Authority Zero
is a punk rock band from Mesa, Arizona. The band's style is rooted in reggae and skate punk, with Bad Religion, Pennywise, and Sublime cited as heavy influences. There is an obvious Spanish/Portuguese influence in the band's music as well.
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AUTHORITY ZERO TICKETS
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History
Authority Zero was started in 1994 when
Bill Marcks met
Jason DeVore at Westwood High School.
Marcks didn't actually meet DeVore until the summer of 1995, until then Authority Zero consisted of two guitarists (Marcks & Jerry Douglas) and a drummer J.W. Gordon, all from Westwood. This trio put a few songs together without lyrics or basslines. When that summer rolled around, Douglas was expecting the yearly visit of his friend Jason DeVore, from Wyoming. Douglas introduced his long time friend and Marcks jokingly asked if he wanted to be their singer, soon later it was no joke.
Marcks was impressed with DeVore's ability to "write catchy songs in fifteen minutes with really sticky hooks". The two quickly enlisted
Jeremy Wood on bass. His experience with lead guitar and musical theory separated his bass playing from others'. Not just a "follow along," his baselines were independent and yet fluid with the music. (Wood actually taught Marcks & Douglas how to play guitar). However, because of Gordon's commitment to the Air Force, his position as drummer soon had to be replaced. Fellow classmate, skateboarder, and drummer Daniel Garcia fit this empty stool like a missing puzzle piece. He brought a new charge and tempo that evolved Authority Zero's music into a faster, more complex, punk rock style. Eventually, however, differences and family obligations led to Garcia's exit from the group.
Marcks, Douglas, DeVore, and Wood finally came upon
Los Angeles native
Jim Wilcox formerly of Welter/The New Militia who's tragic events ended the group, and he fittingly completed the Authority Zero's lineup. Later Douglas also left the group and joined the Air Force.
After releasing a local EP that sold very well, Authority Zero released their debut album
A Passage In Time
in 2002 on
Lava Records. The album featured a blend of genres including
punk rock and
reggae, with obvious Spanish and Portuguese influences.
A Passage In Time
included the hits "One More Minute" and "Over Seasons".
The success of
A Passage In Time
propelled the band into new popularity. Authority Zero appeared on many tours, such as Warped Tour, the
No Use for a Name/
The Starting Line tour, and
Sum 41's "Sum on Your Face". The band has also toured with the likes of
Everclear,
Guttermouth and
H2O.
In 2004, Authority Zero released
Andiamó
, again on
Lava Records. "Andiamó" means literally "We go" in
Italian, but can also be read as "And I am Zero", the title of their live DVD released following Andiamó. The album again featured a blend of genres and Spanish/Portuguese influences.
Andiamó
is somewhat politically charged, evident in the songs "Revolution", "A Thousand Years of War", and the cover of the song "
Mexican Radio", originally written by
Wall of Voodoo (the version that appears on
Andiamó
has lyric changes in order to make a statement against the
2003 invasion of Iraq). In the summer of 2006, Authority Zero released a live acoustic compilation album titled
Rhythm and Booze on
Suburban Noize Records.
The band's next album, entitled
12:34
was released on January 30, 2007. The track "Courage" was released as a single. The band recently toured with Rehab on the "Lack of Luxury" 2007 tour. This album is the final one featuring Jeremy Wood on bass, who left Authority Zero in November 2006 due to personal differences within the band.
On December 30th, 2008 Bill Marcks posted a blog on his MySpace stating he left the band to spend more time with his family and to focus 100 percent on his new band,
Sanziggo.
Jason DeVore has also been working on a side project called
The Bollox, an Irish punk band he started with longtime friends.
It has also been confirmed that Authority Zero is working on a new studio album.
Dean "DJ" Farmer resigned as the bass player on July 20, 2009 citing personal, business, and creative differences.
Current Lineup
- Jason DeVore - Lead Vocals
- Zach Vogel - Guitar
- Jim Wilcox - Drums
Former Members
- Jeremy Wood - Bass and Backing Vocals
- Dean "DJ" Farmer - Bass and Backing Vocals
- Jerry Douglas - Guitar and Backing Vocals
- Danny Garcia - Drums
- J.W. Gordon - Drums
- Josh "Ralphie" Schneider - Bass
- Bryan Sandell - Guitar and Backing Vocals
- Bill Marcks - Guitar and Backing Vocals
Discography
Studio albums
- 2002: A Passage in Time
- 2004: Andiamo
- 2007: 12:34
- 2009: Untitled 4th Studio Album
Other
- 2005: (And) I Am Zero
- (DVD) Released 2005 *produced by Zach Yoshioka of Ballistic Entertainment*
- 2005: Rhythm and Booze
- (Live Acoustic Compilation Album) Re-Released on June 27, 2006
Demos
- 1999: Live Your Life
- 2001: Patches in Time
Appearances in Other Media
- The song "A Passage in Time" appeared on the video game Project Gotham Racing 2
- The song "A Passage in Time" has been professional wrestler Takeshi Rikio's theme song since 2005.
- The song "Everyday" appeared on the video game Tony Hawk's Underground
.
- The song "Revolution" appeared on Fat Wreck Chords Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
compilation and in the game MX vs. ATV Unleashed
.
- A demo version of the song "Solitude" appeared on the 2003 Vans Warped Tour Compilation.
- The songs "12:34" and "On Edge" appeared on the video game MX vs. ATV Untamed
.
- The song "La Surf" appeared in the movie "Grind"
- The song "No Regrets" appeared on the "Supporting Radical Habits, vol 2" CD.
- "No Regrets" is featured as one of the 20 songs of free downloadable content on Rock Band 2.
- The song "Sirens" appears in the Athertons' section in the mountain bike film New World Disorder 9.
- The songs "Taking on the World" and "Madman" are featured in Season 1 of the mountain bike show Stund.
Trivia
- During the Vans 2007 Warped Tour, in Denver, Colorado, lead singer Jason DeVore crowd-surfed his way to a "street-sign" and completed all of the single "One More Minute" from atop. He was to be arrested for this feat, but removed his shirt and managed to evade local authorities.
- The album Andiamo contains a live cover of the Celtic folk song "Rattlin' Bog", while their newest album 12:34 covers the sea shanty "Drunken Sailor".
- Jim Wilcox, Jason DeVore, DJ Farmer, and Zack V had the chance to try their hand at tattooing their signatures on DJ's Tattoo Artist, Chris Aubele, after a backstage tattooing session in Cincinnati, OH. All 4 members agreed to keep their day jobs.