- Christian Jacobs
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Christian Jacobs
Christian JacobsBackground information Birth name Christian Richards Jacobs Also known as The Caped Commander, The Bat Commander, MC Bat Commander Born January 11, 1972
Rexburg, Idaho, United StatesGenres Rock, pop punk, New Wave, synthpop, ska, punk Occupations Musician, television producer, actor Instruments Singing Years active 1982–present Associated acts The Aquabats Christian Richards Jacobs (born January 11, 1972) is an American musician, television producer, voice actor and former child actor. He is known for his work as the founder and lead singer of the Orange County rock band The Aquabats (in which he performs under the stage persona of The MC Bat Commander) and as the co-creator of the popular Nick Jr. children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba! and the upcoming series The Aquabats Super Show! for The Hub.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Jacobs was born the second of five children in Rexburg, Idaho in 1972. Following his family's relocation to Los Angeles in 1976, Jacobs and his siblings began working as child actors, primarily within television. Throughout the course of his childhood and into his late teens, Jacobs appeared in numerous productions, notably in bit parts in films such as Pretty in Pink and Gleaming the Cube and episodes of Married... with Children and Roseanne.
While working on Gleaming the Cube, Jacobs was introduced to a number of well known and highly influential skateboarders and artists in Southern California. In 1990, Jacobs worked alongside Mark Gonzales and Jason Lee on Blind Skateboards' Video Days. As an artist, he also did board graphics for Tony Hawk's Birdhouse and for the Jason Lee and Steve Berra pro models.
A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jacobs left the United States on missionary service in 1991, living in and around Tōhoku, Japan for two years. Upon returning to California, he began working various jobs and moonlighting in bands.
The Aquabats
In 1994, Jacobs co-founded the Huntington Beach-based superhero-themed band The Aquabats, in which he serves as the lead singer and primary songwriter under the stage name The MC Bat Commander (formerly "The Caped Commander" and "The Bat Commander"). Noted for their matching costumes and scripted onstage "battles" with supervillains, the band initially formed as part of the Southern California third wave ska scene, though since 2000 have evolved into playing more New Wave and pop punk-influenced rock.
The Aquabats experienced a commercial breakthrough with their second album, 1997's The Fury of the Aquabats!, which peaked at 172 on the Billboard 200.[1] The band toured full-time during the latter half of the 1990s, traveling internationally as part of the 1998 Vans Warped Tour. During this time, Jacobs was also active with his friend and creative partner Scott Schultz, producing a number of additional skateboarding and music videos.
As of 2011, The Aquabats continue to tour and record, and released their fifth studio album Hi-Five Soup! in January 2011 on Fearless Records. In March, cable television channel The Hub announced that it had ordered 13 episodes of a television series based around the band, The Aquabats Super Show!, with Jacobs serving as co-creator, producer and star.[2]
Yo Gabba Gabba!
In 1999, Jacobs and Schultz started developing concepts for children's programming with their production company The Magic Store with the goal of trying to create shows that they could enjoy along with their own children. In 2005, Jacobs and Schultz filmed a pilot for a pre-school program called Yo Gabba Gabba!. The show soon found a home on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block and has since completed three seasons, and has been recently renewed for a fourth.
Christian Jacobs is an avid surfer, skateboarder, Japanese toy collector and artist. He currently lives in Orange County, California, with his wife and four children.
Discography
The Aquabats
- The Return of the Aquabats (1995) - vocals
- The Fury of the Aquabats! (1997) - vocals
- The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death! (1999) - vocals
- Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 (2000) - vocals
- Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP (2004) - vocals
- Charge!! (2005) - vocals
- Hi-Five Soup! (2011) - vocals
Collaborations
- "Got Sumethin' (That You Ought to Know)" from Bad Credit's album Giving Back by Giving Up (2004)
- "This Gigantic Robot Kills" with MC Lars and Suburban Legends, from MC Lars' album of the same name (2009)
Filmography
Film
Year Film Role 1986 Pretty in Pink Boy in record store 1989 Gleaming the Cube Gremic 1994 There Goes My Baby Jeff 2008 Punk Rock Holocaust 2 The MC Bat Commander Television
Year Title Role Notes 1982 The Love Boat B.J. Episode: "The Best of Friends/Too Many Dads/Love Will Find a Way" 1982–1983 Gloria Joey Stivic Series regular 1984 Second Sight: A Love Story Bruce TV movie Finder of Lost Loves Scott Hargrove Episode: "Maxwell, Ltd." (series pilot) Highway to Heaven Danny Episode: "Catch a Falling Star" ABC Weekend Special Kurt Landry Episode: "Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost" 1985 The History of White People in America Tommy Harrison TV movie The Canterville Ghost Rob TV movie Berrenger's Bob Episode: "Dangerous Ground" V Billy Episode: "Breakout" Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears Cavin voice only; series regular (season one) 1986 The History of White People in America: Volume II Tommy Harrison TV movie 1987 In Love and War Jimmy (age 14) TV movie Convicted: A Mother's Story TV movie 1988 Portrait of a White Marriage Tommy Harrison TV movie Out of This World Derek Rogers Episode: "Broadway Danny Derek" Just the Ten of Us Club Leader / Todd Episode: "Move It or Lose It"
Episode: "The Unkindest Cut of All"1989 Married... with Children Shep Episode: "A Three Job, No Income Family" Hard Time on Planet Earth Mark Brady Episode: "Rodeo Show" ABC Afterschool Special Danny Episode: "My Dad Can't Be Crazy...Can He?" Roseanne Andrew Episode: "Chicken Hearts" 1990 Guns of Paradise Henry Episode: "The Gates of Paradise" Exile Derf TV movie Major Dad Private LaBonte Episode: "Infant-ry" 1999 The Aquabats in Color! Bat Commander TV pilot. Also co-creator, writer and director. 2007–present Yo Gabba Gabba! Plex (voice only) Also co-creator, writer and director. 2008, 2011- The Aquabats Super Show! The MC Bat Commander Also co-creator, writer and director. External links
- July 2005 interview with The Aquabats!, including MCBC (by Nevra Azerkan at PopZineOnline)
- Christian Jacobs at the Internet Movie Database
References
- ^ "The Aquabats > Charts & Awards". Allmusic.com. http://allmusic.com/artist/the-aquabats-p210908/charts-awards. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "The Hub Television Network Unveils Robust 2011-12 Program Schedule". Discovery Communications. March 24, 2011. http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/the-hub-television-network-unveils-robust-2011-12/. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
The Aquabats The MC Bat Commander · Crash McLarson · Jimmy the Robot · Ricky Fitness · Eagle "Bones" Falconhawk
Prince Adam · Ultra Kyu · Chainsaw the Prince of Karate · The Baron von TitoStudio albums EPs Compilation albums Video albums Related articles Categories:- 1972 births
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- Richards–Young family
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