DefOrangeMcKinley

Def Orange McKinley was born in the North East of England and educated at that Grammar School in the west of Newcastle that spawned Lindisfarne, Sting, Pet Shop Boys, Gerry Cooper and, of course, The Drumlins. It then became a High School and since that trauma has only managed to produce the short half of Ant 'n Dec!

Def's earliest performances with The Drumlins centered on the Folk Clubs in the area. They had residencies at Balmbra's Music Hall, St Mary's Training College Fenham, The Bay Hotel, Cullercoats and The Duke of York, Wallsend. Other notable venues at which Def and the rest of the Drumlins could be found included the Blackbird Ponteland, The Blackie Boy (opposite Balmbra's) and the famous Bridge Hotel. Interesting to note that despite playing an absolutely storming gig at the Bridge and notwithstanding the fact that they held residencies at every other major folk club in the area they were regarded as too modern and never invited back. Def thinks it was either because they played Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi or got more applause than the resident group.

All good things come to and end and so it was with the Drumlins when Nigel, John and Liz passed their various exams and went off to sensible jobs and/or uni. Def moved to the Midlands and although played in a variety of bands between 1972 and 1982 was never able to recapture the intensity or musicality of the heady days of the 60's. Def has been a bit of a recluse musically since moving to Kent in '84. Spasmodic appearances with a church folk choir kept his hand in as did working on an EU sponsored performing arts project. The latter, as seen on the video extract, including a rare public performance with former Drumlin and brother Nigel. Having achieved a personal target of living for 60 years without dying Def decided it was time to get back to the music.

Watch this space!