Focused (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Focused
OriginLong Beach, California
GenresChristian hardcore, Christian metalcore[1]
Years active1990–1996,[2][3] 2000–2001, 2009
LabelsTooth & Nail
WebsiteFocused on Facebook
Past members
  • Tim Mann
  • Dirk Lemmenes
  • Mike Merryman
  • Jason Parker
  • Chris Bowden
  • Alex Albert
  • Andrew Reizuch
  • Jeff Boetto
  • John Schoettler
  • Matt Archuleta
  • Al Christensen
  • Adam Valles
  • Brett Barber
  • Gary Wilson
  • Jim Rupe

Focused was a hardcore punk band that originated out of Long Beach, California in 1990. Focused was one of the first Christian hardcore bands of the spirit-filled hardcore movement, along with Strongarm, Zao, Overcome, and Unashamed, with vocalist Tim Mann coining the "spirit-filled hardcore" phrase.[4][5] The band disbanded in 1996, but reunited briefly in 2009.

History[]

Focused began in 1990, created by Tim Mann on vocals, John Schoettler on guitars and Matt Archuleta on bass. Schoettler had a connection with Jeff Boetto (No For An Answer, Half-Off), which led to him joining on guitars.[6] The band played their first show without an official drummer, with friend, David Shoemaker, filling-in.[7] The band would soon thereafter hire on Al Christensen on drums. The band played their third show alongside bands such as Mean Season, Unbroken, and Strife.[6] The following night the band played alongside bands such as Mortal and Deliverance.[6] The band recorded a few demos, including Situation Within and Eternity's Gate.[8][9]

Around this time, Boetto, Schoettler, and Archuleta were replaced by Mike Merryman, Jason Parker, and Dirk Lemmenes respectively. This line-up signed with Tooth & Nail Records, as the second band on the roster,[10] and began recording their debut album, Bow, which was released as the label's second release. Christensen departed the band in 1994, replaced by Chris Bowden.[3]

In 1994, the band embarked on a tour called 40 Days and 40 Nights, alongside Chatterbox and Unashamed. They also met with Blenderhead and MxPx on that tour at a few shows.[3] The tour lasted from June 24 to July 30.[11] They toured with Bloodshed the following year,[12] and began working on their second album, The Hope That Lies Within, also released on Tooth & Nail.[3] It received an enthusiastic, ten-bar rating from Cross Rhythms.[13] In 1996, the band broke up.[3]

In 2000, Mann brought the band back together to release the three-song 2000 EP.[14] The lineup at the time consisted of new members aside from Mann, with Brett Barber and Gary Wilson on guitars, Jim Rupe (ex-Every Day Life) on bass, and Adam Valles on drums.[15]

They were asked to play on Demon Hunter's "Huntour" in 2009, along with Living Sacrifice, Throwdown, Advent and others.[16][17][18][19] The classic line-up of Mann, Merryman, Parker, and Lemmenes, with former Project 86 drummer Alex Albert joining the band on drums, participated in the tour.[20]

In 2019, Steadfast Records, a record label that had released the debut Zao album, All Else Failed, announced the re-release of Focused's demo At Eternity's Gate, which would include vinyl and CDs.[9][10]

Members[]

2009 reunion lineup[20]

Name Instrument Years active Other groups
Timothy "Tim" Mann vocals 1990-1996, 2000-2001, 2009 Resolve, Flowers for June
Mike Merryman guitar 1992-1994, 2009
Jason Parker guitar 1993-1996, 2009
Dirk Lemmenes bass 1992-1996, 2009 Stavesacre, Enemy Ships, the Lost Chorus
Alex Albert drums 2009 Project 86, Crash Rickshaw, the Lost Chorus

Other former members[20]

