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Officer Negative

{{Short description|American Christian punk band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Officer Negative

| image = ON Skull Logo.jpg

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| origin = Ventura

| genre = Punk, Christian punk, metalcore (later)

| years_active = 1995–2004, 2024-present

| label = Screaming Giant, Something Sacred, Solid State

| associated_acts = Akeldama, Zippy Josh & the Rag Tag Band, The Death Campaign

| website =

| current_members = Chad Wiggins
Daniel Osborn
Ryan Horner
Shawn Cothran

| past_members = Chad Wiggins
Michael Dragon
Chris Sahagun
Josh Handley (Zippy Josh)
Taylor Allender
Casey Wisenbaker
Daniel Osborn
Todd Wisenbaker
Joey Buli
Roger Bell
Mark Popovich
Andi Lockwood
Amber Reeves

}}

Officer Negative is a Christian punk band from Ventura, California, United States. Formed in 1995 and initially disbanded in 2000, the band released two albums and an EP on Screaming Giant Records. They played "old-school" hardcore punk, and though their music never appeared in a polished form, it was said to "never hold back the passion."{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |title=Reviews / Officer Negative Zombie Nation / Live at the Roxy |date=July–August 1999 |journal=HM Magazine |issn=1066-6923 |issue=80 |pages=70–71 }}

Following a period of reformation the band reappeared as "The Death Campaign" and toured until 2004, when the group split once again.

In 2024, the band announced that they were reforming with a new lineup, and were in the process of writing a new record.

Background

=1990s - First two albums / Screaming Giant Records=

Their first album, Dead to the World (1997), drew influence from 80s/90s street punk and hardcore. It has been described as "angry punk" and likened to acts like Rancid, Black Flag,{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Officer Negative |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/646 646] |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/646 }} and Minor Threat.

Their second release, Zombie Nation (1999), was mired in difficulties with their label. Its sound deviated from the band's hoped sound – to the point where its members would call it "not a true representation of the band."{{cite journal |last=Vasey |first=Karen |title=officer negative's last stand |date=July–August 1999 |journal=HM Magazine |issn=1066-6923 |issue=80 |pages=55 }} Also, several tracks were cut from the release; two were released the next year as a split EP with Lugnut. The third, called "Failure to Submit", was described by Chad Wiggins as "by far, one of the best songs we have ever written." It was this release which garnered the most attention for the band. The release included the album Live at the Roxy. Together, with the future of the band uncertain at best, HM Magazine referred to this release as the band's "swan song."

In late 1999 the departure of bassist Casey Wisenbaker, along with the band's issues with Zombie, led to the dissolution of the band.

=2000s - The Death Campaign=

With the return of Wisenbaker in 2000, the band reformed with new members taking guitar and drums. Vocalist Chad Wiggins saw the reformation of the band as an opportunity to refocus the band on ministry.{{cite journal |last=Campbell |first=Earl |title=Officer Negative |pages=16 |date=January–February 2001 |journal=HM Magazine |issn=1066-6923 |issue=87}} With this lineup they toured until about 2002, releasing an EP and an album. Their 2002 EP Control is an Illusion marked a notable shift towards a new symphonic death metal-based sound, leaving behind much of their original punk influence.{{cite journal |author=(The) Kern County Kid |title=Reviews / Control is an Illusion |date=July–August 2002 |journal=HM Magazine |issn=1066-6923 |issue=96 |pages=66 }}

The band rebranded themselves as The Death Campaign, eventually signing to Solid State Records and recording the full-length album which was later released as Officer Negative Presents The Death Campaign in 2004.

In the summer of 2003, before the release of the album, the band asked lead vocalist Chad Wiggins to leave, intending for Casey Wisenbaker to take vocals, and hiring bass player Mark Popovich from an Officer Negative side project, the death metal band Akeldama.{{cite journal |title=The Death Campaign |pages=12 |date=May–June 2004 |journal=HM Magazine |issn=1066-6923 |issue=107}} Within three months of Wiggins' departure, the band broke up.

