Punk-funk band Def Nettle, with frontman Glen Brady on vocals and guitar, and featuring Andy Rourke of The Smiths on bass guitar, have released their new single, War Machine. We asked Glen the BIG questions . . .

Tell us three things about yourself.

I have spent half of my life in Ireland and half of my life in the USA, with five years in Germany thrown in for good measure.

I have been making music for over 25 years (DJ, programmer, engineer, producer, vocalist … in that order) and although I've been writing lyrics for as long as I can remember, I’ve only recently figured out how to put the two things together and perform them in a way that I am satisfied with.

We need your consent to load this YouTube content We use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences

I kicked the alcohol out of my life three years ago to be a better father and husband and I’ve replaced it with triathlon training and the playing and singing of classic country music on acoustic guitar with a little Springsteen and Irish rebel songs for good measure but only my wife and children have to endure listening to this. Kenny Rogers is a looming presence.

How would you describe your music?

For me, my music these days feels really natural as if a lot of the music I’ve made over the course of my career has just been training/preparation or practice for what I’m doing now. I loved Indie, Alternative, Punk, Hip hop, Goth, Manchester, and early dance music back then and somehow they all play a part in the sound of Def Nettle.

Who are your musical inspirations?

The likes of Beastie Boys, Butthole Surfers, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, Joy Division, Bad Brains, Henry Rollins, The Smiths, The The, Tom Waits, Stone Roses, Public Enemy are the classics but to be honest I’m really influenced by the energy of new Post Punk bands and the likes of Enola Gay, Sleaford Mods, Naked Lungs, Idles, Fontaines D.C., Viagra Boys, Dry Cleaning, The Murder Capital, Snapped Ankles.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

U2 at Croke Park. I think I was around 10. I had to go with my older sister to be allowed by my mother. I’ll never forget Bono trying to get some lad to come down from the roof of the stands. That was a good time. Did A-House support? (defo not - Ed).

What was the first record you ever bought?

Men At Work - Business As Usual. Now that’s a stone-cold classic including the hit, Land Down Under, which I had no idea meant Australia.

What’s your favourite song right now?

I could never get it down to one so here’s four in no particular order:

Sully Nomad - Teen Wolf (On Top of the Van).

Favourite Lyric of all time?

Tom Waits - Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen). 'Wasted and wounded, it ain't what the moon did, Got what I paid for now’.

If you could listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I’ll have to go with Tom again. I also do a mean rendition of this on guitar, voice and all. Though honestly, Isn’t one song for the rest of your life the definition of hell? Well, if it is, I’m spending it with Tom - Downtown Train.

Where can people find your music/more information?

All the links are on the Linktree. You can find music from my other musical incarnations as The Glass, DJ Wool, Wool, Wool & Spoek, Wool & Vortex in the dark recesses of YouTube and Spotify and the bargain bin of any decent used record store: )

© RTÉ 2022. RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Media. RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. Images Courtesy of Getty Images.