The JOE DEFENDANTS are one of Calgary's top roots/rock bands featuring three songwriters in the band. All four members are talented multi-instrumentalists and you will sometimes find them disguising themselves as a party band playing dance music rooted in the 50's and 60's or, especially at Stampede time in Calgary, they put on their Western duds and play pure. old-fashioned country music with reverence and style.
The JOE DEFENDANTS feature three members of the acclaimed Calgary band The CO-DEPENDENTS whose bugeoning career faltered when founding member Billy Cowsill's health declined. Upon Billy's sad passing early in 2006 the remaining members decided to keep the band going but needed to change the name so the JOE DEFENDANTS were born with a tip of the hat to both the CO-DEPENDENTS and BEAUTIFUL JOE, a band three of the members had been in years ago.
