Defying Silence
Defying Silence is an original hard rock and heavy metal project founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1998 by Anthony Vincent and Dean Lanzi. Anthony first emerged through live performances in the Cleveland hard rock and metal scene during the late 1990s, performing original music and helping establish the identity that became Defying Silence.
The original and early Defying Silence lineup included Anthony Vincent, Dean Lanzi, Joe Vargo, Bob Jones and Anthony Lombardo. Additional members connected to the band's history include Dave Kelly, John Evans and Eddie Drivetone.
The History of Defying Silence
Defying Silence established an online presence around 2000, and the band's music first appeared on the web during 2001 and 2002. Anthony Vincent has maintained ownership of the DefyingSilence.com and DefyingSilence.net domain names since 1999, preserving the original band's identity and history online.
A different group later used the Defying Silence name despite the original band's existing presence. Promotion of the original project was reduced for a period, but the music, songwriting and Defying Silence identity never disappeared.
"I Believe" and History of the Chopper
In 2006, the Defying Silence song "I Believe", written as a motorcycle-themed hard rock song, appeared in the Discovery Channel documentary History of the Chopper. The program aired worldwide on March 4, 2006, bringing Defying Silence music to an international television audience.
Live Performance History
Defying Silence performed throughout Ohio at venues and events including the Hard Rock Cafe, Harley-Davidson festivals, The Revolution, The Hi-Fi Club, The Symposium, The Bottom-Line Salon, Greenleaf, Runway, Peabody's and other Budweiser-sponsored events.
With support from guitarist Billy Morris, Defying Silence regularly performed at two of his clubs. Morris has performed with several nationally known acts, including Warrant and Quiet Riot.
Defying Silence opened, co-headlined and headlined shows with many recognized Ohio-area bands and musicians, including Michael Angelo Batio, Osyrus, Doctor Feel Good, Spare Change and The Threat, along with many others from the regional hard rock and metal scene.
The Music Continues
Songwriting and music development never stopped. New Defying Silence material, heavy metal songs, hard rock recordings and reworked versions of earlier music remain part of the project's continuing direction.