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 Undercover started as a second-generation Jesus movement based band, associated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and its Maranatha! Music record label. Undercover started as a second-generation Jesus movement based band, associated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and its Maranatha! Music record label.
  
-==== Early Versions: 1978 - 1979 ====+==== Early Versions: 1972 - 1979 ==== 
 + 
 +[[Ojo|Joey Taylor]] moved around a lot as kid, but by 9th grade he moved his last time to Fullerton, California. He met Gym Nicholson in a mutual class, but really didn't get to interact with him much. During the last week of their senior year in high school, Nicholson asked Taylor if he would be interested in playing keyboards in a band he was forming. Taylor said yes and they had their first rehearsal in Nicholson's parents' living room in the summer of 1974. The first song they learned was "Highway Star" by Deep Purple. The band changed members and names through the years, but one constant was Nicholson and Taylor. One of these bands ended up being [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]].
  
 Undercover (and [[The Lifesavers]]) formed out of members that came from two earlier bands, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Both bands started in 1978. They were described by John J. Thompson as “edgier than Larry Norman and Love Song.” According to [[Ojo|Joey Taylor]], [[Boaz]] was more rock and [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was more progressive. [[Boaz]] then decided to venture into punk and new wave and [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] followed. Undercover (and [[The Lifesavers]]) formed out of members that came from two earlier bands, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Both bands started in 1978. They were described by John J. Thompson as “edgier than Larry Norman and Love Song.” According to [[Ojo|Joey Taylor]], [[Boaz]] was more rock and [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was more progressive. [[Boaz]] then decided to venture into punk and new wave and [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] followed.
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 Jim Nicholson and [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] had been best friends since high school and were members of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Chris Wimber was in [[Boaz]] before forming [[The Lifesavors]]. Both [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] had line-ups that were changing and intermixing. By 1979, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], and Dave Hackbarth while [[Boaz]] was Chris Wimber, Danny Pavlis, Ray Hersom and [[Ric Alba]] (among a few others). [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was also noted as having a demo tape, but it is unknown if [[Boaz]] ever recorded. Chris Wimber and Ray Hersom formed [[The Lifesavors]]. Jim Nicholson and [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] had been best friends since high school and were members of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Chris Wimber was in [[Boaz]] before forming [[The Lifesavors]]. Both [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] had line-ups that were changing and intermixing. By 1979, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], and Dave Hackbarth while [[Boaz]] was Chris Wimber, Danny Pavlis, Ray Hersom and [[Ric Alba]] (among a few others). [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was also noted as having a demo tape, but it is unknown if [[Boaz]] ever recorded. Chris Wimber and Ray Hersom formed [[The Lifesavors]].
  
-Gary Wilson tells what he remembers of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] in the book //God's Not Dead (And Neither Are We)//. As of 1979, Jim Nicolson and [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] were both in the band, and they had a tape that Wilson liked. They were eventually able to convinced Wilson to join on drums. About 4-6 weeks after he joined, the band split up.+Gary Olsen tells what he remembers of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] in the book //God's Not Dead (And Neither Are We)//. As of 1979, Jim Nicholson and [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] were both in the band, and they had a tape that Olsen liked. They were eventually able to convinced Olsen to join on drums. About 4-6 weeks after he joined, the band split up.
  
 [[Ric Alba]] had this to say about the two bands: [[Ric Alba]] had this to say about the two bands:
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 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]]. 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.
  
 "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.
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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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 ==== Reuniting as an Alternative Rock Band ==== ==== Reuniting as an Alternative Rock Band ====
  
-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 hard rock direction. They continued changing to various alternative rock styles on their next three albums. However, the band had intended to get away from the depression of //Branded//. But Nicholson's new wife was tragically killed three weeks before recording started and Taylor's mother was diagnosed with cancer.+The break up of the band proved to be short-lived. Someone approached the band to do a reunion show at the Roxy, and the response was so overwhelming that they reunited to play shows and release //Balance of Power// in 1990. This album also went in a dark gothic alternative hard rock direction. They continued changing to various alternative rock styles on their next three albums. However, the band had intended to get away from the depression of //Branded//. But Nicholson's new wife was tragically killed three weeks before recording started and Taylor's mother was diagnosed with cancer.
  
 Their 1992 album //Devotion// was viewed as a rebellion to //Balance of Power//, with the band taking a lighter, but still heavy alternative, rock sound. The lyrics also became even more artistic and less direct. After //Devotion//, Sim Wilson left the band. Their 1992 album //Devotion// was viewed as a rebellion to //Balance of Power//, with the band taking a lighter, but still heavy alternative, rock sound. The lyrics also became even more artistic and less direct. After //Devotion//, Sim Wilson left the band.
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 ==== Reissues and Reunions ==== ==== Reissues and Reunions ====
 +
 +At some point by 1996, [[Brainstorm Artists International]] was divided between [[Gene Eugene]] and [[Ojo|Joey Taylor]]. Taylor created [[Innocent Media]], a label that released Undercover albums and a few other bands. However, in 1997 it became mostly a label for Undercover releases.
  
 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.
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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 ====
  
-[[Ojo|Joey Taylor]] received his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and MM from California State University, Fullerton. He teaches History of Rock, Artist Management, Songwriting, Marketing of Recorded Music, Legal Aspects of Music Industry, and Entrepreneurship at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is now a self-proclaimed atheist. He also has recently worked with the newly re-formed Frontline Records and [[Dead Artist Syndrome]].+[[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 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)+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]]+  * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20041224010403fw_/http://www.innocentmedia.com/pages/Journals/Jan%202%202003.html|Archive of the Story of How Gym and Joe Met]] 
 +  * [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jBZvKu19eiQsVrSIJn8u2D4J9bm6Heh7WVlzKsN4o4M/edit?usp=sharing|Archive of Re-Issue Write-Ups]] 
 +  * [[https://issuu.com/dougvanpelt/docs/031_heaven_s_metal_issue_31|1991 Heaven's Metal Interview with Undercover]] 
 +  * [[https://issuu.com/dougvanpelt/docs/038_heaven_s_metal_issue_38|1992 Heaven's Metal Interview with Undercover]] 
 +  * [[https://issuu.com/dougvanpelt/docs/050_heaven_s_metal_issue_50|1994 Heaven's Metal Interview with Undercover (requires purchase to access)]]  
 +  * [[https://downthelinezine.com/archives/july-2010/|Down the Line interview with Joey Taylor]]
undercover.1622489975.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/05/31 19:39 by admin