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undercover [2021/05/31 19:24] – adminundercover [2021/06/01 01:11] – 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."
 +
 +The first Undercover album had very limited distribution - mostly local stores and out of the back of the band members' cars). Ray Hersom’s used to have parties at his house that were called "burrito bashes." Chris Wimber and Clark Edmond also lived at this house. These parties usually happened after church at Calvary Yorba Linda (which was to become The Vineyard). Dozens and dozens of people of all ages, would go to these burrito bashes where they would play the first Undercover and [[Lifesavers]] albums over and over and dance like crazy. Other people that came to these parties included Brian Healy of [[Dead Artist Syndrome]] and [[Chris Brigandi]].
  
 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.
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 After the release of //Branded//, the label it was on ([[Blue Collar Records]]) went under due to the distributor not paying the label the money it was owed. The band had grown tired of the CCM scene, so they recorded a demo of songs without overt spiritual content to shop to major record labels. They started selling the demo and it became known as the //You & I EP//. After the release of //Branded//, the label it was on ([[Blue Collar Records]]) went under due to the distributor not paying the label the money it was owed. The band had grown tired of the CCM scene, so they recorded a demo of songs without overt spiritual content to shop to major record labels. They started selling the demo and it became known as the //You & I EP//.
  
-Undercover played what the band initially saw as its last concert as a functioning band on June 5, 1987. One live show was recorded and released as //3-28-87//. Two songs from the //You & I EP// were played at the concert. Joey "Ojo" Taylor recorded and released a solo album as [[Ojo]] called //Relative// in 1988. Gym Nicholson and Sim Wilson formed a band called [[Boys Club]] and released several demos. [[Broken Records]] released their first 4 albums on cassette as //Volume 1// and //Volume 2//. Former lead singer Bill Walden joined with members of [[Malcolm and the Mirrors]] to form [[The Mirrors]] and released as album called //I am Not Afraid// in 1990.+After Blue Collar records went under, [[Gene Eugene]] had the idea to start a music label with [[Ojo| JoeyTaylor]] and Barry Hill. The name of the corporation was [[Brainstorm Artists International]], with Marantha Music initially agreeing to sell [[Broken Records]] to them. Their first release was Undercover's live album //3-28-87// recorded at Magic Mountain (two songs from the //You & I EP// were played at the concert). They began signing bands like [[Daniel Amos]] and [[The 77s]] who had no label at the time. However, they had to revert to the label name Brainstorm when the sale of Broken Records fell through. Brainstorm officially started in September of 1987. 
 + 
 +Undercover played what the band initially saw as its last concert as a functioning band on June 5, 1987. [[Ojo|Joey Taylor]] later had this to say about the decision: "the issues with me getting a divorce, Calvary shutting down its concerts, Maranatha releasing artists from their contracts, constant touring, writing and recording, all had taken their tolls on us. We agreed to stop playing for a while or maybe permanently (in my mind it was never a permanent break)." 
 + 
 +Taylor recorded and released a solo album as [[Ojo]] called //Relative// in 1988. Gym Nicholson and Sim Wilson formed a band called [[Boys Club]] and released several demos. [[Broken Records]] released their first 4 albums on cassette as //Volume 1// and //Volume 2//. Former lead singer Bill Walden joined with members of [[Malcolm and the Mirrors]] to form [[The Mirrors]] and released as album called //I am Not Afraid// in 1990.
  
 In 1988, Undercover contributed a cover of "Come All Ye Faithful" to //The Broken Christmas// compilation. It is one of the few studio recordings to feature both Walden and Wilson as lead vocalists. In 1988, Undercover contributed a cover of "Come All Ye Faithful" to //The Broken Christmas// compilation. It is one of the few studio recordings to feature both Walden and Wilson as lead vocalists.
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 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."
 +
 +Around 2010, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] and Gym Nicholson had been working on an Undercover re-worked version of the [[Boys Club]] song "I Love You." A rough version of the song with Rob Gallas on vocals and [[Ric Alba]] on bass was posted to the band's MySpace page, with plans to get Sim Wilson to record some vocals as well. At the time, Down the Line magazine asked if there were new plans for music, but Taylor responded they were working on occasional singles but no album.
  
 In 2011 Intense Millennium Records released a newly remastered stand-alone CD of //Branded//. It contained three bonus tracks - a demo of "I'm just a Man" and two live tracks from Cornerstone 2000. The artwork was also re-imagined for this release. In 2011 Intense Millennium Records released a newly remastered stand-alone CD of //Branded//. It contained three bonus tracks - a demo of "I'm just a Man" and two live tracks from Cornerstone 2000. The artwork was also re-imagined for this release.
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 ==== Outside of Undercover ==== ==== 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)+[[Ojo|Joey Taylor]] received his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and MM from California State University, Fullerton. He moved to the East coast in 2007 to teach at James Madison University is Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he his classes have included //History of Rock//, //Artist Management//, //Songwriting//, //Marketing of Recorded Music//, //Legal Aspects of Music Industry//, and //Entrepreneurship//. He is now a self-proclaimed atheist. Around 2010-2011 he began working with the Meus Music Group / the newly re-formed [[Frontline Records]] to help legally re-issue older titles. He also releases songs occasionally, as well as worked on the final [[Dead Artist Syndrome]] album. 
 + 
 +Lithium Saints was a 2012 collaboration between veteran alternative Christian rockers Sim Wilson of Undercover, [[Jesse Sprinkle]] of [[Poor Old Lu]] and Todd Olsen of [[The Waiting]]. They created a BandCamp page featuring a painting from [[Chris Taylor]], but have released no music yet.
  
-Second solo album by [[Ric Alba]] - //Butterflies in Caterpillar Drag// (2017)+[[Ric Alba]] independently released a second solo album called //Butterflies in Caterpillar Drag// in 2017.
  
-Bill Walden & Allie Hammond - //The Long Winter// (2018) - Working on new music.+Bill Walden teamed up with Allie Hammond to release //The Long Winter// in 2018. He has also been working on new music since then.
  
-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.+Gym Nicholson formed a band called Moral DK with Rob Gallas, [[Ric Alba]], Jeff Sheets, and Gary Olsen. Their first release was //Cold in August// in 2019 - produced by [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]]. The band is currently working on a follow-up release.
  
 ===== Discography ===== ===== Discography =====
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   * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090339/http://undercover.medelle.com/|Archive of the Unofficial Undercover Website]]   * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090339/http://undercover.medelle.com/|Archive of the Unofficial Undercover Website]]
 +  * [[https://downthelinezine.com/archives/july-2010/|Long interview with Joey Taylor]]
undercover.txt · Last modified: 2021/06/01 03:08 by admin