{{other uses of|Crucified|Crucifixion (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Short description|American hardcore/crossover thrash band}} {{sources|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Crucified | image = | landscape = | caption = | alias = Kids in God's Blessings (K.G.B) | origin = Fresno, California, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Christian hardcore * hardcore punk * crossover thrash }} | years_active = 1984–1993, 1995, 2009–present | label = Narrowpath, Ocean, Tooth & Nail | website = {{URL|thecrucified.net}} | current_members = * Mark Salomon * Greg Minier * Jeff Bellew * Jim Chaffin | past_members = * Wayne Stonecipher * Kirk Palmer * Trevor Palmer * Mark Johnson }} '''The Crucified''' is an American Christian hardcore and crossover thrash band from Fresno, California that formed in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noisecreep.com/the-crucifieds-religion-thrash-legends/|title=The Crucified's Religion Never an Issue when Playing with Thrash Legends|website=Noisecreep|first=Matt|last=Debendictis|date=January 28, 2010|access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref> Its lineup is vocalist Mark Salomon, guitarist Greg Minier, bassist Jeff Bellew, and drummer Jim Chaffin. The band are considered "pioneers of Christian hardcore."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Resurrecting the Crucified {{!}} San Diego Reader |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/nov/11/blurt3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407154900/https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/nov/11/blurt3/ |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=www.sandiegoreader.com |language=en}}</ref> During their initial 1984–1993 tenure, the band played at the Cornerstone Festival several times, and also opened for non-religious punk and metal bands like D.R.I. and Pantera.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=January 28, 2009 |title=THE CRUCIFIED Box Set In The Works |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-crucified-box-set-in-the-works/ |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The band broke up in 1993 due to personal differences, but reunited in 2009.
== History ==
=== Formation (1984–1985) === 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<ref>{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=51}}</ref><ref name="2005 interview">{{cite magazine |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 |magazine=HM: The Hard Music Magazine |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207085400/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/the_crucified_interview_2005200503/index.php?page=1 |archive-date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref> The four teens knew each other as high school classmates. The name K.G.B. had no meaning to it, the members just thought initials "sounded cool".<ref name="p53">{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=53}}</ref> 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.
Salomon was accepted into the band after singing a few songs the band wrote with Stonecipher.<ref name="p53" /> Sensing pressure to have a meaning behind the name K.G.B., the band said the initials stood for Kids in God's Blessings. Not long after, the band thought the name sounded juvenile and changed it to '''The Crucified'''. The name came from Chaffin thinking of random names that would fit a Christian band. The Crucified added the Bible verse to the name whenever they wrote it. "For I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."<ref>{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=54}}</ref>
=== Demos and ''The Crucified'' (1985–1991) === After almost a year of writing and practicing in the Palmer's living room, 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. In 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 March 1989.
Greg Sostrom saw The Crucified at a few shows and offered them a recording contract with his new start-up label, Narrowpath Records. The band accepted the offer and started to record songs at Casbah Studios in Southern California.<ref name="p91-92">{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|pp=91–92}}</ref> The 15-track album was titled ''The Crucified''. It was released in compact disc format, which was a new format in the late 1980s.<ref name="p91-92" /> 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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=94}}</ref> Johnson was fired from the band due to personal differences and 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 moved to Fresno to practice with the band.<ref>{{Harvnb|Salomon|2005|p=95}}</ref><ref name="Bellew ATSG">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=September 10, 2017 |title=Jeff Bellew of Stavesacre |url=https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/caa5351c |access-date=December 25, 2022 |website=As The Story Grows |interviewer=Travis Turner, Bryan Patton}}</ref>
=== ''The Pillars of Humanity'' and breakup (1991–1995) === After recruiting Bellew, the band started to write and record for their second studio album, ''The Pillars of Humanity''. When the album was released 1991 on Ocean Records the band did not tour very much for the album. In 1993, the band announced their breakup. However, they did not play their final show until 1995, at Cornerstone Festival.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Debenedictis |first=Matt |date=January 14, 2010 |title=The Crucified's Drummer Never Thought a Reunion Was on the Table |url=http://noisecreep.com/the-crucified-reunion-on-the-table/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930072254/https://noisecreep.com/the-crucified-reunion-on-the-table/ |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=Noisecreep |language=en}}</ref>
The circumstances of the band's breakup are unclear. According to Bellew, Minier had been kicked out of the band at the time due to a controversy that the band did not want to address.<ref name="Bellew ATSG" /> With Minier out of the band, the band briefly hired Jon Maddux of Deliverance to fill in on guitar.<ref name="Bellew ATSG" /> By this time, Salomon had moved away to a different part of California and struggled with finding a job and the meaning of his life, which left Bellew and Chaffin as the only members remaining nearby, until Chaffin disbanded the group.<ref name="Bellew ATSG" />
In 1995 the band reunited and played their final show at Cornerstone Festival. The members all went on to join new projects including, Stavesacre, Neon Horse, The Blamed, CHATTERbOX, and Applehead.
