Chagall Guevara
Encyclopedia
Chagall Guevara was an American
rock
band formed in 1989 by solo artist Steve Taylor
, guitarists Dave Perkins and Lynn Nichols
(from the 1970s Phil Keaggy
band), bassist Wade Jaynes, and drummer Mike Mead
.
The band was named after Communist revolutionary Che Guevara
and painter Marc Chagall
to imply the meaning "revolutionary art." All of the band members had histories within the Christian music industry
, but the band was an effort to depart from the CCM industry. Despite this, the band still performed at the exclusively Christian music festivals Greenbelt and Cornerstone, and had their music (albeit against their wishes) distributed through Christian bookstores. The group formed in 1989 and broke up in early 1993.
The band first appeared on the soundtrack to the motion picture Pump Up the Volume
with a song called '"Tale O' The Twister." The band's only album, the self titled Chagall Guevara
, was released on MCA Records
in 1991. The band's only music video, for the song "Violent Blue," received a few plays on MTV.
Several CD and LP singles were released off the album, including a UK release of "Violent Blue" with an unreleased B-side track titled "Still Know Your Number By Heart." Several songs from the band's 1991 performance at the Greenbelt Festival
in England appeared on the official video "Four Days in Summer."
Work on a second album began, but the group broke up while attempting to be released from their contract with MCA Records
. Several tracks for the second album were recorded, including "Halcyon Days" and "A Bullet's Worth A Thousand Words." These songs, along with a November 15, 1991 concert recording, remain unreleased.
Chagall Guevara reunited twice. In 1994, a track titled "Treasure of the Broken Land" appeared on the Mark Heard
tribute album Strong Hand of Love
and the Orphans of God
double-CD, which were sold mainly through Christian bookstores and similar outlets. The band reunited again in Nashville at a private industry party in October, 2005. There were no future plans for the group, however.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in 1989 by solo artist Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
, guitarists Dave Perkins and Lynn Nichols
Lynn Nichols
Lynn Arthur Nichols is an American songwriter, producer, and musician from New York who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.In 1977, Nichols was a member of the Phil Keaggy Band, with Phil Madeira, Terry Andersen and Dan Cunningham. The band released one album together, entitled Emerging...
(from the 1970s Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
band), bassist Wade Jaynes, and drummer Mike Mead
Mike Mead
Mike Mead is an American drummer.Mead is primarily known for his work with Phil Keaggy on his late 1980s and early 90s rock and roll records Sunday's Child, Find Me In These Fields and Crimson and Blue; Steve Taylor on I Predict 1990 and Squint; as well as with Randy Stonehill, Rick Cua, and Dave...
.
The band was named after Communist revolutionary Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
and painter Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
to imply the meaning "revolutionary art." All of the band members had histories within the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
, but the band was an effort to depart from the CCM industry. Despite this, the band still performed at the exclusively Christian music festivals Greenbelt and Cornerstone, and had their music (albeit against their wishes) distributed through Christian bookstores. The group formed in 1989 and broke up in early 1993.
The band first appeared on the soundtrack to the motion picture Pump Up the Volume
Pump Up the Volume (film)
Pump Up the Volume is a 1990 comedy-drama film written and directed by Allan Moyle and starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis.- Plot summary :...
with a song called '"Tale O' The Twister." The band's only album, the self titled Chagall Guevara
Chagall Guevara (album)
Chagall Guevara is the title of the only full length album by the band Chagall Guevara, released in 1991, on MCA Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Nichols, Perkins and Taylor.# "Murder In The Big House"# "Escher's World"# "Play God"...
, was released on MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 1991. The band's only music video, for the song "Violent Blue," received a few plays on MTV.
Several CD and LP singles were released off the album, including a UK release of "Violent Blue" with an unreleased B-side track titled "Still Know Your Number By Heart." Several songs from the band's 1991 performance at the Greenbelt Festival
Greenbelt festival
Greenbelt Festival is a festival of arts, faith and justice held annually in England since 1974. Greenbelt has grown from a Christian music festival with an audience of 1,500 young Christians to its current more secular festival attended by around 20,000 - Christians and non-Christians.The festival...
in England appeared on the official video "Four Days in Summer."
Work on a second album began, but the group broke up while attempting to be released from their contract with MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Several tracks for the second album were recorded, including "Halcyon Days" and "A Bullet's Worth A Thousand Words." These songs, along with a November 15, 1991 concert recording, remain unreleased.
Chagall Guevara reunited twice. In 1994, a track titled "Treasure of the Broken Land" appeared on the Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
tribute album Strong Hand of Love
Strong Hand of Love
Strong Hand of Love: A Tribute to Mark Heard is a compilation of songs by various artists in tribute to songwriter, Mark Heard.Recorded and released in 1994, after Heard's death in 1992. Proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
and the Orphans of God
Orphans of God
Orphans of God is a 2 CD compilation of songs performed by various artists in tribute to songwriter Mark Heard.Recorded and released after Heard's death in 1992, proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
double-CD, which were sold mainly through Christian bookstores and similar outlets. The band reunited again in Nashville at a private industry party in October, 2005. There were no future plans for the group, however.
External links
- Sock Heaven, a Steve Taylor and Chagall Guevara fan site which includes a Chagall Guevara FAQ with more information about their music video, break up, and unreleased tracks, and a reproduction of Kevin: The Chagall Guevara Newsletter.
Discography
- Pump Up the VolumePump Up the Volume (film)Pump Up the Volume is a 1990 comedy-drama film written and directed by Allan Moyle and starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis.- Plot summary :...
soundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
, 1990. - Chagall GuevaraChagall Guevara (album)Chagall Guevara is the title of the only full length album by the band Chagall Guevara, released in 1991, on MCA Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Nichols, Perkins and Taylor.# "Murder In The Big House"# "Escher's World"# "Play God"...
, 1991. - Strong Hand of LoveStrong Hand of LoveStrong Hand of Love: A Tribute to Mark Heard is a compilation of songs by various artists in tribute to songwriter, Mark Heard.Recorded and released in 1994, after Heard's death in 1992. Proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
, a tribute to Mark HeardMark HeardJohn Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, 1994. - Orphans of GodOrphans of GodOrphans of God is a 2 CD compilation of songs performed by various artists in tribute to songwriter Mark Heard.Recorded and released after Heard's death in 1992, proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
, a tribute to Mark HeardMark HeardJohn Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, 1996.