Since forming in 1992, P.O.D. have developed an enormous national following through relentless touring and performances with many well-known bands. All of this, along with selling over 30,000 units INDEPENDENTLY of their
"Brown" CD, caught the attention of numerous major labels and ultimately landed them a deal with Atlantic Records (August '98).
The story of P.O.D. turned its first page when Marcos and Wuv were introduced by a friend who, taking matters in hand, suggested, "Hey, you guys should jam."
"The next thing you know, Marcos and I were practicing in my parents living room," says Wuv, whod learned to play drums along with Cheap Trick, AC/DC, and the first Cars album.
"From there, we started playing a lot of house parties in the neighborhood." Sonny, who would dutifully attend these early gigs to help keep his cousin Wuv out of trouble, took it all in and was moved by the excitement the band could generate. At the same time, Sonny was struggling to cope with the loss of his mother to cancer. The only thing that seemed to see him through was the support of family.
"I wanted to get Sonny involved with the band to get his mind off what was going on," says Wuv. "Where were from, its so easy to get caught up in everything our friends are doing getting high and just hanging with the fellas. I just said, Hey dude, why dont you come join the band. He was doing some hip-hop stuff with our friends and he was tight. So we started off trying to incorporate his skills into what Marcus and I were doing."
Somethings Going On Here
By 1992, Payable On Death had finally taken shape and the band went to work in earnest while booking themselves into any hall that would have them. The bands first show found them opening a local show with Face To Face, followed by a New Years Eve gig opening for Green Day.
"I still remember when Wuv said to me, Yeah, my cousins in a rap group," recalls Marcos, reflecting on the bands earliest moments. "I was like, Dude, Sonny never talks to anybody in the first place how does he get in front of an audience? Its was true. Our first show with Sonny was kind of like a scene from The Doors. Sonny had his back turned to the crowd the whole time. It was hilarious."
As the bands presence on stage grew more dynamic and Sonny found his confidence, the P.O.D audience expanded from a Southtown crew to a wider regional following. Soon the group was opening local shows for the likes of Cypress Hill, HR, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Pennywise, and the Vandals.
Within the space of a year, the group was up and ready to get into the studio. Taking cues from their numerous D.I.Y. heroes, the band struck their claim for independence and began formulating plans to launch their own label. Rescue Records to the rescue. The self-financed start-up served as the label home to the groups first three independent releases, beginning in 1993.
That same year, the bands line-up was solidified with the arrival of bassist Tra_. His formal entrance into the P.O.D. arena came on the eve of a show at the Whisky in Los Angeles. The band was in desperate search for the right four-stringer to see them through.
"My dad suggested we give Tra_ a call," remembers Wuv. "He was playing, at the time, in my uncles funk band. We werent trying to steal him but when Tra_ played with us, it was just dope."
"It was more of a spiritual thing than anything," says Tra_, a Cleveland native who grew up on the sounds of James Brown, George Benson, and Larry Graham. "It was right. Playing with these guys allowed me to expand into playing a whole new kind of music."
Earlier this year the quartet renewed their relationship with Tooth & Nail with the release of their "THE WARRIORS" EP. Originally designed as pre-production demos for "FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF SOUTHTOWN," the seven-track disc includes early versions of "Southtown" and "Follow Me" heard here as an instrumental called "Sabbath."
Tribal Warriors
Today, the road-hungry P.O.D. average more than 150 shows a year playing primarily for all-ages audiences. With gigs often promoted by young fans, grass roots bookings have led to P.O.D. tour stops at alternate venues in small towns and suburbs across the States. Over the course of eight years and numerous national tours, theyve headlined skate parks, county parks, coffeehouses, colleges, and local youth centers, setting up their gear on driveways, flatbeds, beaches, and in gymnasiums.
"We could play in an abandoned building and somehow the kids would find out about it and be there," says Sonny with a laugh.
Such is the bands connection to their fans that often times, the performance accounts for only part of any shows events. After a set, it is not uncommon to find all four members of P.O.D. drawn into long conversations with kids that just want to talk, whether its about music, school, parents, anything. As far as the guys are concerned, such interaction is as inherent to the bands purpose as the music itself.
"Ill spend hours talking after a show," says Sonny. "Thats what this band is about -- were just honored to have that kind of opportunity to connect with young people, yknow."
"The style of music we play its an important part of life for a lot of kids," says Wuv. "The way they feel this music, thats the way theyre living life hardcore. Its there in the way they dress, the way they do everything. Its not about some fad they run in and out of."
That dedication to the band has led to the creation of the P.O.D. Warriors crew, a loosely affiliated team made up of dozens of fans from across the country who take an active roll in putting out the word on the band and in locally promoting their concerts. The Warriors are connected via the bands website and an active subscribers e-mail list.
Taking It On The Positive Side
As they have from day one, P.O.D. thrives within an atmosphere of common love and respect, emboldened by individual spiritual convictions. For each member of P.O.D., their distinctly individual steps towards faith began well outside Sunday School and not until their later teens.
"My dad was one of the biggest drug dealers in South San Diego," says Wuv, recounting his own experience. "He was living in the streets for three years before God actually touched his heart. After that, he would bring me to church and I started to see God change my dads life. I was like, Dude, this is a trip. Also, God totally restored my parents marriage. They both had it hard. I saw it all growing up but I also saw a real God change my family and bring them back together. That made an impact on my life. I wanted to do good because I saw what God did in my family. And God used my dad to get Sonnys mom reading the Bible. She gave her life to God and started being an example to Sonny."
"When my mom passed away, thats when I made the decision to start straightening out my life," says Sonny.
"A lot of people, who know where were coming from on the spiritual side, will be watching us to see what we do even to if its something ridiculous like finding out if we smoke cigarettes or whatever," says Wuv. "I tell those people, Dont be watching me because Ill disappoint you over and over. Ill be stumbling all over the place. Im never gonna be perfect. Im gonna do things bad all the time. Still, you live your life and have a relationship with God while just trying to have a positive effect on the people around you."
P.O.D.'s mission is characterized by passion, dedication and hard work They are deeply committed to delivering groundbreaking music with a message for the people. |