In 2010, HM Magazine listed ''The Pillars of Humanity'' as #37 on their list of the Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stagg |first=David |date=July 14, 2010 |title=Top 100 Christian Rock Albums Of All Time |url=https://hmmagazine.com/top-100-christian-rock-albums-of-all-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219171050/https://hmmagazine.com/top-100-christian-rock-albums-of-all-time/ |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=HM Magazine}}</ref> Drummer Jason Dunn of No Innocent Victim and Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. commented on the album's legacy as part of HMs list, with Dunn calling it the reason he "started playing drums," and Sandoval calling it "the first 'Christian' album I'd ever heard."
=== Box-set, ''Pillars'' re-issue and live shows (2008–present) === After their breakup, the band tried "for years" to acquire rights to re-release their music from their previous label, Ocean Records. This effort would ultimately lead to their reunion, with bassist Bellew approaching Chaffin and Solomon in 2009 and proposing that the band play enough shows to buy their music rights.<ref name=":2" /> In 2009, the band was able to acquire their music from Ocean Records and put together a commemorative box-set of their discography, released through Tooth & Nail Records.<ref name=":1" /> On November 17, 2009, Tooth & Nail Records re-released ''The Pillars of Humanity''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Crucified "Pillars of Humanity" In Stores & Online Now! |url=http://classic.toothandnail.com/news/2658/The_Crucified_Pillars_of_Humanity_In_Stores_Online_Now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521095801/http://classic.toothandnail.com/news/2658/The_Crucified_Pillars_of_Humanity_In_Stores_Online_Now/ |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=Tooth & Nail Records}}</ref>
The band played their first show in 14 years on June 14, 2009, at the Calvary Chapel Golden Springs in Diamond Bar, California. The band also returned to play at the Cornerstone Festival in July 2009, a reunion show that HM magazine reviewers called "a fantastic display of raw power and energy ... [for] a band reuniting after over a decade".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/bands.php|access-date=July 14, 2009|title=Cornerstone 2009 Bands|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008202516/http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/bands.php|archive-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |date=October 13, 2009 |title=Live Report: Cornerstone 2009 |url=https://hmmagazine.com/live-report-cornerstone-2009/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809032848/https://hmmagazine.com/live-report-cornerstone-2009/ |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=HM Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
The band performed their first show overseas on October 31, 2009, at the Nordic Festival in Oslo, Norway.
Around 2016, the band began to taper off their shows and activity on social media, marking the hiatus of the band.
{{Update section|date=December 2022|reason=It's unclear whether The Crucified are still playing shows post-2011. No news since from reliable sources or breakup announcement from band itself}}
== Influences == The band has cited Minor Threat and Metallica as musical influences.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Crucified |url=http://classic.toothandnail.com/artists/96/The_Crucified/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226043530/http://classic.toothandnail.com/artists/96/The_Crucified/ |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=Tooth & Nail Records }}</ref> Additionally, their Fresno location has served as inspiration, with a tongue-in-cheek note from the band's biography stating: "funny what one can accomplish when surrounded by miles of nothing."<ref name=":3" />
== Members == {| class="wikitable" |+ style="text-align: left;" |Current members |- ! Name ! Instrument ! Years ! Other groups |- | Mark Salomon | vocals | 1985–1993, 2009–present | CHATTERBoX, Neon Horse, Outer Circle, Stavesacre, White Lighter |- | Greg Minier | guitar | 1984–1993, 2009–present | Applehead, Minier |- | Jeff Bellew | bass | 1990–1993, 2009–present | Argyle Park, CHATTERBoX, Stavesacre, |- | Jim Chaffin | drums | 1984–1993, 2009–present | Fasedown, The Blamed, Deliverance, Once Dead, Lifesavers Underground, Mortal, Left Out, Sarge Loda, Three Kings |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ style="text-align: left;" |Former members |- ! Name ! Instrument ! Years ! Other groups |- | Wayne Stonecipher | vocals | 1984–1985 (with KGB) | |- | Kirk Palmer | bass/keyboards | 1984–1986 (with KGB) | |- | Trevor Palmer | bass | 1986–1988 | |- | Mark Johnson | bass | 1988–1989 | Martyr, Blessing the Hogs, Snail, P.A.S.T.E. |- | Jon Maddux | guitars | 1993 | Deliverance |}
