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.
Wake Up Call
Authority Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The time approaching where we all fall down
With each new wave another wake up call
Deep in our minds, where did it all go wrong?
Steadfast we hold our breath wishing it all away
Waiting for a sign to bring us back some day
We hold our breath and wish it all away
And wait for the day
To watch it all just wash right away
When will it all just make sense to me?
Is this a wake up call?
Something I can't ignore?
Show me a sign of life
Just give me something more
I'm told to take a number like the others
To take a number and get back into line
Falling fast sure as the sun may rise
We're discovering all the things we hide
So much from ourselves
It's got me wondering, what's going on inside?
Have we been here before?
There's something so familiar about this place
Can you tell me what for?
Still we keep holding our breath
So could you please lend me your ears
I've been far gone far far too long
As we masquerade, what is this game
And this constant charade?
When did your heart cease to beat anyway?
Steadfast we hold our breath
wishing it all away, waiting for a sign to bring us back some day. These lyrics from Authority Zero's song Wake Up Call are a representation of the human struggle to understand the world around us. The metaphor of landing on solid ground and approaching a time where we all fall down is a reference to the ups and downs of life. With each new wave, we receive another wake-up call, a message that is trying to teach us something, and yet we struggle to understand where we went wrong.
The lyrics express a desire to find meaning amidst the chaos, a longing for something more. The line "When will it all just make sense to me?" captures the frustration that comes from feeling like life is just a series of random events with no purpose or direction. The repetition of "we hold our breath and wish it all away" highlights our tendency to avoid facing reality, hoping that things will somehow magically get better.
Overall, Wake Up Call is a song about the human experience and our tendency to get lost in our own thoughts and emotions. It is a reminder that sometimes we need to take a step back, breathe, and try to make sense of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Landing on solid ground
Starting the journey towards our goals with confidence and determination.
The time approaching where we all fall down
An inevitable setback or failure is imminent in the near future.
With each new wave another wake up call
Every time we face adversity, it's an opportunity to learn and awaken to new possibilities.
Deep in our minds, where did it all go wrong?
Reflecting and questioning our past decisions that led to our current situation.
Steadfast we hold our breath wishing it all away
Feeling stuck and unable to change our circumstances, hoping the problems will disappear on their own.
Waiting for a sign to bring us back some day
Looking for a signal or inspiration that will guide us towards a better future.
We hold our breath and wish it all away
Suppressing our feelings and desires, avoiding facing the challenges head-on.
And wait for the day
Anticipating the time when things will get better on their own.
To watch it all just wash right away
Wishing for a miracle solution that will make all our problems disappear overnight.
When will it all just make sense to me?
Feeling lost and confused, questioning the meaning and purpose of our struggles.
Is this a wake up call?
Wondering if our current difficulties are a sign that we need to change our approach to life.
Something I can't ignore?
Feeling compelled to take action even if it's uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Show me a sign of life
Looking for proof that things can get better and that there's hope for the future.
Just give me something more
Feeling unsatisfied with the current situation, wanting more out of life.
I'm told to take a number like the others
Feeling powerless and insignificant, being treated like just another face in the crowd.
To take a number and get back into line
Being expected to conform to societal norms and expectations, even if it goes against our own desires and beliefs.
Falling fast sure as the sun may rise
Feeling like our problems are multiplying and getting worse faster than we can handle.
We're discovering all the things we hide
Realizing that we've been hiding some of our flaws and vulnerabilities from ourselves and others.
So much from ourselves
Being our own worst enemies, sabotaging ourselves and our progress.
It's got me wondering, what's going on inside?
Being curious about our inner selves and the motivations that drive our actions.
Have we been here before?
Questioning if our current struggles are part of a recurring cycle of life.
There's something so familiar about this place
Experiencing deja vu or feeling like we've been in this situation before.
Can you tell me what for?
Wanting to understand the purpose or meaning behind our current struggles and hardships.
Still we keep holding our breath
Continuing to suppress our emotions and desires, feeling stuck and unable to break free.
So could you please lend me your ears
Asking for someone to listen and empathize with our struggles.
I've been far gone far far too long
Feeling like our problems have been going on for too long and we've lost sight of our true selves.
As we masquerade, what is this game
Playing a role and pretending to be someone we're not, unsure of what the end goal is.
And this constant charade?
Feeling like we're constantly putting on a show and trying to please others, even if it's at our own expense.
When did your heart cease to beat anyway?
Questioning when we stopped living from the heart and instead started living for the approval of others.
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HH Braden
Wow first to comment! This is one great song, the best on 12:34 in my opinion and probably AZ's best period. I wish they'd make more like it. It's a throwback to everything I love about Punk! I'm glad someone took the time to post it. This album is hard to find and it's awesome! Thank you.
Caffeinated insanity
Authority zero never really disappointed me, their latest album "Broadcasting to the nations" is really wicked, you should check it out!
N U L L
Thank you. I have so many good memories to this song!!!!
Пёсий
(Hello boys and girls! Today we're gonna make music: happy music and sad music; funny music and serious music; music that has many of the feelings we have. So get your instrument and come along with me. Let's put some of our feelings into music!)
Landing on solid ground
The time approaching where we all fall down
With each new wave another wake up call
Deep in our minds, where did it all go wrong?
Steadfast we hold our breath wishing it all away
Waiting for a sign to bring us back some day
We hold our breath and wish it all away
And wait for the day
To watch it all just wash right away
When will it all just make sense to me?
Is this a wake up call?
Something I can't ignore?
Show me a sign of life
Just give me something more
I'm told to take a number like the others
To take a number and get back into line
Falling fast sure as the sun may rise
We're discovering all the things we hide
So much from ourselves
It's got me wondering, what's going on inside?
Have we been here before?
There's something so familiar about this place
Can you tell me what for?
Still we keep holding our breath
To watch it all just wash right away
When will it all just make sense to me?
Is this a wake up call?
Something I can't ignore?
Show me a sign of life
Just give me something more
I'm told to take a number like the others
To take a number and get back into line
So could you please lend me your ears
I've been far gone for for too long
As we masquerade, what is this game
And this constant charade?
When did your heart cease to beat anyway?
Steadfast we hold our breath
Steadfast we hold our breath
Steadfast we hold our breath
Steadfast we hold our breath
To watch it all just wash right away
When will it all just make sense to me?
Is this a wake up call?
Something I can't ignore?
Show me a sign of life
Just give me something more
I'm told to take a number like the others
To take a number and get back into line
Brandon Hill
Great song
Alex T
that nofx sound :p
Rocco Foxtrot
I hear some Bouncing Souls but that's just me
Polish Dude
2022