Name Instrument Years active Other groups
Jeff Boetto guitar 1990-1992 No For An Answer, Straight Arm, Half-Off
John Schoettler guitar 1990-1993
Andrew Reizuch guitar 1994-1996 Le Shok, Treadwell
Gary Wilson guitar 2000-2001
Brett Barber guitar 2000-2001
Jim Rupe bass 2000-2001 Every Day Life, Resolve
Matt Archuleta bass 1990-1992
Al Christensen drums 1990-1994
Chris Bowden drums 1994-1996 Left Neglect, Other Desert Cities, Chris's Farm, the Merbabies
Adam Valles drums 2000-2001

Live musicians

  • David Shoemaker – drums (1990)

Timeline

Discography[]

Studio albums[21]

EPs

  • At Eternity's Gate (2019, Steadfast Records) [28]

Compilation albums

  • The Wheels of Progress (1992–1996) (1999, Gunshow Records)

Demos

  • Situation Within (1991)
  • Eternity's Gate (1993)

Awards[]

Dove Awards

  • 1996 - Hard Music Album: The Hope that Lies Within (nominated)[29]

References[]

  1. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (February 2000). "A Joyful Noise? Christian Metalcore". CMJ New Music Monthly (78): 70. ISSN 1074-6978.
  2. ^ "Focused Biography". Christian Molten Metal Bands.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bowden, Chris (May 5, 2015). "...a Counselor". Interviewed by Mark Salomon. Never Was Podcast. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Focused". Last.fm.
  5. ^ Reizuch, Andrew (June 7, 2020). "An Interview With Andrew Reizuch". Life. Together. Unscripted. Podcast. Interviewed by Dom Macaluso. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Mann, Tim (February 20, 2019). "Tim Mann of Focused". As The Story Grows Podcast. Interviewed by Bryan Patton. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "I found em!". Facebook. April 5, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2020. Tim Mann: This was the first time focused ever played. We learned one song and didn’t have a drummer then.
    John Schoeletter: David Shoemaker on drums
    Tim Mann: Thanks John, I could have least put Shoemaker. I went blank.
  8. ^ "This demo was our first original recordings". Facebook. February 20, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Jones, Brandon (December 6, 2019). "Focused - Open My Eyes". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Brandon (November 8, 2019). "Focused Gets the Vinyl Treatment". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "40 Days and 40 Nights Summer Tour". Facebook. May 3, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "Focused/Bloodshed Tour 95". Facebook. May 3, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Focused". Cross Rhythms.
  14. ^ "Focused - 2000 EP". Discogs. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  15. ^ David (March 2001). "Focused". Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Focused returns from the grave". BANDSONFIRE. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  17. ^ Salomon, Mark (2005). Simplicity. Relevantbooks. ISBN 0-9760357-6-6.
  18. ^ "Demon Hunter announces Huntour 2009". Lambgoat. June 18, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  19. ^ DiNitto, Jay (July 22, 2009). "Demon Hunter Unleashes "Huntour" On The Northwest". Noisecreep. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "focused". www.facebook.com.
  21. ^ "Focused on discogs". Discogs.
  22. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (March 1994). "Focused - Bow" (46). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ Burt, Jason (1994). "Cornerstone Festival". 23 (104). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ Clark, Ryan (July 2005). "Focused - Bow" (114). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ Anderson, Matt (June 1, 1994). "Focused - Bow". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  26. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (July 1995). "Focused - The Hope That Lies Within" (54). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ Wilson, Jon (December 1, 1996). "Focused - The Hope That Lies Within". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  28. ^ "Focused: At Eternity's Gate: Vinyl". Steadfastrecords. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  29. ^ "Focused". CM Nexus. Retrieved February 13, 2016.

External links[]

  • Focused on Myspace
  • Jenison, David (June 1994). "Only Bowing To One" (47). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Jenison, David (October 1994). "Hardcore" (49). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Hershey, Brent (January 1995). "Focused: the Interview" (51). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • "From Focused to Flowers..." (60). HM Magazine. July 1996. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Hamamoto, Andi (January 2001). "Concert Review: Focused Reunion" (87). HM Magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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