The Union Underground
Encyclopedia
The Union Underground was a nu metal
/industrial rock
band based out of San Antonio, Texas
, USA. Original band members included Bryan Scott, Patrick Kennison
, Josh Memolo, and John Moyer
. They released one major label album, An Education in Rebellion
, in July 2000 which featured the hit single
"Turn Me on 'Mr. Deadman'."
) and Patrick Kennison (guitar
). The name was borrowed from their recording studio which they called Studio Underground. They were later joined by Josh Memolo (drums
) and John Moyer (bass guitar
). The Union Underground sold more than 5,000 copies of their self-recorded/produced 1997 selftitled album and were noticed by a Columbia A&R exec, John Weakland
, who later signed them to Columbia Records. Soon, The Union Underground was performing at the 2001 Ozzfest
and other venues worldwide.
The band released their debut major label album An Education in Rebellion
on July 18, 2000. The album sold nearly 400,000 copies with hit singles including "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman'," "Revolution Man," and "Killing the Fly."
In March 2002, The Union Underground released the song "Across the Nation" which was used by the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment
as the theme song for their RAW
brand until October 2006. Following the song's release, it earned extensive airplay nationwide.
On June 25, 2002, the band released Live...One Nation Underground, a compilation of live performances
. This would be their final release before Portrait folded in 2002 and The Union Underground disbanded.
Original versions of songs which also appear on the 2000 release An Education in Rebellion
.
(*Recorded Live at Club Laga, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-07-29)
Live tracks also appear on the 'Live' Radio Promo.
(*Recorded at Sunken Gardens Theatre San Antonio, Texas on 2001-04-29)
(**Recorded at Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado on 2001-07-21)
(***Recorded at Hammerstein Ballroom New York, New York on 2000-11-24)
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
/industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band based out of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, USA. Original band members included Bryan Scott, Patrick Kennison
Patrick Kennison
Patrick Kennison is a rock musician. He co-founded Union Underground who played on Ozzfest 2001 and released an album An Education in Rebellion which sold 350,000 copies...
, Josh Memolo, and John Moyer
John Moyer
John Moyer is the bassist and back up vocalist for the heavy metal band Disturbed, replacing their former bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak...
. They released one major label album, An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion is the debut album of American metal band The Union Underground. Released on July 18, 2000 through Columbia, the album sold nearly 400,000 copies and featured the singles "Turn Me On 'Mr...
, in July 2000 which featured the hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Turn Me on 'Mr. Deadman'."
1996-2002
The Union Underground was created by Bryan Scott (vocalsSinging
Singing 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...
) and Patrick Kennison (guitar
Guitar
The 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...
). The name was borrowed from their recording studio which they called Studio Underground. They were later joined by Josh Memolo (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
) and John Moyer (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). The Union Underground sold more than 5,000 copies of their self-recorded/produced 1997 selftitled album and were noticed by a Columbia A&R exec, John Weakland
John Weakland
John H. Weakland was one of the founders of brief and family psychotherapy. At the time of his death, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Co-Director of the famous Brief Therapy Center at MRI, and a Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus in...
, who later signed them to Columbia Records. Soon, The Union Underground was performing at the 2001 Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
and other venues worldwide.
The band released their debut major label album An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion is the debut album of American metal band The Union Underground. Released on July 18, 2000 through Columbia, the album sold nearly 400,000 copies and featured the singles "Turn Me On 'Mr...
on July 18, 2000. The album sold nearly 400,000 copies with hit singles including "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman'," "Revolution Man," and "Killing the Fly."
In March 2002, The Union Underground released the song "Across the Nation" which was used by the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as the theme song for their RAW
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
brand until October 2006. Following the song's release, it earned extensive airplay nationwide.
On June 25, 2002, the band released Live...One Nation Underground, a compilation of live performances
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
. This would be their final release before Portrait folded in 2002 and The Union Underground disbanded.
Post-Union Underground projects
Patrick Kennison is now working with the band Heaven Below, John Moyer is now playing bass for Disturbed, Josh Memolo has since had 2 children and become a born again Christian, and Bryan Scott has started a new band called Cult to Follow.Track listing
-
- Bitter*
- Natural High*
- Supersonic (Trip With Jesus)*
- Breathe
- The Friend Song*
- Drivel*
- Until You Crack*
- Without
- Bleeding Mary
- Wrong Again
Original versions of songs which also appear on the 2000 release An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion
An Education in Rebellion is the debut album of American metal band The Union Underground. Released on July 18, 2000 through Columbia, the album sold nearly 400,000 copies and featured the singles "Turn Me On 'Mr...
.
Track listing
-
- Turn Me On "Mr. Deadman"
- South Texas Deathride (Live)
- Killing The Fly (Live)
(*Recorded Live at Club Laga, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-07-29)
Live tracks also appear on the 'Live' Radio Promo.
Live...One Nation Underground
Track listing
-
- An Education In Rebellion* (Scott)
- South Texas Deathride* (Scott, Kennison)
- Turn Me On "Mr. Deadman"* (Scott, Kennison)
- Killing The Fly** (Scott)
- Revolution Man** (Scott, Kennison)
- Bitter*** (Scott)
(*Recorded at Sunken Gardens Theatre San Antonio, Texas on 2001-04-29)
(**Recorded at Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado on 2001-07-21)
(***Recorded at Hammerstein Ballroom New York, New York on 2000-11-24)
U.S. Charting Singles
| Year | Song | Mainstream Rock Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Turn Me On "Mr. Deadman" | 11 |
| 2001 | Killing The Fly | 13 |
| 2001 | Revolution Man | 26 |
| 2002 | Across The Nation (Raw Theme) | 29 |
Radio Promo CDs
- Rebellion EP (2000)
- Killing the Fly (2000)
- Live (2000)(Live at Club Laga, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-07-29)
- Turn Me On "Mr. Deadman" (2001)
- South Texas Deathride (June 25, 2001)
- Revolution Man (2001)
- Across the Nation (February 13, 2002)
Other appearances
- "South Texas Deathride" on Ozzfest 2001: The Second MillenniumOzzfest 2001: The Second MillenniumOzzfest 2001: The Second Millennium is a compilation of live recordings from Ozzfest 2001.-Track listing:#Black Sabbath - The Wizard 4:38#Marilyn Manson - The Love Song 3:10#Slipknot - New Abortion 3:57#Papa Roach - Blood Brothers 3:31...
- "Across the Nation" on WWF Forceable EntryWWF Forceable EntryWWF Forceable Entry is a compilation album released by the World Wrestling Federation in 2002. This was the last album sold under the WWF name . It features mostly rock bands performing versions of each wrestlers entrance music. The album had a sequel released in May 2006...