Scaterd Few
Encyclopedia
Scaterd Few was a Christian punk
band originating from Burbank
, California
. CCM magazine described their music as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Janes Addiction and Charlie Mingus.
(of Daniel Amos
fame) as producer in June 1983. Some of the material from this time was later released on their disk Out of the Attic
. Being unable to sell the material at the time, Scaterd Few went on hiatus in 1985 and Allan left to produce music with another band, Cygnet. This band became the blueprint for Allans' later goth-themed work, Spy Glass Blue
.
In 1989, Allan began work on Scaterd Few material again with brother/original bassist Omar Domkus. Working with Terry Taylor and Gene Eugene
, their first new material was released in 1990 on Alarma Records
. Sin Disease
was critically well received, though its lyrical content and rumors caused a national pull from Zondervan
. The band played Christian festivals such as Cornerstone
, but they didn't limit themselves to Christian venues. They toured with secular artists such as Bad Brains
, and would play at explicitly non-Christian events such as an Earth First event. The band ran into further trouble in 1991 when, in an interview, Aguirre admitted to smoking pot. These factors led to the band being dropped from Alarma's roster.
, was a direct result of the aftermath of Sin Disease. The album was recorded three times. The first time, the band again worked with Gene Eugene and Terry Taylor. This recording was made for the general market under the auspices of Vox Vinyl. The second recording was done with Dave Hackbarth (of the band Undercover
) and Terry Taylor for Mike Knott's Blonde Vinyl
. Neither of these versions were released. The third version was produced independently with assistance from Mark Rodrieguez of Mortal
/ Blood fame.
The release coincided with the release of Out of the Attic
on Flying Tart Records. Out of the Attic is a compilation of material from Scaterd Few's early existence - the 1983 to 1984 time frame. The release shows the roots of Scaterd Few in early 1980s punk rock
. The sound is raw and rough, but clearly shows the origin of many of the Few's later sounds.
In the winter of 1995, their manager, Tim Cook (P.O.D.
), secured a recording contract with Tooth and Nail Records. Artistic direction and personality differences between members caused the band to part ways in early 1996. Allan immediately started working on new material and Spy Glass Blue
was officially born.
In 1998 Allan once again rebuilt Scaterd Few with an all new lineup, and Grandmother's Spaceship
was released on Jackson Rubio.
Their most recent material, Omega No. 5
, was released in 2002 on Allans' own label, Accidental Sirens.
Though a Christian band, Scaterd Few's songs are filled with lyrics about topics that many Christians feel are inappropriate for Christian music. Scaterd Few never received any significant music industry awards, and received relatively little attention in mainstream media. The manner in which the band displayed their Christianity guaranteed them neither a place on Christian bookstore shelves nor automatic distribution in general-market outlets. However, the transparent reality and introspective honesty of their lyrics have earned the band a devoted fanbase.
The themes of their lyrics fall into two broad categories - Teaching about Christianity, and teaching about human behavior. Christianity themes include: Sin
is a disease
and mans' need for salvation
("Beggar", "While Reprobate", "Run If You Can", and "Wonder Why"), Mans' vs. God's understanding ("Beggar", "Life Bleeds Out", "Holding Stare", "Self", and "Pinnacle"), and a person's need for growth as a Christian ("Sleeper" and "Lullaby"). Human behavior themes include gang
violence and racial issues ("Lights Out"), drug
use ("Glass God (No Freedom In Basing)"), sexual immorality ("Future Love", "Secret - Secret", and "Resistance"), and religious sects, Witchcraft
, and apostasy
("Pinnacle", "Witchcraft", "Resistance", and "Self").
Their sound was derived from the Los Angeles
punk rock scene of the 1980s, and has been described as a "Shotgun wedding between complex musicianship and scathing punk rock". Their Sin Disease era influence would be primarily Bad Brains
musically.
Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
band originating from Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. CCM magazine described their music as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Janes Addiction and Charlie Mingus.
Sin Disease era
Scaterd Few initially existed from 1983 until 1984 with a brief stint in 1985. Led by Allan Aguirre, then known as Rämald Domkus, the band recorded an 11 song demo with Terry Scott TaylorTerry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
(of Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
fame) as producer in June 1983. Some of the material from this time was later released on their disk Out of the Attic
Out of the Attic
Out of the Attic is a compilation of some of Scaterd Few's original work from 1983 and '84. Its songs are short and rough, but their basic rhythms can be heard throughout every Scaterd Few album.-Track list & Credits:* 1983 Side# "Gave Us Life"...
