70% Proof  were formed in Bangor in 1979. This four piece PuNk combo were Gary 'Sniff' Hassard lead vocals, Russell Maddox bass guitar, Stuart Cooley guitar and Ralph McGuicken on drums. The band were all fifteen years old at the time and their only gigs were played at Ballyholme and Seahill (The above photograph was taken at Ballyholme Methodist Church Hall).  They had a clutch of original songs in their set including No Fame, Trials, Be Your Boy, Fashion Brainwash, Billiard Room, Sheets and That Society Smell. Their set also comprised Johnny Thunders, Clash and Undertones covers. The band split in the early 1980s but Russell Maddox resurrected the band name in 1983 and formed a new more rock orientated band with Russell now on lead vocals, bass, Roger Davidson drums, Mike Benton lead guitar/vocals and Steve Benton lead guitar/vocals.  Again the band had a set of original material with songs such as My Crumbling Road, You Turn, and Cry These Tears. They still however played a sprinkling of punk covers in their set such as English Civil War by The Clash and Johnny Thunder’s Pipeline. Their main gigs were played at The Old House, Bangor, and Project Bangor. One of their highlights was being joint winners of a Battle of the Bands contest held at The Co – Op Hall, Bangor. 70% split in 1985 and Russell Maddox went on to join Carpenter Joe in the same year.

The final word on the band comes from Colin Bateman. This quote is from a gig review written during his time working at The Spectator. "70% Proof remind me more of the Angelic Upstarts than any other group. With their songs being hard driven by a barking vocalist and grinding guitar"

Bangor punky rocky band 70% PROOF reformed in 2020, but due to Covid have only been able to rehearse a few times prior to lockdowns. The current band is : Russell Maddox : bass guitar /vocals. Steve Benton : electric guitar/vocals. Michael Benton : electric guitar and Roger Davidson : drums. After Covid/lockdown their idea is to record an album's worth of original material via Garageband. Some song titles are : Cracked, See Thru' You, My Crumbling Road, You Turn and Hold On.

If you have any further information or photographs of this band, then please DO get in contact via spit77to82@aol.com