The band's latest album, entitled The Tipping Point was released on April 2nd 2013. The band toured with Rehab on the "Lack of Luxury" 2007 tour. This album is the final one featuring Jeremy Wood on bass, leaving in November 2006 due to personal differences within the band.
Lead singer Jason DeVore has also released material as a solo artist.
Authority Zero was started in 1994 when Bill Marcks met Jason DeVore at Westwood High School. Marcks didn't actually meet DeVore until the summer of 1995, until then Authority Zero consisted of two guitarists (Marcks & Jerry Douglas) and a drummer J.W. Gordon, all from Westwood. This trio put a few songs together without lyrics or basslines. When that summer rolled around, Douglas was expecting the yearly visit of his friend Jason DeVore, from Wyoming. Douglas introduced his long time friend and Marcks jokingly asked if he wanted to be their singer, soon later it was no joke.
Marcks was impressed with DeVore's ability to "write catchy songs in fifteen minutes with really sticky hooks". The two quickly enlisted Jeremy Wood on bass. His experience with lead guitar and musical theory separated his bass playing from others'. Not just a "follow along," his baselines were independent and yet fluid with the music. (Wood actually taught Marcks & Douglas how to play guitar). However, because of Gordon's commitment to the Air Force, his position as drummer soon had to be replaced. Fellow classmate, skateboarder, and drummer Daniel Garcia fit this empty stool like a missing puzzle piece. He brought a new charge and tempo that evolved Authority Zero's music into a faster, more complex, punk rock style. Eventually, however, differences and family obligations led to Garcia's exit from the group.
Marcks, Douglas, DeVore, and Wood finally came upon Los Angeles native Jim Wilcox formerly of Welter/The New Militia who's tragic events ended the group, and he fittingly completed the Authority Zero's lineup. Later Douglas also left the group and joined the Air Force.
After releasing a local EP that sold very well, Authority Zero released their debut album A Passage In Time in 2002 on Lava Records. The album featured a blend of genres including punk rock and reggae, with obvious Spanish and Portuguese influences. A Passage In Time included the hits "One More Minute" and "Over Seasons".
The success of A Passage In Time propelled the band into new popularity. Authority Zero appeared on many tours, such as Warped Tour, the No Use for a Name/The Starting Line tour, and Sum 41's "Sum on Your Face". The band has also toured with the likes of Everclear, Guttermouth and H2O.
In 2004, Authority Zero released Andiamó, again on Lava Records. "Andiamó" means literally "We go" in Italian, but can also be read as "And I am Zero", the title of their live DVD released following Andiamó. The album again featured a blend of genres and Spanish/Portuguese influences. Andiamó is somewhat politically charged, evident in the songs "Revolution", "A Thousand Years of War", and the cover of the song "Mexican Radio", originally written by Wall of Voodoo (the version that appears on Andiamó has lyric changes in order to make a statement against the 2003 invasion of Iraq). In the summer of 2006, Authority Zero released a live acoustic compilation album titled Rhythm and Booze on Suburban Noize Records.
The band's next album, entitled 12:34 was released on January 30, 2007. The track "Courage" was released as a single. The band recently toured with Rehab on the "Lack of Luxury" 2007 tour. This album is the final one featuring Jeremy Wood on bass, who left Authority Zero in November 2006 due to personal differences within the band.
On December 30th, 2008 Bill Marcks posted a blog on his MySpace stating he left the band to spend more time with his family and to focus 100 percent on his new band, Sanziggo.
Jason DeVore has also been working on a side project called The Bollox, an Irish punk band he started with longtime friends.
It has also been confirmed that Authority Zero is working on a new studio album to be released February of 2010.
Dean "DJ" Farmer resigned as the bass player on July 20, 2009 citing personal, business, and creative differences.
Jeremy Wood has rejoined Authority Zero as the bass player.