; Timeline {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:80 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1984 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
Colors = id:Vox value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:album value:black legend:Studio_release id:other value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release id:bars value:gray(0.95)
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 BackgroundColors = bars:bars ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1985 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1984 LineData = layer:back at:01/01/1986 color:other at:01/01/1987 color:other at:01/01/1989 color:other at:09/01/1989 color:album at:01/01/1991 color:album at:01/01/1993 color:other at:06/30/2009 color:other
BarData = bar:WS text:"Wayne Stonecipher" bar:MS text:"Mark Salomon" bar:GM text:"Greg Minier" bar:JM text:"Jon Maddox" bar:KP text:"Kirk Plamer" bar:TP text:"Trevor Palmer" bar:MJ text:"Mark Johnson" bar:JB text:"Jeff Bellew" bar:JC text:"Jim Chaffin"
PlotData = width:11 bar:WS from:01/01/1984 till:09/01/1985 color:Vox bar:MS from:09/01/1985 till:10/01/1993 color:Vox bar:MS from:01/01/1995 till:01/31/1995 color:Vox bar:MS from:06/14/2009 till:end color:Vox bar:GM from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1993 color:Guitar bar:JM from:01/01/1993 till:10/01/1993 color:Guitar bar:GM from:01/01/1995 till:01/31/1995 color:Guitar bar:GM from:06/14/2009 till:end color:Guitar bar:KP from:01/01/1984 till:06/01/1986 color:Bass bar:KP from:01/01/1984 till:06/01/1986 color:Keys width:3 bar:TP from:06/01/1986 till:01/01/1988 color:Bass bar:MJ from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1990 color:Bass bar:JB from:01/01/1990 till:10/01/1993 color:Bass bar:JB from:01/01/1995 till:01/31/1995 color:Bass bar:JB from:06/14/2009 till:end color:Bass bar:JC from:01/01/1984 till:10/01/1993 color:Drums bar:JC from:01/01/1995 till:01/31/1995 color:Drums bar:JC from:06/14/2009 till:end color:Drums }}
== Discography == {| |valign=top|
; Studio albums {|class="wikitable" !rowspan="1"| Year !rowspan="1" width="250"| Album details |- | 1989 | '''''The Crucified''''' *Released: 1989 *Label: Narrowpath *Format: CD, LP, cassette |- | 1991 | '''''The Pillars of Humanity''''' *Released: 1991 *Label: Ocean *Format: CD, cassette, |- | 2009 | '''''The Complete Collection''''' *Released: June 30, 2009 *Label: Tooth & Nail *Format: CD |} |valign=top|
; Demos {|class="wikitable" !rowspan="1"| Year !rowspan="1" width="250"| Demo details |- | 1985 | '''''KGB''''' *Released: 1985 *Label: independent *Format: cassette |- | 1985 | '''''Take up Your Cross''''' *Released: 1986 *Label: independent *Format: cassette |- | 1986 | '''''Nailed''''' *Released: 1987 *Label: independent *Format: cassette |- | 1989 | '''''Live at the New Order''''' *Released: 1989 *Label: independent *Format: cassette |- | 1992 | '''''Nailed/Take up Your Cross''''' *Released: 1993 *Label: Tooth & Nail *Format: CD, cassette |} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
;Other sources * {{Cite book |last=Salomon |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Salomon |title=Simplicity |publisher=Relevantbooks |year=2005 |isbn=0-9760357-6-6 }}
== External links == * {{Official website|1=http://www.thecrucified.net}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211228/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/the_crucified_interview_2005200503/index.php |date=September 27, 2007 |title=The Crucified Interview 2005 }}. ''HM Magazine'' (March 2005)
{{The Crucified}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crucified, The}} Category:American Christian metal musical groups Category:Christian rock groups from California Category:Christian hardcore musical groups Category:Crossover thrash groups Category:Culture of Fresno, California Category:Musical groups established in 1984 Category:Thrash metal musical groups from California Category:Tooth & Nail Records artists Category:1984 establishments in California