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undercover [2021/05/30 15:50] – adminundercover [2021/05/31 16:22] – admin
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 When Undercover released its first album in 1982, it was described by some as "Christian punk," characterized by high-energy anthems, rebellious themes, and short, three-chord songs. Mohawk hairstyles, tattoos, and torn jeans did little to convince people otherwise; nor did the next few albums, which contained punk versions of traditional hymns ("Holy Holy Holy"), shouted vocals ("God Rules"), and simplistic, direct lyrics ("Jesus is the Best"). The CCM Magazine review of their //God Rules// album claimed the band was New Wave rather than punk, as "the anarchy of punk is 180 degrees opposite of these boys." When Undercover released its first album in 1982, it was described by some as "Christian punk," characterized by high-energy anthems, rebellious themes, and short, three-chord songs. Mohawk hairstyles, tattoos, and torn jeans did little to convince people otherwise; nor did the next few albums, which contained punk versions of traditional hymns ("Holy Holy Holy"), shouted vocals ("God Rules"), and simplistic, direct lyrics ("Jesus is the Best"). The CCM Magazine review of their //God Rules// album claimed the band was New Wave rather than punk, as "the anarchy of punk is 180 degrees opposite of these boys."
  
-After the first album, [[Ric Alba]], Ray Hersom, and Danny Paylis all left the band. Alba joined [[The Altar Boys]] and also released a solo album called //Holes in the Floor Of Heaven// in 1991. Hersom left [[The Lifesavors]] before they recorded their first album and joined Undercover after their first one was recorded... but before the photo session, so he never actually played on Undercover (hence the “After Tracks" credit on the original cover). Hersom also left before //God Rules// was recorded. Gary Olsen joined on drums, while Taylor filled in the bottom end with keyboard-bass.+After the first album, [[Ric Alba]], Ray Hersom, and Danny Paylis all left the band. Alba joined the [[Altar Boys]] and also released a solo album called //Holes in the Floor Of Heaven// in 1991. Hersom left [[The Lifesavors]] before they recorded their first album and joined Undercover after their first one was recorded... but before the photo session, so he never actually played on Undercover (hence the “After Tracks" credit on the original cover). Hersom also left before //God Rules// was recorded. Gary Olsen joined on drums, while Taylor filled in the bottom end with keyboard-bass.
  
 "God Rules," the title track of the second album, is the song that set apart Undercover in the Christian music scene from the rest of the "beginning" bands. With the 1983 //God Rules// album, the band signed with [[A&S Records]], which brought wider national distribution. They started traveling and playing more outside of Southern California. "God Rules," the title track of the second album, is the song that set apart Undercover in the Christian music scene from the rest of the "beginning" bands. With the 1983 //God Rules// album, the band signed with [[A&S Records]], which brought wider national distribution. They started traveling and playing more outside of Southern California.
  
-In 1984, Undercover continued to grow lyrically with //Boys and Girls Renounce the World//. Right after the recording of the album, Bill Walden felt a calling to leave the group. Several different reasons probably contributed to his departure, including the growing pains of the band, a hectic road schedule, and starting a family. He remained a close friend to the band, occasionally even joining them onstage. At some point he joined [[Fourth Watch]] with Steve Pannier of [[The Altar Boys]]. They released one album - //Dare to be the One// - in 1986. Walden was replaced by Sim Wilson.+In 1984, Undercover continued to grow lyrically with //Boys and Girls Renounce the World//. Right after the recording of the album, Bill Walden felt a calling to leave the group. Several different reasons probably contributed to his departure, including the growing pains of the band, a hectic road schedule, and starting a family. He remained a close friend to the band, occasionally even joining them onstage. At some point he joined [[Fourth Watch]] with Steve Pannier of the [[Altar Boys]]. They released one album - //Dare to be the One// - in 1986. Walden was replaced by Sim Wilson.
  
 ==== Transitions and the Break-Up/Hiatus ==== ==== Transitions and the Break-Up/Hiatus ====
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 In 1993, Undercover released a new studio version of "One to One" on the //Third Wave: Reality Rock Collection// compilation. The band recruited Rob Gallas from [[Black and White World]] to sing lead vocals. He would remain with the band for their next album //Forum// as well. However, Gary Olsen left the band at some point after this recording. The band then recorded an acoustic track called "Symbol" for the //Brow Beat (Unplugged Alternative)// compilation. For this recording, they brought in Chuck Cummings ([[Common Bond]], [[Dakoda Motor Co.]], [[L.S.U.]], [[Aunt Bettys]], and [[Fanmail]]) on drums. In 1993, Undercover released a new studio version of "One to One" on the //Third Wave: Reality Rock Collection// compilation. The band recruited Rob Gallas from [[Black and White World]] to sing lead vocals. He would remain with the band for their next album //Forum// as well. However, Gary Olsen left the band at some point after this recording. The band then recorded an acoustic track called "Symbol" for the //Brow Beat (Unplugged Alternative)// compilation. For this recording, they brought in Chuck Cummings ([[Common Bond]], [[Dakoda Motor Co.]], [[L.S.U.]], [[Aunt Bettys]], and [[Fanmail]]) on drums.
  
