Chemical People

Biography

With the coming of 1998, a great band going by Chemical People and hailing from Beverly Hills has now been making music for over a decade on a small, southern California record label, Cruz Records. With the passing of these ten years, it's easy to see that more than just Dave's hair length has changed, the music has changed too. A little older, a little wiser, Chemical People's roots of singing about sex, donuts, and super heroes seems to be long gone. In August of 1997 they released their...

With the coming of 1998, a great band going by Chemical People and hailing from Beverly Hills has now been making music for over a decade on a small, southern California record label, Cruz Records. With the passing of these ten years, it's easy to see that more than just Dave's hair length has changed, the music has changed too. A little older, a little wiser, Chemical People's roots of singing about sex, donuts, and super heroes seems to be long gone. In August of 1997 they released their fifth full album to date, 'Arpeggio Motorcade'. With this album, Chemical People follow up to their 1992 self-titled album with a similar sound that make these albums two of the best. With the addition of Dave's sax to the mix as well as keyboards and a slew of guest musicians, the album has a different feel when compared to the early years, but still manages to stay true to that pop/punk sound the bands on Cruz are famous for.

The Chemical People have come along way over their now five album career (six if you count 'Soundtracks'). Not only has the music and lineup changed, but also their choices of cover models. Maxine Nazworthy (Dave's Mom) is on the cover of Arpeggio Motorcade, and after the porno starlets on the first two albums, you have to be wondering who will be on the next...

ED URLIK- Ed has been a key component of the Chemical People over the entire ten years. On the Chem's first single in 1986, Ed had yet to join up, so Blair Jobe and Dave Naz shared bass duties on that first single. Other than that, Ed has played on every record since, laying a solid foundation and having a heavy impact on the sound of the Chemical People's albums over the years. With Chemical People on hiatus in 1991, Ed and Dave joined up with Dave Smalley to play on the first two Down By Law albums, the self-titled album and Blue.

JAIME PINA - In 1988 Jaime met Ed and Dave who then asked him to come over and jam with them for about a week and a half before telling him he was in the band. Jaime's the huge KISS fan and the influence it has had on his playing style shines on the early records and singles. Over the years the Chems recorded numerous KISS covers, with Jaime singing on all of them except "Shock Me" (which by the way was Dave). Then, prior to the release of the Chem's self-titled album in 1992 Jaime left. During his departure he released a solo album on 1+2 Records entitled 'Bad Latino' in which he sang and played guitar, while Dave played drums. Jaime returned to the Chemical People in 1998 playing 2nd guitar. More recently, Jaime and Greg Cameron can be seen in the band Punk Rock Vatos in and around Los Angeles.

GREG CAMERON - Greg hasn't played on any studio albums, but he has been playing with the band during live shows for the last couple years. 'Arpeggio Motorcade' was recorded well before its actual release in August 1997, and that's why Dave Landry is credited on the album, and not Greg. Before joining the Chemical People, Greg was in October Faction with Chuck Dukowski from Black Flag, and SWA with Chuck and Greg Ginn, both bands on SST Records. Immediately before Chemical People, Greg was a member of the L.A. based band, Canetree. Greg has known the Chems since their first year and has been friends with Dave Naz ever since, even being asked to join the band on a couple of prior occasions.

DAVE NAZ - When I think of Chemical People I always picture Dave playing the drums and singing. He's a great drummer and a great singer so only natural that he do both right? Well... if I had to guess I would say Dave played the drums for all those years more because of necessity than desire since Ed was a great bassist and Jaime an excellent guitarist. On their first single, Dave played bass on one song and guitar on another while Blair did the vocals and Brian Corrigan played the drums. Then on their first album 'So Sexist!', Dave played guitar and lead guitar on some of the tracks. While more recently, Dave played guitar along with Ed on the self-titled album and 'Arpeggio Motorcade', while Dave Landry played the drums. The Chemical People have had three different drummers over the years, not including Dave. This all could possibly indicate Dave's desire not to be behind the drum kit... but what it indicates for sure is that Dave is not only the drummer and vocalist I always picture, but also a great guitarist. My point? Dave does it all.

FORMER MEMBERS


BLAIR JOBE - Blair played guitar and sang for the Chems on their first two releases, the 7-inch single 'Good, the Bad, and the Ugly', and the album 'So Sexist!'. Blair was a great song writer and 'So Sexist' is definitely one of the best albums because of it. Today, Blair is a doctor living in Nebraska.

DAVE LANDRY - Dave was the drummer on 'Arpeggio Motorcade'. I don't know much about him except he now plays disco music and he's a great drummer.

From the official CP page at http://www.chemicalpeople.com/ Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.