"Shooting From The Hip" & "A Pocket Full of MindFuck Drugs" Live@Leos, Gravesend 2007. Video Courtesy of Vic Wintergreen - VWP Sounds
Formed in the summer of 2002 from the ashes of several local bands, The Inbreds survived in the vicious pitfalls of the music industry until 2009. If there was ever a story of hardship & elitism in the music industry, this is it. The Inbreds came up against every stone-wall and dog-end of an industry where if you dont have the right haircut, you dont "sing" your chorus, and you dont pander to every trend., you get nowhere fast. In an age of Triggers, Synths, DJ's, Dual Vocal, Straitedgeness & elitism, good old rock n roll has become an afterthought
Although the band had 2 line-up changes, the most recognized and most settled line-up of the band was made up of front man Joe Smith, Drummer Rob Gamblin, Jack Hubbard (later replaced by the equally mental Bass Monster Rhymes), and 3 guitarists – Stuart Cook, Dean Leverett and Paul Relf, who used the three guitars to not only increase the heaviness by one, but also injected a three guitar harmony reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and Lynyrd Skynyrd!!
Its seems it was always been difficult for fans and Press alike to describe the bands sound but if you imagine a cross between Entombed, Crowbar, Stevie Wonder,COC, The Misfits and Black Flag, your half way there……
The Band entered the studio to record their first demo in 2003, a three song, three guitar assault on the senses, smashing a ten foot, twelve legged hole in the local south London music scene. With an instant buzz surrounding the band, their second ever show at a sold out Mean Fiddler in London attracted the attention of several independent labels.
Following six months thrashing out a record deal, all the hard work culminated in a huge show at the Shepherds Bush Empire, and a deal was signed, sealed and delivered.
With a new label backing them, The Inbreds entered the studio in the summer of 2004 to record debut album GROOVE DRENCHED WARFARE. Taking a mere 9 days to complete, the band moved swiftly from the studio and embarked on a two week UK tour with Breed 77, playing up and down the country to sold out venues.
Upon the release of ‘GROOVE DRENCHED WARFARE’, Metal Hammer magazine hailed the band as ‘Britain’s Newest Stoner Rock Heroes’ 8/10.
Momentum built and the band continued touring throughout ’05, firstly with their own headline tour in February. The bands name and reputation had quickly spread and the band played numerous shows and festivals throughout the year.
In October 05, The Inbreds were invited to play the first Damnation Festival in alongside the likes of Entombed, Decapitated, Sikth, Raging Speedhorn and Charger. Fuelled by their continuing successes (and their new endorsements from Jagermeister, ESP Guitars and Peavey Amps), the band played a now legendry set and were voted “Band of the Day” by Terrorizer magazine, Virtual Festivals, and the 1000 fans who witnessed the destructive fury of the half hour set! With a great year coming to a close, The Inbreds also landed support slots with Mastodon, Labrat and The Atomic Bitchwax.
In Feb ’06 The Inbreds hit the studio to record a six song E.P. of brand new material. “TO ROMANCE THE SERPENT’ found the band maturing and finding their ‘sound’, but with several issues arising from the contract negotiations with the label, a promised release for ‘TO ROMANCE THE SERPENT’ was delayed indefinitely. The Inbreds decided to go it alone.
Becoming Unsigned again, was not a bad decision for the band. The next two years found the band thrust onto various large tours including VALUME NOB from New Orleans, a UK tour with the legendry SEPULTURA and a difficult 4 week stint with Amen. Not bad for an unsigned band?
As 2008 hit, the band sat back and took stock. The Amen tour had been a drain on everybody and focus shifted from touring and releaseing T.R.M.C, to moving on and getting a new record written.
The band had already been demo'ing some brand new tracks before the previous tour, one of which features a guest appearance by Kevin Bond (Superjoint Ritual/Red River Revival). The working title for the next collection of music by the band was “Adventures in Tunnel Vision” with various working song titles including “Them Vs Them Vs Us”, “Plastic Bullets & Crocodile Tears” & “Tunnel Vision Negativity”.
Following an appearance headlining the Guitar Hero 3 stage@ Bloodstock Festival (of which was one of the best shows the band ever did, in my opinion), Paul Relf left the touring line-up to concentrate on his solo project. Bloodstock was a great swan song for the band, who then played only one more local shows before calling time on The Inbreds.I think its safe to say that it was circumstance that broke the band up, and a huge frustration that success is never measured against the effort put into making and running a band, and more importantly, the real, honest music a band makes. And by god, we put the effort in. .As of January 2010, everybody has moved on but still doing something musical in someway. Check out Facebook for Paul Relfs solo projects.
Thanks. DCL Jan 2010
