiance, Heathen) producing, the decision was made to replace Paul with Hugo Barrientos on drums.
It was at this time, the band decided that the new material sounded nothing like the Defiance that had recorded the first three albums, and made the move to change their name to Inner Threshold. Inner Threshold continued to record and play shows until 1995, when Adams and White exited and were replaced by Chris Long on vocals and guitar.
The band then changed their name again to Under. Under played shows and recorded numerous demos until finally calling it quits in 1999.
Defiance regrouped in 2005 with four of the original members. With the addition of new drummer, James 'Flatline' Raymond to the group in the summer of 2005, the group had began to work towards completing a new four song EP.
In March of 2006, Defiance signed with Corporate Punishment Records. They are currently working towards completing a full length CD and DVD, with the addition of Mark Hernandez on drums, replacing James Raymond.