Protex
| Company type | Punk band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Paul Maxwell, Owen McFadden, David McMaster, Aidan Murtagh |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reformed in 2010 |
| Headquarters | Belfast , Northern Ireland |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Website | www |
Protex is a punk ensemble originating from Belfast, established in 1978. Their earliest releases appeared on the Good Vibrations label, alongside contemporaries such as The Undertones and Rudi. The founding members were Paul Maxwell (bass and vocals), Owen McFadden (drums), David McMaster (guitar and vocals), and Aidan Murtagh (guitar and vocals).
The band drew inspiration from The Clash’s influential 1977 visit to Belfast, a moment regarded as transformative for Northern Ireland's punk movement. Initially named Protex Blue, after a track by The Clash, they debuted live in 1978 at Knock Methodist Church Hall in Belfast. To distinguish themselves from blues groups, they soon shortened their name to Protex. Building a local following through live performances and a session on Downtown Radio, they caught the attention of Terri Hooley, resulting in their first three-song single released via Good Vibrations in November 1978, which was subsequently reissued by London’s Rough Trade Records.
Favorable reviews in NME and radio play earned them a session on BBC Radio 1's Kid Jensen show, which led to interest from Polydor Records. The band signed with Polydor while still attending school. Their debut single for Polydor, "I Can't Cope," was recorded in London in 1979.
Protex supported Adam and the Ants during a UK tour and moved to London, settling at Chessington house—a former residence of Genesis and the Boomtown Rats. Their Polydor releases included "I Can Only Dream," produced by Chas Chandler, followed by opening slots for the Boomtown Rats across the UK, United States, and Canada in 1980. A performance in New York City was filmed for Shellshock Rock. After releasing "A Place In Your Heart," Polydor ended their contract, prompting farewell concerts at Belfast’s Pound Club before the group dissolved in 1981.
In 2010, Sing Sing Records from New York issued previously unreleased Polydor sessions under the title Strange Obsessions, rekindling interest in the band. Founding members Aidan Murtagh and David McMaster reassembled Protex with new recruits Norman Boyd (bass) and Gordie Walker (drums). From 2010 to 2013, Andrew Curliss handled bass duties during tours in Spain and Japan; a subsequent live album was released without crediting Curliss. The lineup was completed in 2017 with bassist John Rossi of Nine Lies joining the band.
External links
- Punk rock groups from Northern Ireland
- New wave musical groups from Northern Ireland
- 1978 establishments in Northern Ireland
- Musical groups established in 1978
- Musical groups disestablished in 1981
- Musical groups from Belfast
- 1981 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Musical groups reestablished in 2010