Undercover is an American Christian rock band based in Southern California.

History

Formed in the early 1980s by Joey "Ojo" Taylor in southern California, Undercover brought a new sound to the Contemporary Christian Music scene that differed from the Christian rock and Christian metal bands of the time. Through more than two decades and a few lineup changes, the band released eight studio albums and two live albums, and is considered by many to be pioneers in what would later be called Alternative music in the Christian world.

"God Rules," the title track of the second album, is the song that established Undercover in the Christian music scene.

While the band has seen several members come

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 denims 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").

1986's Branded took Undercover in a slightly different direction

Branded marked a turning point for the band, as on future releases it 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 poetic, honest, introspective lyrics would be a constant throughout the rest of the band's career.

Current members

• Ojo Taylor (also credited as Joey Taylor, O-Joe Taylor, and Turner Burn): bass, keyboards, occasional vocals
• Gym Nicholson (also credited as Jim Nicholson and Neel Down): guitars
• Sim Wilson: vocals
• Gary Dean Olson: drums/percussion

Former members

• Rick Alba: bass, vocals
• Danny Pavlis: drums, vocals
• Bill Walden: lead vocals, saxophone
• Dave Hackbarth: handclaps, vocals
• Rob Gallas: vocals
• Chuck Cummings: drums
• David Raven: drums

Discography

Original releases

• Undercover. 1982, MRS Records.
• God Rules. 1983, A&S Records.
• Boys and Girls Renounce the World. 1984, A&S Records.
• Branded. 1986, Blue Collar Records.
• 3-28-87 (live album). 1988, Broken Records.
• Balance of Power. 1990, Broken Records.
• Devotion. 1992, Brainstorm Artists International.
• Forum. 1994, WAL.
• Live at Cornerstone 2000. 2000, Millennium 8.
• I Rose Falling. 2002, Galaxy 21.

Solo projects

• Relative (Ojo Taylor, as "Ojo"). 1988, Broken Records.

Re-releases and anthologies

• Volume 1 (compilation of Undercover and God Rules). 1988, Broken Records.
• Volume 2 (compilation of Boys and Girls Renounce the World and Branded). 1988, Broken Records.
• Anthology Volume 1 (compilation of first four original releases). 1996, Innocent Media.
• Cornerstone 2000 (re-release). 2002, Galaxy 21.

Also

There was also a British band called Undercover, who hit number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1992 with their cover of Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street.