We were thinking of band names and we had a few cool names but we thought they were too similar to other bands- so we just looked through the dictionary for words we thought would be a good name. At the time we thought Reluctant was a cool name and we stuck with it.

Yeah- at the moment we play in bars and clubs around Northern Ireland. We plan on spreading out to the rest of Ireland and then take over the world.

I think its great because unsigned bands get exposure that they would never get and can be heard all around the world easily and for free. They dont have to pay loads of money to send cds around the world- they just put it on the internet and can be heard.

Sure- but as long as we had complete control over what music we wrote and they paid us lots of money so we could buy fancy jets, mansions and hookers

In Winter 2001 Matty and Adam decided to hook up with their friend Jake to jam and form a band for fun. It was originally set out that Matty would play bass, Adam would drum and Jake would play guitar. (This changed to Matty taking up guitar and Adam playing Bass). The band came to be known as Reluctant and played Green Day, Blink, Nirvana and New Found Glory covers. After a while the band thought they could gig (given the chance) and started writing original material. These first songs being called "She Used Me" and "Bliss". Songs very strongly influenced by Pop Punk and Nirvana.

Reluctant decided to get more serious and recruited 4th member and new drummer Phildo. The band now started taking shape and playing gigs with their first gig on the 19th May 2003.

After a string of shows around Northern Ireland the band recorded its first EP- "Plan B" with Paddy Trolan of P45. After sending the CD to labels and gig promoters Reluctant were advised to get a new singer.

SO in comes Shay Reynolds in February 2004 to make Reluctant a 5 piece pop punk band. The completed lineup immediately started writing new material and teaching Shay the (at the time) new unreleased material. Reluctant gigged more and more to get the new better sounding band heard. They have also appeared in local newspapers and magazines.

Recently the band released their second EP- "Make It Stop!" which has been very well received.

Reluctant are:

Adam Carroll- Bass
Jake Woods- Guitar
Matty Carroll- Guitar
Philip Braithwaite- Drums
Shay Reynolds- Vocals

Punk Rock in general: Rancid, Guttermouth, Green Day, Goldfinger, Blink 182, Nirvana, The Ataris, Screeching Weasel, NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Sex Pistols, The Clash....

Ballymoney is Philips favourite place on earth.

Adam: Tokai Bass, Sennheiser Mics, Leem Amp
Jake: Squier Strat, Linebacker AMP, Korg Pedal
Matty: Squier Strat, Leem Amps, Korg Pedal
Philip: Maxim Drums
Shay: His right hand

This was all written by Matty. Check out "Make It Stop" available to buy at www.reluctant.tk