D.D.F was first formed through Martin and Nic culminating various ideas in 2003. Soon after this Mevs was asked to join the band and the first couple of songs were written with Hywel Williams on drums. During that year the original line-up was formed, which included members Mike Drew on bass & Jonny Gardener on drums. In early 2004 the band embarked on the first few gigs and a U.K tour took place shortly after the first record had been roughly written. Recording for the E.P started after these dates were completed, with the finished product being released through Cardiff-based label Staunch Records later that year.
After the departure of Mike in the summer of 2005 Dave Harries joined the band on bass, bringing a new, more technical playing element to the table. Since this time D.D.F have been working towards the release of a full-length album, which is now looking to reach fruition in early 2007. In mid 2006 we parted ways with drummer Jonny Gardener after a discussion regarding the direction of the band, and due to already experiencing various setbacks with the album writing it was in our best interest to fill the position almost immediately. After trying out a few potentials we had in mind, it became certain that the drum-stool was to be filled by Luke Welsby. Writing carried on intensively, and after a relatively short period the album was written in entirety. Recording took place shortly after, and the completion of the album was nearly upon us. Martin had recently decided that he no longer wished to be in a band and to concentrate on other things in his life - this was obviously quite a blow for us, but luckily for us a more than suitable replacement was just around the corner. Ben Thomas came on board and we had a fresh start for 2007.
Musically the aim of this band has, and will always be the same......to concentrate on a few elements, mainly technicality and diversity. We want to create music that can progress through many different sections within each song, while also being able to experiment with many different sounds and styles. As with any band we cite influences from various different areas, not only musically, but also most importantly on an ethical level. Independence is the key word. A mutual disrespect for corporate culture and a total appreciation for self control means that D.D.F is a D.I.Y band. Knowing that every goal was created through hard work and sincerity allows us to appreciate everything tenfold, and drives us forward as a band, as we believe that anything is achievable through perseverance and self belief.
After recording the album in 2007 the band had another large spell of complications. Problems with the original recordings that had been put down and mixes that were completed were just not seeming to piece together in the way that everyone had in mind. Countless hours were spent trying to amend these errors and put everything straight but the band were just not complacent with the end result. A solution to the problem has now definitely emerged, Dignity Dies First are to enter the studio for a second time to re-track the whole album and gain new mixes to ensure that this time round the final product will more than satisfy their expectations.
Dignity Dies First have shared the stage with the likes of:
Sworn Enemy
Razor Crusade
100 Demons
Shai Hulud
Modern Life Is War
Comeback Kid
Bane
Necrophagist
Suicide File
Knuckledust
Cephalic Carnage
Darkest Hour
Throwdown
Caliban
Fear My Thoughts
Settle The Score
Liar
Stretch Armstrong
Walls Of Jericho
Terror
The Black Dahlia Murder
Donnybrook
Blacklisted
Chimaera
Parkway Drive
Job For a Cowboy
Deadlock
Converge
Send More Paramedics
Undying
Deadsoil
Dead To Fall
Rise and Fall
No Turning Back
We feel that although independent music has grown through innovations such as the internet, and that networking between individuals has become easier, without supporting the bands and individuals by showing your faces at shows and buying their merchandise the whole ethic would crumble.