Persona Non Grata
Authority Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call them a nuisance
Call them defective
So many words you can say
Sit there and judge them
In their existence
Premeditation isn't something you'd thought lightly on
Or simply walk down the street
Do you feel trapped deep inside your own skin?
Are you angry like so many?
Tomorrow we reap
Today we sew
Hold your head high just try and let it go
Don't help them try and tear you down
Show them their weakness
And let them know you'll be around
(By keeping your feet on the ground)
Call them repulsive
Call them a weirdo
Got them with everything you can think of
Now do you feel strong?
This sleeping giant
Will be awakened
Confusing silence with weakness
That won't last long
Are you discouraged and outraged in wonder?
Have you something that you want to say?
Do you spend your days locked inside hiding under
A smile that only you could fake?
Hey! You!
What was the point of it all?
What was the point of it all?
What was the point of it?
Show them their weakness
And let them know you'll be around
The lyrics of "Persona Non Grata" by Authority Zero address the experience of being an outcast or misunderstood by society. The song begins by highlighting the various derogatory labels and judgments that are often placed upon individuals who are seen as different or unconventional. The singer questions whether those who judge and ostracize actually understand the weight of their actions, suggesting that their premeditation is not taken lightly.
The lyrics then shift to ask the listener about their own experiences. Are they alone and afraid, constantly feeling trapped within their own skin? Are they angry, like many others who have faced similar marginalization? The song encourages individuals to rise above the negativity and not let others tear them down. It urges them to find strength in their uniqueness and not be discouraged or silenced.
The closing lines reiterate the message of holding onto resilience and showing those who judge their weaknesses, while letting them know that they will always be present and unyielding. The song ultimately serves as a call to embrace individuality, reject societal norms, and find empowerment in one's own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Call them the outcasts
Label them as the rejected and marginalized
Call them a nuisance
Refer to them as a bother or annoyance
Call them defective
Categorize them as flawed or faulty
So many words you can say
There are countless derogatory terms you can use
Sit there and judge them
Sit and pass judgment on their existence
In their existence
Regarding their mere presence
Premeditation isn't something you'd thought lightly on
The decision to criticize them was not taken lightly
Are you alone and afraid as you wander?
Do you feel isolated and fearful while you roam?
Or simply walk down the street
Or even just move about in public
Do you feel trapped deep inside your own skin?
Do you experience a profound sense of confinement within yourself?
Are you angry like so many?
Are you filled with anger like many others?
Tomorrow we reap
In the future, we will face the consequences
Today we sew
Currently, we are sowing the seeds
Hold your head high just try and let it go
Maintain your dignity and attempt to release the negativity
Don't help them try and tear you down
Do not assist them in their endeavor to break you apart
Show them their weakness
Expose their vulnerabilities to them
And let them know you'll be around
Inform them that you will be present
(By keeping your feet on the ground)
(By staying grounded and resilient)
Call them repulsive
Describe them as repugnant
Call them a weirdo
Refer to them as a strange or eccentric person
Got them with everything you can think of
Use all possible derogatory descriptions against them
Now do you feel strong?
Now, do you feel empowered?
This sleeping giant
This force that has been dormant
Will be awakened
Will be roused from its slumber
Confusing silence with weakness
Mistaking silence for frailty
That won't last long
But that misinterpretation won't endure
Are you discouraged and outraged in wonder?
Do you feel disheartened and indignant with curiosity?
Have you something that you want to say?
Do you have something you wish to express?
Do you spend your days locked inside hiding under
Do you spend your days secluded, concealing yourself beneath
A smile that only you could fake?
A smile that only you can feign?
Hey! You!
Hey! You there!
What was the point of it all?
What was the purpose behind all of this?
Show them their weakness
Expose their vulnerabilities to them
And let them know you'll be around
Inform them that you will be present
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: CHRIS DALLEY, DANIEL ALFONSE AID, JASON BRADLEY HUNSAKER, MICHAEL STEVEN SPERO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind