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The Union Underground

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Band Timeline

1996

Formation and Early Beginnings of The Union Underground

The Union Underground was formed in San Antonio, Texas, rooted in the friendship between Bryan Scott and Patrick Kennison who met in junior high. After high school, Scott and Kennison founded their own recording studio, Studio Underground, and independently sold about 5,000 copies of an EP. The early success drew the attention of Hollywood rock manager James Jeda, who helped them sign with Portrait Records, part of Sony's Columbia label. The band's initial lineup was completed with drummer Josh Memolo and bassist John Moyer, setting the stage for their professional music career.
2000

Release of Debut Album ...An Education in Rebellion and Rise to Fame

On July 18, 2000, The Union Underground released their debut album, ...An Education in Rebellion. The album marked a significant breakthrough, spending four months on the charts and featuring the single "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman'", which remained on mainstream rock charts for six months. The album reportedly sold 350,000 copies. Following this success, the band supported major acts like Marilyn Manson and participated in the 2001 Ozzfest tour, increasing their visibility and fanbase in the nu metal scene.
2002

Release of 'Across the Nation' and Band's Initial Breakup

In March 2002, The Union Underground released the song "Across the Nation," which became widely recognized as the theme song for World Wrestling Federation's RAW brand until 2006, earning substantial airplay nationwide. On June 25, 2002, they released Live...One Nation Underground, a live compilation that would be their final release. That year, Portrait Records folded, leading to the band's breakup. Following the disbandment, lead singer Bryan Scott later partnered with former manager James Jeda to start a new project, Cult to Follow.
2002-2016

Post-Union Underground Endeavors of Members

After the breakup, members pursued diverse paths. Patrick Kennison joined the band Heaven Below, while John Moyer became the bassist for the metal band Disturbed, achieving significant success. Josh Memolo turned towards spirituality and became a born-again Christian, drumming primarily in churches and local bands. Bryan Scott continued his musical career by forming Cult to Follow and later, in 2015, announced another project, Into the Fire, collaborating with members of SOiL and Evanescence. Into the Fire released a self-titled EP in 2016.
2016-present

Reformation, New Music, and Continued Activity

In 2016, Bryan Scott announced a reformation of The Union Underground with a new lineup and planned new music, including an EP expected in 2017, though the release did not materialize. In 2018, they teased new album details but no official release followed. The band planned to perform their debut album in full at a 2020 show in San Antonio, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, The Union Underground announced the "Back to the 2000s" tour with SOiL, Ra, and Flaw. They also scheduled a co-headlining tour in 2025 with Spineshank, marking a continued presence in the rock and metal scene.

Albums

📷
No Image
The Union Underground
10 tracks
1997
the-union-underground_2nd_album
...An Education in Rebellion
11 tracks
2000
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Members

Current

Name
Begin
Occupation

Josh Memolo

N/A

Patrick Kennison

N/A

History

Name
Begin
End
Occupation

John Moyer

1996
2002

Bass guitar

Bryan Scott

1996
2002

Guitar

Lead vocals

Story of The Union Underground

Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Union Underground exploded onto the nu-metal scene with a raw energy that quickly garnered attention. Founded by guitarist Bryan Scott and guitarist Patrick Kennison, who’d been making music together since junior high, the band built a solid foundation, independently selling 5,000 copies of their EP and generating enough buzz to catch the eye of Hollywood manager James Jeda. This led to a major label deal with Portrait Records, a Sony/Columbia imprint. Rounding out the lineup with drummer Josh Memolo and bassist John Moyer, Union Underground unleashed their debut album, ...An Education in Rebellion, in July 2000. The album, a potent blend of hard-hitting riffs and aggressive vocals, charted for four months, propelled by the hit single, "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman.'" Despite their initial success, the band ultimately dissolved in 2002. Their legacy, however, remains a significant chapter in the nu-metal genre's history.

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