unbroken

Unbroken was a hardcore punk band from San Diego, California. They were influential in the Southern California hardcore scene during the mid-to-late 1990s. The band chose the name Unbroken because they wanted to emphasize their dedication to the straight edge philosophy of drug abstinence. However, most of the members have since given up this belief.

In 2008, Alternative Press named Unbroken a band of significant interest in its cover story "23 Bands Who Shaped Punk", citing them as an influence on later groups such as The Hope Conspiracy, Suicide File, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Modern Life Is War, and Bleeding Through.^[1]

Biography

The band's members were also in the groups Struggle, Swing Kids, Kill Holiday, Julia, Some Girls, Smooth Man Automatic, Johnny Angel, Stabbed By Words, and Over My Dead Body before, during, and after Unbroken's existence.

Guitarist Eric Allen committed suicide 3 years after the break up of the band. The band reformed soon after Eric's death for 1 show as a benefit to Eric's family.

Rob Moran until recently played in the hardcore group Some Girls and now resides in Seattle. He has more recently started a band with John Pettibone (former member of Undertow and Nineironspitfire, currently in Himsa), Ryan Murphy (former member of Undertow, Ten Yard Fight, Ensign) and Aram Arslanian (guitarist of Champion{[The First Step] and vocalist for Betrayed). The band, The Vows, is a straight-edge band that is musically influenced by the old-school hardcore band Judge. The Vows released a CD on Indecision Records in 2006.

Rob Moran is in a new band called Narrows with Dave Verellen of Botch and Ryan Frederiksen of These Arms Are Snakes. They have an ep and album coming out on Deathwish Inc.

Dave Claibourne sings for the band Stabbed By Words (who have a full length out on Hawthorne Street Records), and is a drum & bass dj with Dedication Crew in St. Louis, MO.

Steven Andrew Miller moved away from San Diego and now resides in Orange County. He now plays in Crushed On You who are set to release an EP later in 2008 on an as of yet unnamed label. The band which also features ex-members of other so-cal hallmarks Atreyu, Throwdown, Bleeding Through and Swindle list their influences as Jawbreaker, Samiam, Alkaline Trio and the Smiths.

Todd Beattie now lives in Los Angeles, and is married to acclaimed furniture designer Tanya Aguiniga.

Reunion

Two reunion shows have been tentatively detailed on the band's official Myspace. Rob Moran has stated recently on the band's official myspace page:^{[citation needed]}

Here's the deal:
It may or may not happen, 100% of the money will go to various charities in SD and Chicago if it does happen. Spring 2009.

2 Shows:
One in So.Cal - May 9th at the Glass House in Pomona, CA with Swing Kids, Undertow, Threadbare and Fast Forward
One in Chicago - Burning Fight book release - Trial, Have Heart, 108, Split Lip and loads more.

Amazing people that have poured their hearts into a book and a scene have for the first time, made me and others in the band feel that it will be a fun and heartwarming experience for good causes. I am not going to lie, we have been offered huge money to play various fests in the states and abroad over the past 10 yrs and we have ALWAYS said no. We've known the people behind the Chicago show for over 15yrs. They are honest and sincere people, that have nothing but respect for the scene and their communities. It is because of their good intentions, this whole thing has come about.

We said the only way we will do it is if:
A:Undertow plays in Chicago as that band was VERY close to us.
B:100% of the money after their expenses goes to charity.

I feel some aspects of hardcore have been lost to antiquity due to bands doing tours for no reason other then their pocket book, here is a chance for some bands from the 90's to come together and have a great time for good causes. This is why we wanted to do a second and more local show as well.

In no way is it living in the past, it's investing in the future of various scenes. Places like the Che or a community center for homeless families…two places among many that will benefit from all this. That is what this is about.

I feel that I've kind of said too much, but due to the amount of BS that has come out over the internet about who, what and why this show may happen, something needed to be said. After this, people can talk all the shit they want. We know our hearts are in the right place and if people can't see that, I don't know what else to say.

This is going to be a great time if it all goes down...

Love,

- Rob XXX

The Final Show

Unbroken played their final reunion show in Seattle, WA at El Corazon with Undertow on October 3rd, 2009^[2].

Members

• Dave Claibourn: vocals
• Eric Allen: guitar
• Steven Andrew Miller: guitar
• Rob Moran: bass
• Todd Beattie: drums

Discography

Full-length albums

• Ritual (1993) New Age Records
• Life. Love. Regret. (1994) New Age Records
  • Both recordings were re-released on one CD, Death of True Spirit (see compilations)

Compilations

• It's Getting Tougher to Say the Right Things (collection of all singles and EPs) (2000) Indecision Records
• Death of True Spirit (2003) Indecision Records
• "It's For Life" Consequence Records

EPs and Singles

• You Won't Be Back 7" (1992)
• Unbroken/Groundwork split ("Final Expression"/"Set Up") 7" (1993)
• Unbroken/Abhinanda split ("Love Will Tear Us Apart") 7" (1994)
• And/Fall on Proverb 7" (1994, 31G)
• Circa '77 ("Absentee Debate"/"Crushed on You") 7" (1995, New Age Records)
• Unbroken/Ati's Warriors split (contains both bands' demos) (2002, bootleg)

Other Appearances

Lacking Mindset Compilation ("Blanket") (1993) It's For Life Compilation ("Unheard") (1992)

References