In 1994 just as the Orange County music scene was starting to blow up malfunction was formed. Al James, Sean Clark and Darren Roberts had put together a band and just needed to find the right singer. After trying out 50 or so one day Al was in a music store and saw an add for a singer. That singer was 18 year old Franky Perez fresh off the strip of Las Vegas, Nevada and had just moved to Orange County, California to try and make it in the LA/OC music scene. Right away they knew Franky was the man for the job. They immediately went into the studio and recorded a 4-song demo and started to play the club circuit. Soon after Darren left the band and was replaced by Shane McLachlan. They then signed a deal with local indie label Conversion Records and went in the studio to record the 6-song EP entitled "FUSE". Available on CD, LP and cassette the album got worldwide distribution and a buzz was building. The band was playing with the likes of Korn, The Deftones, Testament, Prong, Lit, Coal Chamber and System of a Down to name a few. Suddenly on New Years Eve 1996 singer Franky Perez quit the band on stage in front of a sold out crowd at the Whiskey A Go-Go stunning everyone in attendance including his own band mates. Franky was young and had never been away from home for long so it was obvious that the pressure had gotten to him. He was replaced briefly with another singer but it just wasn't the same. About 6 months later Franky returned focused and with a new determination. The band signed to Velvet Hammer Management who also represented System of a Down and even opened for them at the Viper Room in Hollywood the night they were signed to Atlantic Records. Velvet Hammer was ready to break malfunction next but before they knew it Franky had left again but this time for good. The band officially called it quits soon after in 1997. Franky went on to pursue a solo career and signed to Lava/Atlantic Records in 2002. In 2003 he released the critically acclaimed album "Poor Man's Son" and today still plays the music he loves with bands such as Scars On Broadway and Camp Freddy. Shane McLachlan continued to pull double duty in the band Phobia which he sings for and began playing bass in the band Final Conflict. Al James toured and played in the bands Cypress Hill, OPM and still today plays in Six. The remaining three members of malfunction were also the first early incarnation of the band OTEP having worked with her early in that project. In 2006 Al, Shane, and Sean briefly reunited in the rock/punk band The Heathens. This page is here for us to look back on and for the fans that still ask us about malfunction to this very day. Enjoy!
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