. Being unable to sell the material at the time, Scaterd Few went on hiatus in 1985 and Allan left to produce music with another band, Cygnet. This band became the blueprint for Allans' later goth-themed work, Spy Glass Blue
Spy Glass Blue
Spy Glass Blue, a Post-punk / New Wave / Brit Pop band formed by Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few, is credited for legitimizing and authenticating the Post Punk genre in ACM much in the same way that Scaterd Few defined Punk Rock in CCM...
.
In 1989, Allan began work on Scaterd Few material again with brother/original bassist Omar Domkus. Working with Terry Taylor and Gene Eugene
Gene Eugene
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
, their first new material was released in 1990 on Alarma Records
Alarma Records
Alarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
. Sin Disease
Sin Disease
Sin Disease was Scaterd Few's first full-length studio album. CCM magazine described the release as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Jane's Addiction and Charlie Mingus.-Track listing:# "Kill the Sarx"...
was critically well received, though its lyrical content and rumors caused a national pull from Zondervan
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
. The band played Christian festivals such as Cornerstone
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, but they didn't limit themselves to Christian venues. They toured with secular artists such as Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, and would play at explicitly non-Christian events such as an Earth First event. The band ran into further trouble in 1991 when, in an interview, Aguirre admitted to smoking pot. These factors led to the band being dropped from Alarma's roster.
Indie existence
Their next effort at making an album, which eventually resulted in the 1994 release of JawboneofanassJawboneofanass
Jawboneofanass was Scaterd Few's second full-length studio album. It is musically, their most diverse album.# Witchcraft 3:04 Jamie Mitchell / Scaterd Few# Dreams 4:04 Scaterd Few...
, was a direct result of the aftermath of Sin Disease. The album was recorded three times. The first time, the band again worked with Gene Eugene and Terry Taylor. This recording was made for the general market under the auspices of Vox Vinyl. The second recording was done with Dave Hackbarth (of the band Undercover
Undercover (band)
Undercover is an American Christian punk 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...
) and Terry Taylor for Mike Knott's Blonde Vinyl
Blonde Vinyl
Blonde Vinyl was an independent record label founded in 1990 by Michael Knott. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the label as "one of Christian music's first true indie labels."-Background:...
. Neither of these versions were released. The third version was produced independently with assistance from Mark Rodrieguez of Mortal
Mortal (band)
Mortal was a Christian industrial/dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Both members went on to found the alternative rock group Fold Zandura, and for a time were members of both bands simultaneously...
/ Blood fame.
The release coincided with the release of Out of the Attic
Out of the Attic
Out of the Attic is a compilation of some of Scaterd Few's original work from 1983 and '84. Its songs are short and rough, but their basic rhythms can be heard throughout every Scaterd Few album.-Track list & Credits:* 1983 Side# "Gave Us Life"...
on Flying Tart Records. Out of the Attic is a compilation of material from Scaterd Few's early existence - the 1983 to 1984 time frame. The release shows the roots of Scaterd Few in early 1980s punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
. The sound is raw and rough, but clearly shows the origin of many of the Few's later sounds.
In the winter of 1995, their manager, Tim Cook (P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
), secured a recording contract with Tooth and Nail Records. Artistic direction and personality differences between members caused the band to part ways in early 1996. Allan immediately started working on new material and Spy Glass Blue
Spy Glass Blue
Spy Glass Blue, a Post-punk / New Wave / Brit Pop band formed by Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few, is credited for legitimizing and authenticating the Post Punk genre in ACM much in the same way that Scaterd Few defined Punk Rock in CCM...
was officially born.
In 1998 Allan once again rebuilt Scaterd Few with an all new lineup, and Grandmother's Spaceship
Grandmother's Spaceship
Grandmother's Spaceship the third a studio album by pioneer Christian punk band Scaterd Few. Lyrically the album is themed, referencing "aliens, the cyber-age and other extra-terrestrial things," while staying centered on the ultimate truth of renewed life in Christ. Several lyrics draw their...
was released on Jackson Rubio.
