1999 BIO
--------

BOBBY STEELE MAKES NO APOLOGIES. HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND MAKES
THE KIND OF MUSIC HE WANTS TO MAKE, REGARDLESS OF THE EVER-CHANGING
TRENDS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. NO ONE CAN CALL HIM A QUITTER, AND THAT'S
AN ADMIRABLE TRAIT IN TODAY'S FICKLE SOCIETY. STEELE'S GUITAR-DRIVEN ROCK
COUPLED WITH WITTY LYRICS AND HOOKS HAVE KEPT THE FANS AND FIENDS COMING
BACK FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES, AND THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT. MAKE NO MISTAKE
ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH THE UNDEAD MAY HAVE INFLUENCES RANGING FROM THE NEW
YORK DOLLS TO THE BEATLES TO 50'S DOO-WOP, THERE'S A DEFINITE AIR OF PUNK
ROCK TO IT THAT YOU JUST CAN'T HELP BUT INHALE. CHRIST, STEELE EVEN PUKED
ON JOHN LENNON. 

The Undead formed in October 1980 under the moniker The Skabs. Bobby
Steele had recently split from the Misfits, the legendary New Jersey punk
outfit fronted by Glenn Danzig. Wanting to continue writing and producing
music, he allied himself with bassist Chris Natz (later of Cop Shoot Cop)
and drummer Rich Matalian, and a band was born. After co-founding member
Rich decided he wanted out a month later, the band landed a new drummer
and name: The Undead. Fronted by Bobby Steele, the original line-up
featured Patrick Blanck on drums and Natz on bass. The first Undead gig
took place in January 1981, and by '82 the band had a deal to cut a
single for Stiff Records. The first Undead 7", Nine Toes Later, was
released to the boiling music subculture that was New York City in 1983.
The single sold well, and when Stiff folded in early '83, Bobby decided
that he would re-release the single on his own label, Post Mortem
Records. 
 The Undead went through various line-up changes throughout the 80's, but
one element remained the same: Bobby Steele was not willing to compromise
his vision, no matter the cost. In 1984 Bobby began pre-production work
on the now-classic LP Act Your Rage!, which featured a variety of
musicians, including drummer Steve Zing (who later left the Undead to
join Samhain). An unprecedented independent success, Act Your Rage! would
sell more than 14,000 copies by the time the smoke cleared. The Undead
received more fresh blood in 1990 when Rich Presley (the Numbskulls) and
Steve Sloppy (Sloppy Seconds) joined the band just three days before a
West coast tour was scheduled to begin. Unfortunately the line-up didn't
last, and Steele began touring with the Fiendz (Black Pumpkin Records) as
his back-up band. When a dispute over money left Bobby unable to work
with the Fiendz, he returned to New York to concentrate on writing new
material. 
 The early 90's saw the release of three new Undead singles and a new
live LP, Live Slayer. By 1996 Bobby had recruited the Migraines (Onefoot
Records) as his new backing band, and they briefly toured until trouble
forced the Migraines to temporarily disband. In 1997, Bobby affiliated
with the Independents, and the two bands successfully toured the East
coast together. Finally, in early '98, an album deal was struck with
Canadian label Underworld Records, and production work began on what
would be the first Undead studio LP in 10 years. 'Til Death! was released
in Canada through Underworld/Post Mortem Records on April 24, 1998. Due
to poor promotion by Underworld and the subsequent disagreement that
followed, Steele was left with only a few copies to distribute through
his own label in America, and his relationship with Underworld Records
ended. 
 Another blow was delivered when the Independents informed Bobby that
they would not be able to back him on his upcoming tour, leaving two
options: cancel the shows, or find another group. Steele found that group
in Knoxville, TN. The Malignmen - a rough 80's style punk quartet - were
anxious to tour and offered to back Steele on his upcoming gigs in
exchange for the opening slot on the bills. The Undead and the Malignmen
toured together for much of '98 and released a split 7", Live On Arrival,
on Post Mortem/Plague Records. In late 1999 Malignmen founder/guitarist
Jaw left his band to pursue other musical interests . . . and ended up on
the drummer's throne with the Undead. A new bassist was also recruited,
Bryce Bernius, a Florida native formerly of Enemy of God and Madcap. Y2K
marks the 20th anniversary of the Undead, and with this new line-up Bobby
has many plans in store to satisfy the loyal Undead fan base and solidify
the future of the Undead well into the next millennium! Bobby Steele has
never compromised his integrity for anyone, and at times it may have cost
him a lot, but every success and failure he's had with the Undead have
been on his terms. No one else's.