Authority Zero

Article Category: Local Amp

Authority Zero originated in the sunny streets of Mesa, AZ in the the summer of 1994. Originally made up of Jason DeVore (vocals), Bill Marcks (guitar/vocals), Jeremy Wood (bass/vocals), Jim Wilcox (drums) and rhythm guitarist Jerry Douglas, the popular punk band eagerly pushed its sound throughout the latter half of the ’90s, playing countless house parties, colleges, and club shows in and around their home state. Their live shows and on-stage energy on quickly drew comparisons to Rage Against the Machine, and Mesa-based independent record store Zia Records caught on.

In 2001, Zia issued Authority Zero’s self-titled debut EP. That same year, the band scaled back on their riveting, metallic sound for more structured hard rock that accented the band’s multi-cultural backgrounds and diverse musical tastes. Their full-length debut, A Passage In Time, appeared in the fall of 2002 on Atlantic sibling Lava, containing nods to influences like Bad Religion, Dick Dale, Manu Chao and Sublime. Following tours with Guttermouth and H2O and slots on the Warped Tour, the boys continued to release exceptionally stellar material before replacing Wood with Dean Farmer and parting ways with Douglas so he could pursue a career in the Air Force. In late fall of 2008, Marcks also decided it was time for him to retire to spend more time on his family and education, and the reminaing members brought in Zach Vogel on lead guitar.

With the powerhouse four piece re-established, and having just having returned from a west coast tour with So-Cal punk legends Pennywise and Pepper, Authority Zero are back in the studio hammering away on their fifth full-length album which is set for release in this fall.

Catch Authority Zero Friday, September 4 with special guests the Crazy Carls and Part One Tribe at the Chili Pepper Supper Club, 142 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets for the 18+ show are $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the show. Tickets are available at the Chili Pepper (call 783-8885) and at East Coast Music (6952 N. Atlantic Ave.; 784-2420). Visit www.myspace.com/authorityzero and www.myspace.com/thechilipepperclublive for more details.