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Sydney band The Protectors exploded onto the Australian music scene in early 2008. They recorded their highly anticipated debut EP "Tarantula" in early '09 with producer extraordinaire Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Silverchair, The Sleepy Jackson).
Following this the band were invited to join Eagles of Death Metal on their 2009 national 'Heart On' album tour, with Mickey Avalon also requesting the band as his support act for his 2009 Australian tour. They were then invited to play summer 2009/10 festivals alongside international acts such as Lupe Fiasco, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Streets, Polyphonic Spree, Cold War Kids, Crystal Castles and The Cribs. The Protectors set out on their own national Tarantula tour mid 2009, selling out venues across the country.
The Tarantula EP went on to garner the band international recognition. Photographer Steve Baccon (Dave Grohl, AC/DC) shot a stop motion video clip for lead single "I'm A Sister," which immediately featured on Rage as Indie Clip of the Week, featured on MTV as Ripe Clip of the Week, and received high rotation on Channel [V]. The EP received national airplay on triple j, as well as gaining massive support from indie radio stations nationwide, street press and online bloggers.
Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes described the band as "an electrifying sexual force - a firey fusion of Prince, INXS and The Rolling Stones."
Detroit producer Jim Diamond (The White Stripes) was also blown away by their "innovative originality" and insisted on mixing several tracks.
INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly chanced upon seeing the band in a back alley bar in Kings Cross, saying they were a "unified combustion of hyper melodic sex-appeal".
"The Protectors are sonically inventive and energetically charming" -- Scott Horscroft
Their live show has struck a chord with broad audiences, making them notorious for their exhibitions of infectious melody. A range of media writers quickly brought attention to frontman Pete Stals, saying he "oozes intensity, from his fembot Mick Jagger image to the vast range of his ecstatic neo-soul vocal performances..."
With The Protectors provoking an abundance of attention, critics and fans alike are waiting and watching for a follow up release in mid 2010. reviewers have described more recent material from The Protectors as "a radiating charismatic force -- their fresh unique sound is a revelation of musical ecstasy."