Bionic Jive

Bionic Jive is an American rap metal band founded in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1998.
Overview
McGregor and Elyea founded the band in early 1998 by recruiting Gartner and Robbins, vocalist Derrick Burrows and multi-instrumentalist Chris Elsner “TG1”. This original “funk metal” incarnation of Bionic Jive gigged heavily on the Phoenix-area scene before disbanding shortly after the 1999 release of independent debut disc The Six-Billion Dollar Band.
A second Bionic Jive lineup soon coalesced in 2000 around Elyea, Gartner and Elsner (who had moved to drums), with the addition of vocalists Mack and McVay. The band signed to interscope records and released Armageddon Through Your Speaker in October 2001.
The band subsequently hit the road, including short outing with Kottonmouth Kings and several weeks in 2001 supporting D12. Bionic Jive landed a prestigious spot in 2002 on Eminem’s nationwide Anger Management Tour, and the group organized self-financed national club tours in 2002 and 2003.
Single “Ricochet” from Armageddon Through Your Speaker appeared in commercials for 2002 film The Transporter, although the song did not appear in the film itself. Bionic Jive music was also heard in the movies Resident Evil (2002) and The Italian Job (2003). Also during this period, the band achieved some airplay, shot music videos for ATYS songs “Pump” and “I Shot Lucifer,” and had music featured in the video games Postal and ATV Quad Power Racing 2.
Success notwithstanding, however, Bionic Jive was weakened by internal struggles and external pressures, and Elyea and Elsner left the band in 2003. Little happened in the ensuing period, although Armageddon Unrealeased, a collection of early demos, remixes and material that didn’t make it onto ATYS, saw limited release in 2004.
While rumors of the group’s demise circulated, Bionic Jive struggled to replace Elyea and Elsner. Gartner contacted original guitarist McGregor and original drummer Robbins in 2004 about material for a new Bionic Jive album, originally intending to write with them but to actually perform with a different lineup. The writing team’s renewed chemistry produced strong material, and resulted in McGregor and Robbins officially rejoining Gartner, Mack and McVay in yet another Bionic Jive lineup.
On its own website, Bionic Jive reassured fans in 2005 that the group was indeed alive and well and announced that work was under way on a new album. Recording at former guitarist Elyea’s Mind's Eye Digital Recording Studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, the group achieved a much heavier/focused rapcore sound than any previous incarnation of the band. The resulting disc, Passion Over Politics, was released in 2008.
In May 2012, Bionic Jive finished its first E.P. with its current line up, entitled E.G.O.
Current members
*Emerg McVay (Mark Moore) - vocals
*Ako Mack (Asayanda Mack) - vocals
*Cunni (Richard Gartner) - bass
*Raymundo Rascon - drums
Former members
*Derrik Burrows -vocals/piano/keyboards
*Larry Luv (Larry Elyea) - guitar
*Stony T (Anthony McLain) - guitar
*Michael McGregor - guitar
*Porkchop (Matt Ward) - guitar
*KRLLL (James Brown) - guitar
*Rafe Sweet - guitar (deceased 2016)
*TGI (Chris Elsner) - drums/saxophone/turntables
*Clancy McCarthy - drums
*George Robbins - drums
*Cooter (Chris Carlson) - drums
Discography
*Armageddon Through Your Speakers (2001)
*Passion Over Politics (2008)
*E.G.O. (2012)

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