Biography
flawed, formed in 1998, kicked off their gigging career around Manchester with a Saturday night headline at the dearly departed Boardwalk early the next year. It was the first step in a rapid evolution which saw them headlining all of the usual suspects of venues in the Manchester area, Band On The Wall, Roadhouse, Hard Rock Cafe, Big Hands, Dancehouse Cafe, Night & Day Café, Bar Cuba in Macc…. the list went on.
This intense local gigging was followed by raucous forays into London with 2 spectacular stints (check out the whole of their Kings Head set on YouTube) in early 2001. Taking in illustrious venues such as the aforementioned Kings Head in Fulham, the legendary Dublin Castle and Moriarty’s in Camden, the Half Moon in Putney and the Mean Fiddler in the West End, flawed was established as a tight, powerful, dynamic and energetic live outfit with a really solid work ethic – at one time being the “reliable top entertainment” ready to step in at the Night & Day in the event of a lacklustre bill needing a shot in the arm.
On the studio side, this live tightness coupled with prolific songwriting paved the way for a number of self-financed, self-recorded (in a self-built studio) DIY CD releases throughout 2001, culminating in the Good Stock Records 7″ release of Pleasure Seekers b/w Kylie’s Thigh (which was played by Steve Lamacq on Radio 1 unbeknownst to the band at the time).
2002 saw a line-up tweak, a heavier sound, constant gigging promoting the single, and the joyous milestone of an appearance at Glastonbury. Subsequent releases on CD include the moody Medusa Tangents EP and the “2 fingers up to the industry” infectious stomp of Late Nights and Stage Fright.
flawed‘s legacy is a solid body of work, a great reputation as a live act and the pinnacle of sass: hijacking a slot on the In The City festival by making their own stage on the back of a truck, driving it to the heart of the city, throwing open the sides, firing up the generators, and blasting out their set whilst promising the festival go-ers “free racket”. All this despite a minor intervention from the boys in blue. Good times!
Releases
On Good Stock Records
7″ Vinyl : GS001 : October 2001 : Pleasure Seekers / Kylie’s Thigh : Extremely limited copies remaining : Available for sale on bandcamp
Other Notable Releases
CD : 2002 : Medusa Tangents
CD : 2003 : Late Nights and Stage Fright
Plaudits
You really have to see this band live – they’re dynamic, powerful, impressively tight and together. The band’s forte is performing live. These guys are unmissable.
– meanfiddler.com
Their music is intense and played with unbridled passion. The only mystery is why they haven’t been signed yet.
– drownedinsound.com
…as bold and ballsy as they come, firmly striking epic rock with punch punk to create something huge.
– Chris Long BBCi
flawed are a tight concise band with an ear for a tune and a frontman who knows how to work the crowd as their recent show in Peterborough proved
– Festival of Briton Programme
and many many more….
Images