Their most recent material, Omega No. 5
Omega No. 5
Omega No. 5 is the latest material by the punk band Scaterd Few. It was released in 2002 on Allan's own label, Accidental Sirens. Unlike on their 1998 release the band returns to its original punk stylings, mirroring Sin Disease in both aureal intensity and lyrical depth...
, was released in 2002 on Allans' own label, Accidental Sirens.
Style
Though a Christian band, Scaterd Few's songs are filled with lyrics about topics that many Christians feel are inappropriate for Christian music. Scaterd Few never received any significant music industry awards, and received relatively little attention in mainstream media. The manner in which the band displayed their Christianity guaranteed them neither a place on Christian bookstore shelves nor automatic distribution in general-market outlets. However, the transparent reality and introspective honesty of their lyrics have earned the band a devoted fanbase.
The themes of their lyrics fall into two broad categories - Teaching about Christianity, and teaching about human behavior. Christianity themes include: Sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
is a disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
and mans' need for salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
("Beggar", "While Reprobate", "Run If You Can", and "Wonder Why"), Mans' vs. God's understanding ("Beggar", "Life Bleeds Out", "Holding Stare", "Self", and "Pinnacle"), and a person's need for growth as a Christian ("Sleeper" and "Lullaby"). Human behavior themes include gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
violence and racial issues ("Lights Out"), drug
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
use ("Glass God (No Freedom In Basing)"), sexual immorality ("Future Love", "Secret - Secret", and "Resistance"), and religious sects, Witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, and apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
("Pinnacle", "Witchcraft", "Resistance", and "Self").
Their sound was derived from the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
punk rock scene of the 1980s, and has been described as a "Shotgun wedding between complex musicianship and scathing punk rock". Their Sin Disease era influence would be primarily Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
musically.
Band members
Many members have also participated in other projects.- Allan Aguirre (fka Ramald Domkus) - (1983–Present) Lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, KeyboardsSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Omar Domkus - (1983–1995) Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Background Vocals - Lou Becaria - (1983) Guitar
- Allen Pellerin - (1983–1984) Lead Vocals
- Brian Anderson - (1983) Drums
- Andy Zachari - (1984) Guitar/Drums
- Ben Eshbach - (1984–1985) Guitar
- Jamie Mitchelll - (1990–1991) Guitar
- Drew Domkus - (1989–90, 1994) Keyboards
- Paul Figueroa - (1991) Keyboards, (1992–1995) Guitar
- Samuel West - (1989–1995) Drums, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, Background Vocals - Russell Archer - (1997–1998) Guitar
- Steven Meigs - (1997–1998) Bass Guitar
- Steve Martens - (1998) Drums, Percussion
- Kane Kelly - (1998) Bass Guitar
- Chris Smyers - (2002) Bass Guitar
- Brad Bevill - (2002) Guitar
- Joe Sidoti - (2002) Drums
Discography
- Sin DiseaseSin DiseaseSin Disease was Scaterd Few's first full-length studio album. CCM magazine described the release as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Jane's Addiction and Charlie Mingus.-Track listing:# "Kill the Sarx"...
(1990) - JawboneofanassJawboneofanassJawboneofanass was Scaterd Few's second full-length studio album. It is musically, their most diverse album.# Witchcraft 3:04 Jamie Mitchell / Scaterd Few# Dreams 4:04 Scaterd Few...
(1994) - Out of the AtticOut of the AtticOut of the Attic is a compilation of some of Scaterd Few's original work from 1983 and '84. Its songs are short and rough, but their basic rhythms can be heard throughout every Scaterd Few album.-Track list & Credits:* 1983 Side# "Gave Us Life"...
(1994) - Grandmother's SpaceshipGrandmother's SpaceshipGrandmother's Spaceship the third a studio album by pioneer Christian punk band Scaterd Few. Lyrically the album is themed, referencing "aliens, the cyber-age and other extra-terrestrial things," while staying centered on the ultimate truth of renewed life in Christ. Several lyrics draw their...
(1998) - Omega No. 5Omega No. 5Omega No. 5 is the latest material by the punk band Scaterd Few. It was released in 2002 on Allan's own label, Accidental Sirens. Unlike on their 1998 release the band returns to its original punk stylings, mirroring Sin Disease in both aureal intensity and lyrical depth...
(2002)