Power Pop / Punk Rock / New Wave / Alternative Rock
Fullerton, California, USA

Undercover is an American Christian punk band based in Fullerton, California, formed in the early 1980s by Joey "Ojo" Taylor and James “Gym” Nicholson. Through more than two decades and a few lineup changes, the band released eight studio albums and two live albums, and were pioneers in what would later be called Alternative music in the Christian world. The band was known for the spiritual growth shown in their music as their career progressed; CCM Magazine once called them “the band that grew up in public.”

Undercover started as a second-generation Jesus movement based band, associated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and its Maranatha! Music record label.

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, Alba, Hersom, and Paylis all left the band. Alba joined The Altar Boys. Hersom was also a member of The Lifesavors. Gary Olsen joined on drums, while Taylor filled in the bottom end with keyboards.

“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.

1986's Branded took Undercover in a different direction with keyboard-laden melodies and darker, more introspective lyrics. In “Pilate”, sung from the point of view of Pontius Pilate, the persona struggles with the guilt of having crucified Jesus, confessing, “I killed him, I killed him after all.” Other song titles on this album were “Cry Myself to Sleep” and “Darkest Hour.”

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.

In 1987, the band played what they saw as their last concert and called it a day. The live show was recorded and released as 3-28-87 Live. 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. 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.

The break up of the band proved to be short-lived, as they reunited to record and release Balance of Power in 1990. This album also went in a dark gothic alternative rock direction. They continued changing to various alternative rock styles on their next three albums.

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. The next several 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.

While the band has seen several members come and go (and come again), 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.

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.”

1982 Ministry Resource Center (MRC010A)

Bill Walden - Lead vocals, alto sax
Jim “Nuclear” Nicholson - All guitars, vocals
Ray Hersom - Rhythm guitar
Rick Alba - Bass guitar, vocals
Joey Taylor - Organs, piano, synthesizer, Casiotone, vocals
Danny Paylis - Drums, kinding, vocals

1. Excuse Us (2:45)
2. Heal Me (2:15)
3. I'll Be a Fool (1:15)
4. Francine (2:45)
5. It's Official (2:20)
6. Turn Your Head (2:45)
7. Look It Up (2:40)
8. Read It in a Letter (2:05)
9. Daddy-O (1:15)
10. Tonight (1:47)
11. Stop (2:50)
12. He's in Love With You (2:45)
13. I.C.U. (2:40)
14. He Gives We Have (2:25)

(…to be continued…)