The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

User Tools

Site Tools

undercover

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
undercover [2021/06/01 01:11] – adminundercover [2021/06/01 03:08] (current) – admin
Line 8: Line 8:
 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.
Line 14: Line 16:
 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:
Line 34: Line 36:
 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.
Line 56: Line 58:
 ==== 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.
Line 67: Line 69:
  
 ==== 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.
Line 595: Line 599:
  
   * [[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.1622509900.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/06/01 01:11 by admin