The first Defector fest was really just an over-sized show, as Zack always had a bad habit of overbooking bands for basement shows.  This show was organized around NUX VOMICA, who had contacted Zack for help with a Portland show on their tour in July of 2005 (before he began drumming for them).  Eventually, the show was held in the basement of the “Failure Hows” (a.k.a. Valourgate) on N.E. Failing and Vancouver and consisted of  NUX VOMICA, BARONESS,  FALL OF THE BASTARDS, TRAGEDY, COUNTDOWN TO ARMAGEDDON, DEAD BY DAWN, and ORDER OF THE VULTURE.  Although the show was never intended to be a Defector fest -and never promoted as such- people couldn't help but joke as if it were the first of an annual summer fest held under the banner of The Defector.

      Eventually in late 2006 Zack brought in Sean (a.k.a. Deterrorsean, The Other Guy) to help him launch the record label and website.  Together, they burned 100 CD-Rs featuring four Portland punk bands' demos, these were available with the three-year anniversary edition of The Defector but only at Second Avenue Records. The packaging was simply photocopies of hand-written band names with a sharpie.  A better much CD would come a year later.

      Next, they organized “Severed Fest” in  January of 2007, a cheap 2-day punk fest intended to mock the pervasive sense of hierarchy and scenesterism  at current punk fests.  Around that same time Sean also launched the website, which has been slowly developing as Sean masters the art of HTML sorcery.  In addition, Sean assumed production of the zine for July and August of that same year as Zack toured with NUX VOMICA. 

      Winter of 2007 saw the first official release by Defector Records, a 7” by Sean's band DETERRORFORMED, paid for by Sean himself.  They toured the West coast in April of that same year, and Zack roadied for them.  It was both Zack and Sean's first time touring with a band. 

      In June of 2007, Zack organized “Punx Not Dead, Reagan Is”, a 3-day punk fest benefiting the group “Anarchists Against The Wall” and anarchist prisoners in Oaxaca, Mexico.  It was heavily promoted by Zack, Sean and Just Dave (singer of Nux Vomica) and raised a total of $1250, $650 for each group.    Those in Oaxaca still have not seen the money as it has been difficult to secure a safe means to get an international money order there.  One was sent, but the banks refused to cash it due to it's poor condition sustained from the trip.

      In late-August of 2007, Sean organized “Summerfector”, a 2-day punk fest intended to promote good clean fun for punks at an affordable price.  The fest featured punk/DIY bands across the from board and from both Portland and Seattle.

      In Fall of 2007, Sean muscled the money to finally really launch the label and Defector Records cranked out LPs by thrashers Squalora and sludge factory Dead By Dawn.

      Also, Zack and Sean busted their fucking asses to include yet another free portland punk comp CD in The Defector, this time one for every issue (600) of the Anniversay edition in October.  Getting that disc together pretty much wiped out the two and their friends who helped package each one.  The cover featured a black and white, high-contrasted photo of JJ (Order of the Vulture) shredding on guitar, the back listed each band and the inside had bands' contact info as well.

      So far, the latest issue of The Defector to have been published was in March of 2008.  Although a nice one was also made for April, it was never published because Defector lost its copier.  One was attempted for August, but still a copier could not be found. 

      Instead, Zack and Sean spent April organizing Summerfector 2, a massive 4-day punk super fest featuring bands from all over the country and even one from overseas to be held August 29 – Sepetember 1, 2008. The bill was booked completely by the end of April, although it has been changed accordingly as random adjustments have been made.