Capitol Offense (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Capitol Offense


Img_capt = Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (center) performs with his band "Capitol Offense" at the Republican Party of Iowa's Lincoln Day Dinner on April 14, 2007.
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = Gov. Huckabee and his executive staff enjoyed classic rock, and several were talented musicians in their own right.
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Formed in 1996, by Gov. Huckabee and several of his staff members.
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1996-present
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/capitoloffense Official Myspace site]
Current_members = Mike Huckabee
Aaron Black
Marynell Branch
Gordon Caffey
Rick Calhoun
Teri Cox
Chris Pyle
Steve Pyle
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Capitol Offense is the rock band of Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas and former 2008 Republican candidate for President of the United States.

History

Early years (1996-2000)

The band was formed in July 1996 by newly-elected governor Mike Huckabee and members of his executive staff. They all enjoyed classic rock, and several of them were talented musicians in their own right. They drew their name from the fact that all of them work in the Capitol building, and because according to Huckabee, "in the course of our playing, we offend just about everybody." [" [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/politics/campaign/02pink.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&position= He Knows a Little Rock] ." Glenn Collins. "The New York Times".] In 1999, the band gave a performance in the Governor's Conference Room, during a bill-signing ceremony in honor of Arkansas native Johnny Cash. [http://www.gibson.com/whatsnew/pressrelease/1999/apr30a.html Press release from guitar-maker Gibson] , regarding Huckabee and his band.]

Huckabee, the front man and by far the most famous member of the band, was drawn to music from very early on in his life. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/mikehuckabee/story/0,,2235532,00.html Profile of Huckabee] . Daniel Nasaw. "The Guardian Unlimited" (U.K.)] ] He has played guitar since he was a child and states unequivocally that "music was life changing for me."

Recent times (2001-present)

Huckabee's band played at Washington inaugural balls put on by the Free Republic in both 2001 and 2005. In recent years Capitol Offense has honed their sound to such an extent that they have opened for several high profile artists, including REO Speedwagon," [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/dining/10huck.html?pagewanted=print The Governor Who Put His State on a Diet] ." Gina Bellafante. "The New York Times". August 10, 2005.] Willie Nelson, Percy Sledge, .38 Special, and Grand Funk Railroad. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13486-2005Jan16.html "Once Again, a Little Rock From Arkansas"] . "The Washington Post".] During 2007, front man Huckabee took his musical act on the presidential stump with him, performing numerous times without Capitol Offense during his campaign in Iowa. At one stop, backed by two record store employees, he covered a Chuck Berry song, before answering questions from the crowd at the store.

tyle

Capitol Offense is a cover band that plays a mix of classic rock, Motown, country and blues. The band intentionally shuns the trendier hit-makers, preferring older tunes. "We don't try to play trendy stuff," Huckabee has said of his band's musical tastes, "nothing without a long shelf life." Early on, all of the band members played only Gibson guitars, and did so "proudly", according to a note Huckabee sent to the company in 1999. However, as of July 2007, Huckabee sported a black and white Fender bass during his campaign stop record store performance." [http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/07/03/Metro/Huckabee.Pushes.The.Arts-2920666.shtml Huckabee pushes the arts] ." Stephen Schmidt. "The Daily Iowan"]

Lineup

Capitol Offense's lineup is as follows:
*Mike Huckabee - bass
*Aaron Black- vocals
*Marynell Branch – keyboards
*Gordon Caffey - lead guitar, vocals
*Rick Calhoun - guitar, vocals
*Teri Cox – vocals
*Chris Pyle – drums
*Steve Pyle – vocals

References