JOHN MULKERIN

 


      John Mulkerin is a veteran of the classic downtown NYC music scene, having performed, toured and recorded with: Defunkt, Liquid Hips, Konk, James Chance and the Contortions, Murphy's Law, Pee Wee Ellis, William Parker, Luther Thomas and Dizzazz, Charles Bobo Shaw’s Human Arts Ensemble, I.Q., Foreign Legion, and others, in clubs like A7, CBGB, Danceteria, Squat Theater, Peppermint Lounge, The Ritz, Knitting Factory, Pyramid, Mudd Club, Lone Star Cafe, The Savoy, etc. He is best known as a long time member of Joseph Bowie's groundbreaking and influential band Defunkt, which was an early influence on bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, and Living Color. John  toured with Defunkt throughout the '80s and early '90s performing at major international festivals such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Roskilde, Parkpop, Berlin Jazz Festival, Rome Jazz Festival, Paris Jazz Festival, and many others, as well as opening shows for Prince, The Talking Heads, The Clash, Steel Pulse, Jimmy Cliff, The Neville Brothers, King Sunny Ade, and others. He also fronted the crossover funk/punk/noise/rap band Liquid Hips, which released three critically acclaimed albums on Enemy Records in the ‘90s and opened shows for Public Enemy, Ice-T and The P-Funk All stars.

In 2007 the NYC ambient/electronica/experimental duo 310 featured John’s trumpet playing along with A Tribe Called Quest D.J. Ali Shaheed Muhammad on the track “Fortuitous Bounce”.

John also has been heard on some tracks by noted House d.j., producer, and remixer Eric Kupper .

He currently performs with The John Mulkerin band and has made recent guest appearances with the NYC based International Street Cannibals.

The classic ‘80s lineup of Defunkt has also been hitting the road recently in Europe.

In 2016 ESP Disk released a Defunkt album Defunkt At Channel Zero

recorded in Slovenia. Produced by John Mulkerin and Joseph Bowie, the album is a ferocious documentation of the band’s live show.

John’s tune “You Don’tKnow” was the theme for the poular Dutch TV show Pauw En Witteman from 2006-2014.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dWwgDfUC0E