-For 1994's //Forum//, Undercover split drum duties between Chuck Cummings and David Raven of [[The Swirling Eddies]]. The album was still alternative, but very eclectic in nature. Many people felt that it did not sound like Undercover. Taylor has said on more than one occasion that the band decided sometime after 1994's //Forum// that "Undercover is Ojo, Gym, Sim, and Gary," emphasizing that any other lineup, if any, would in the future be called something else. However, the band seemed to go on another hiatus after //Forum// was released.+For 1994's //Forum//, Undercover split drum duties between Chuck Cummings and David Raven of [[The Swirling Eddies]]. The album was still alternative, but very eclectic in nature. Some people felt that it did not sound like Undercover, but many fans embraced this change as they had the others. The band toured and played live for some time after the release of //Forum//. [[Ojo|Taylor]] later recalled a December 1995 tour to Germany as the last tour for the band. They possibly played a few shows after that, but the band kind of wound down after that. Taylor even stopped producing other bands and left the music business totally. Taylor has said on more than one occasion that the band decided sometime after 1995 that "Undercover is Ojo, Gym, Sim, and Gary," emphasizing that any other lineup, if any, would in the future be called something else. 
  
 On their alternative rock releases, the band would continue to explore aspects of Christian life not frequently addressed by the CCM musicians who were finding increasing acceptance on secular airwaves and with secular audiences. These three albums each differed slightly in musical tone from the others, but the introspective lyrics would be a constant through the rest of the band's career. On their alternative rock releases, the band would continue to explore aspects of Christian life not frequently addressed by the CCM musicians who were finding increasing acceptance on secular airwaves and with secular audiences. These three albums each differed slightly in musical tone from the others, but the introspective lyrics would be a constant through the rest of the band's career.
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 In 1996 and 1997, [[Innocent Media]] released two box set collections of most of the music by Undercover up until that point. //Anthology Volume 1// (1996) was a 2-disc set that contained their first four albums (plus a three bonus tracks). //Anthology Volume 1// (1997) was a 4-disc set that contained their live album and final three albums (plus three bonus tracks). The //You and I EP// was not included on either box set. In 1996 and 1997, [[Innocent Media]] released two box set collections of most of the music by Undercover up until that point. //Anthology Volume 1// (1996) was a 2-disc set that contained their first four albums (plus a three bonus tracks). //Anthology Volume 1// (1997) was a 4-disc set that contained their live album and final three albums (plus three bonus tracks). The //You and I EP// was not included on either box set.
  
-In 2000 and 2001, the band reunited to play two concerts. One was at Cornerstone 2000, and the second was at a [[Gene Eugene]] Benefit concert in 2001. Both concerts were recorded and released. The Cornerstone 2000 set was initially released by M8 music, but was quickly released with a new cover and the //You and I EP// as bonus tracks by [[Innocent Media]] in 2000. The 2001 concert was released as a CD-R by [[Galaxy 21 Music]] and [[Innocent Media]] with one new studio track - a cover of "Everyday People."+A live reunion with Sim Wilson happened at the Echoes of Faith concert in July 1997. Wilson had moved to Florida by then but the reunion went so well that Wilson would call up the band each year he was in California to play a reunion concert, often with Echoes of Faith. It was five days after one of these concerts in March 2000 that Taylor got the phone call that [[Gene Eugene]] had passed away.
  
-The 2001 cover track also ended up serving as a prelude to an entire new album by the Nicholson / Taylor / Olson / Wilson line-up. In 2002, Undercover released //I Rose Falling//, an album that pushed farther into complex, artist rock.+After the funeral for Eugene, [[Dan Michaels]] of [[The Choir]] convinced Taylor to let him try to get Undercover a show at the upcoming Cornerstone Festival. Taylor said that if that concert would happen, he would take it as a sign that he should be making music again. That concert did happen. The Cornerstone 2000 set was initially released by M8 music, but was quickly released with a new cover and the //You and I EP// as bonus tracks by [[Innocent Media]] in 2000. In the liner notes for the re-issue, Taylor spoke about how the band would be making music, but he wasn't sure how. 
 + 
 +Undercover also played a set at the [[Gene Eugene]] Benefit concert in 2001. This concert was also released as a CD-R by [[Galaxy 21 Music]] and [[Innocent Media]] with one new studio track - a cover of "Everyday People." The 2001 cover track also ended up serving as a prelude to an entire new album by the Nicholson / Taylor / Olson / Wilson line-up. In 2002, Undercover released //I Rose Falling//, an album that pushed farther into complex, artist rock.
  
 Undercover played two reunion shows in California in August 2005. In a message posted on the band's forum that month, Taylor wrote, "We are internally, as a band, trying to figure out where to go from here and what that might look like, given our life realities and burning desire to fulfill whatever musical calling we might have, too. We appreciate your prayers." Undercover played two reunion shows in California in August 2005. In a message posted on the band's forum that month, Taylor wrote, "We are internally, as a band, trying to figure out where to go from here and what that might look like, given our life realities and burning desire to fulfill whatever musical calling we might have, too. We appreciate your prayers."
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 In 2018, Lo-Fidelity Records completed a successful KickStarter for deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Devotion//. In 2020, they also successfully funded deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Balance of Power//. In 2018, Lo-Fidelity Records completed a successful KickStarter for deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Devotion//. In 2020, they also successfully funded deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Balance of Power//.
 +
 +==== Outside of Undercover ====
 +
 +Lithium Saints is a 2012 collaboration between veteran alternative Christian rockers Sim Wilson of Undercover, [[Jesse Sprinkle]] of [[Poor Old Lu]] and Todd Olsen of [[The Waiting]]. (no releases yet)
 +
 +Second solo album by [[Ric Alba]] - //Butterflies in Caterpillar Drag// (2017)
 +
 +Bill Walden & Allie Hammond - //The Long Winter// (2018) - Working on new music.
 +
 +Moral DK formed by Gym Nicholson with Rob Gallas, [[Ric Alba]], Jeff Sheets, and Gary Olsen. Produced by [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]]. //Cold in August// (2019) - Working on new music.
  
 ===== Discography ===== ===== Discography =====
undercover.txt · Last modified: 2021/06/01 03:08 by admin