Focused (band)

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.

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

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. 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. 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. Jones, Brandon (December 6, 2019). "Focused - Open My Eyes". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  10. 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. "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.
  • 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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