Undercover quick facts
Members (4)
- Gary Dean Olson drums, percussion
- Gym Nicholson guitar
- Ojo Taylor
- Sim Wilson vocals
Past members (7)
- Bill Walden vocals, saxophone, lead vocals
- Chuck Cummings drums
- Danny Pavlis drums, vocals
- Dave Hackbarth vocals, handclaps
- David Raven
- Ric Alba bass, vocals, bass guitar
- Rob Gallas vocals
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Undercover is an American Christian rock 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.”
History
Undercover started as a second-generation Jesus movement–based band, associated with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and its Maranatha! Music record label.
“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.
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.”
Music
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.” However, over the years, their music has explored a variety of styles from new wave and punk to rock and hard rock.
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.”
On subsequent 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.
Latest
Latest release
Undercover releases Undercover
Undercover releases Undercover remains part of the band’s recorded catalogue. Through Innocent Media.
Check Out The Groove
Undercover – Topic
June 23, 2015
Never Let Her Slip Away (Essential Edit)
Undercover – Topic
June 23, 2015
Discography
Other releases
Undercover
God Rules
Boys and Girls Renounce the World
Branded
“You & I – EP”. 1987 B-1 Music.
3-28-87
Balance of Power
Devotion
Forum
Live at Cornerstone 2000
I Rose Falling
Relative
Volume 1
Volume 2
Anthology Volume 1
Anthology Volume 2
Band Bloodlines
Follow the musicians who connect Undercover to other bands and projects. Confirmed release appearances are included when reliable source evidence is available.
Bill Walden
vocals, saxophone, lead vocals
Gary Dean Olson
drums, percussion
Gym Nicholson
guitar
Also connected to: Dead Artist Syndrome
Ojo Taylor
Also connected to: Dead Artist Syndrome
Sim Wilson
vocals
Chuck Cummings
drums
Also connected to: Lifesavers Underground, Dakoda Motor Co.
Danny Pavlis
drums, vocals
Dave Hackbarth
vocals, handclaps
David Raven
Also connected to: The Swirling Eddies
Ric Alba
bass, vocals, bass guitar
Also connected to: Dead Artist Syndrome, Altar Boys
Rob Gallas
vocals
Connected through members
More bands like this
References
- ^ “Undercover | Christian Music Archive”. www.christianmusicarchive.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ a b c Powell, Mark Allan (2002). “Undercover”. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 973–975. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- ^ Ojo Taylor (2005-08-30). “Undercover Message Board: Welcome”. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
Source: Wikipedia