The Crucified

Infobox Musical artist
Name = The Crucified


Img_capt = The Crucified in 1991. From left to right: Mark Salomon, Greg Minier, Jeff Bellew (bottom), and Jim Chaffin.
Img_size = 250px
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Fresno, California
Genre = Crossover thrash
Christian metal
Years_active = 1984–1993
Label = Narrowpath, Ocean, Tooth & Nail
Associated_acts = Stavesacre
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/thecrucifiedofficial] ]
Current_members = Mark Salomon
Greg Minier
Jeff Bellew
Jim Chaffin
Past_members = Wayne Stonecipher
Kirk Palmer
Trevor Palmer
Mark Johnson

The Crucified was an American crossover thrash metal band from Fresno, California that formed in 1984. Its final lineup was vocalist Mark Salomon, guitarist Greg Minier, bassist Jeff Bellew, and drummer Jim Chaffin. The Crucified released two studio albums and three demos. The band toured California for the majority of its career and appeared at the Cornerstone Festival outside of Chicago several times. The band broke up in 1993 due to personal indifferences.

History

Formation

In late 1984, drummer Jim Chaffin, guitarist Greg Minier, bassist Kirk Palmer, and vocalist Wayne Stonecipher started a band named K.G.B. in Fresno, California [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=51] cite web| author=Van Pelt, Doug |year=2005 |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/the_crucified_interview_2005200503/index.php?page=1 |title=The Crucified interview 2005 |publisher=' |accessdate=2008-03-19] The four teens knew each other as high school classmates. The name K.G.B. had no meaning to it, the members thought initials "sounded cool".Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=53] In early 1985, K.G.B. was looking for a new vocalist due to the departure of Stonecipher. Minier asked his friend Mark Salomon to try out as vocalist and Salomon, interested in the group, accepted to try out. Salomon was accepted into the band after singing a few songs the band wrote with Stonecipher. Sensing pressure from friends to have a meaning behind the name K.G.B., the band made the initials stand for Kids in God's Blessings. Not long after the name change, the band thought the name sounded juvenile and changed it to The Crucified"'. The name came from Minier thinking of random names that would fit a Christian band. The Crucified added the Bible verse Galatians 2:20 to the name whenever they wrote it. Galatians 2:20 says "For I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=54]

Demos and "The Crucified"

After a year of practicing in Chaffin's garage, the guys recorded 10 songs on a demo tape under the name K.G.B. but it was never circulated. Soon after, Kirk Palmer left the band and was replaced by his brother Trevor. 1986, The Crucified gathered together a small amount of money and recorded 15 songs on a tape named "Take up Your Cross" under their new name, The Crucified, and distributed the demo throughout their local area and via mail order. "Nailed", the band's second demo, was recorded the following year and the band's exposure continued to grow. Shortly after "Nailed" was recorded, the band members graduated from high school and Palmer left the group and was replaced by Mark Johnson. The band recorded "Live at the New Order" in 1988.

Greg Sostrum of Narrowpath Records saw The Crucified at a few shows and offered them a recording contract. The band accepted the offer and started to record songs that they were playing since the band formed.Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=91-92] The 15 track album was titled "The Crucified". It was released in compact disc format, which was a new format in the late 1980s. After the album's release, the band started to tour around California, including appearances at the Cornerstone Festival as well as opening for D.R.I., G.B.H., and Pantera. [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=94] Johnson was fired from the band due to personal differences. The guys started looking for a new bassist. Chaffin responded to an ad in a newspaper, posted by Jeff Bellew, citing The Crucified as an influence. Bellew joined the band and drove for four hours from his home in So Cal to Fresno every weekend to practice. Eventually the drive became too costly and he eventually moved to Fresno to practice with the band more. [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=95]

"The Pillars of Humanity" and Breakup

Sostrum called Salomon, recommending Ocean Entertainment as a new label for the band. Freddie Piro watched the band play live and enjoyed the show. Piro asked to fund The Crucified's next album and the band accepted. The band wrote several new songs and recorded "The Pillars of Humanity". [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=118] For the next two years the band toured very little, but did play several headlining shows, mostly in Orange County, California and neighboring Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside Counties. The Crucified played with many bands in Southern California, among them Scaterd Few, Mortal, Vengeance Rising, Focused, P.O.D. and the Prayer Chain - often to sold out crowds. [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=121] Rumor had it that Pantera singer Phil Anselmo offered the band to open on the "Vulgar Display of Power" tour, but as the other members of Pantera did not remember The Crucified, the band did not open on the tour.

As the band members started to struggle with their Christian faith, the members started to not get along with each other as well as they used to. By the summer of 1993, Jim Chaffin called Salomon and told him the band was done. The Crucified canceled what was to be the band's biggest tour and played Cornerstone 1995 as a farewell show. [Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=164-166]

Members

References

*Citation |last=Salomon |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Salomon |title=Simplicity |publisher=Relevantbooks |year=2005 |isbn=0-9760357-6-6

Notes

External links

* [http://www.crucifyd.com/ Fan website]

Official MyspaceCheck this link: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=375044728