Associated acts

Before the release of Zombie Nation, guitarist Josh Handley formed Zippy Josh and the Rag Tag Band, and released one album, Stupidville, in 1999. The album was essentially praise and worship music, and was described as "the Sex Pistols meet Bob Dylan."{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |chapter=Zippy Josh and the Rag Tag Band |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/1066 1066] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/1066 }} Allender and Wisenbaker joined a hardcore band called Hit the Deck, while Wisenbaker, Osborn, and Buli continued to work with Akeldama. Michael Dragon briefly pursued a career in professional skateboarding.{{cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Officer-Negative-Biography/D24B9DE5F23F93B348256EA7000502F0 |title=Officer Negative Biography |accessdate=October 22, 2008 |author=Chad Wiggins}}

Present day

In July 2024, the band announced that they were reforming, with a new lineup, and were in the process of writing a new record.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C9TDR90yfni/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.instagram.com}} They are slated to perform their first show with this new lineup at JCHC Fest 2024.

Members

Current line-up

  • Chad Wiggins – vocals (1995–2003, 2024–present)
  • Daniel Osborn – guitar (2024–present) (drums: 2000–2003)
  • Ryan Horner – drums (2024–present)
  • Shawn Cothran – bass (2024–present)

Former members

  • Josh Handley – bass guitar (1995–1998), guitar (1998–1999), backing vocals (1995–1999)
  • Michael Dragon – drums (1997–2000)
  • Chris Sahagan – guitar (1997–1998)
  • Casey Wisenbaker – bass guitar (1998–2003), vocals (2003–2004)
  • Taylor Allender – guitar (2000–2004)
  • Todd Wisenbaker – guitar (2000–2004)
  • Joey Buli – guitar (2000–2004)
  • Roger Bell – keyboard (2000–2004)
  • Mark Popovich – bass guitar (2003–2004)
  • Chris Zimmerman – drums (2003–2004)

;Timeline

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id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_album

id:EP value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release

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bar:Josh text:"Josh Handley"

bar:ChrisS text:"Chris Sahagan"

bar:Casey text:"Casey Wisenbaker"

bar:Mark text:"Mark Popovich"

bar: Shawn text:"Shawn Cothran"

bar:Taylor text:"Taylor Allender"

bar:Todd text:"Todd Wisenbaker"

bar:Joey text:"Joey Buli"

bar:Roger text:"Roger Bell"

bar:Mike text:"Michael Dragon"

bar:Dan text:"Daniel Osborn"

bar:Chris text:"Chris Zimmerman"

bar:Ryan text:"Ryan Horner"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Chad from:01/01/1995 till:12/01/1999 color:Vocals

bar:Chad from:06/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Vocals

bar:Chad from:01/01/2024 till:end color:Vocals

bar:Josh from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1998 color:Bass

bar:Josh from:01/01/1998 till:12/01/1999 color:Guitar

bar:Casey from:01/01/1998 till:12/01/1999 color:Bass

bar:Casey from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2003 color:Bass

bar:Casey from:01/01/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Vocals

bar:ChrisS from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1997 color:Guitar

bar:Mark from:01/01/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Bass

bar:Taylor from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:end color:Guitar

bar:Joey from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Guitar

bar:Todd from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Guitar

bar: Shawn from: 01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Bass

bar:Roger from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Keys

bar:Mike from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1999 color:Drums

bar:Dan from:06/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Drums

bar:Dan from:01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Guitar

bar:Chris from:01/02/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Drums

bar:Ryan from: 01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Drums

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1997: Dead to the World (Screaming Giant)
  • 1999: Zombie Nation
  • 2004: Officer Negative Presents the Death Campaign (Solid State)

Splits and EPs

  • 2000: Split EP (with The Combat Junkies)
  • 2000: Split EP (with Lugnut)
  • 2002: Control is an Illusion (Something Sacred)

Live albums

  • 1999: Live at the Roxy
  • 2001: Live

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.officernegative.com}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Christian rock groups from California

Category:Christian punk groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1995

Category:Solid State Records artists

Category:Musical groups from Ventura County, California