| Officer Negative | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Ventura |
| Genre: | Punk, Christian punk, metalcore (later) |
| Years Active: | 1995–2004, 2024-present |
| Label: | Screaming Giant, Something Sacred, Solid State |
| Associated Acts: | Akeldama, Zippy Josh & the Rag Tag Band, The Death Campaign |
| Current Members: | Chad Wiggins Daniel Osborn Ryan Horner Shawn Cothran |
| Past Members: | Chad Wiggins Michael Dragon Chris Sahagun Josh Handley (Zippy Josh) Taylor Allender Casey Wisenbaker Daniel Osborn Todd Wisenbaker Joey Buli Roger Bell Mark Popovich Andi Lockwood Amber Reeves |
Officer Negative is a Christian punk band from Ventura, California, United States. Formed in 1995 and initially disbanded in 2000, the band released two albums and an EP on Screaming Giant Records. They played "old-school" hardcore punk, and though their music never appeared in a polished form, it was said to "never hold back the passion."[1]
Following a period of reformation the band reappeared as "The Death Campaign" and toured until 2004, when the group split once again.
In 2024, the band announced that they were reforming with a new lineup, and were in the process of writing a new record.
Their first album, Dead to the World (1997), drew influence from 80s/90s street punk and hardcore. It has been described as "angry punk" and likened to acts like Rancid, Black Flag,[2] and Minor Threat.
Their second release, Zombie Nation (1999), was mired in difficulties with their label. Its sound deviated from the band's hoped sound - to the point where its members would call it "not a true representation of the band."[3] Also, several tracks were cut from the release; two were released the next year as a split EP with Lugnut. The third, called "Failure to Submit", was described by Chad Wiggins as "by far, one of the best songs we have ever written."[3] It was this release which garnered the most attention for the band. The release included the album Live at the Roxy. Together, with the future of the band uncertain at best, HM Magazine referred to this release as the band's "swan song."[1]
In late 1999 the departure of bassist Casey Wisenbaker, along with the band's issues with Zombie, led to the dissolution of the band.
With the return of Wisenbaker in 2000, the band reformed with new members taking guitar and drums. Vocalist Chad Wiggins saw the reformation of the band as an opportunity to refocus the band on ministry.[4] With this lineup they toured until about 2002, releasing an EP and an album. Their 2002 EP Control is an Illusion marked a notable shift towards a new symphonic death metal-based sound, leaving behind much of their original punk influence.[5]
The band rebranded themselves as The Death Campaign, eventually signing to Solid State Records and recording the full-length album which was later released as Officer Negative Presents The Death Campaign in 2004.
In the summer of 2003, before the release of the album, the band asked lead vocalist Chad Wiggins to leave, intending for Casey Wisenbaker to take vocals, and hiring bass player Mark Popovich from an Officer Negative side project, the death metal band Akeldama.[6] Within three months of Wiggins' departure, the band broke up.
Before the release of Zombie Nation, guitarist Josh Handley formed Zippy Josh and the Rag Tag Band, and released one album, Stupidville, in 1999. The album was essentially praise and worship music, and was described as "the Sex Pistols meet Bob Dylan."[7] Allender and Wisenbaker joined a hardcore band called Hit the Deck, while Wisenbaker, Osborn, and Buli continued to work with Akeldama. Michael Dragon briefly pursued a career in professional skateboarding.[8]
In July of 2024, the band announced that they were reforming, with a new lineup, and were in the process of writing a new record.[9] They are slated to perform their first show with this new lineup at JCHC Fest 2024.
Studio albums
Splits and EPs
Live albums
Current line-up
Former members
Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:EP value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release id:bars value:gray(0.95)
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottomBackgroundColors=bars:barsScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1996 LineData = layer:back at:09/01/1997 color:Studio at:01/01/1999 color:Studio at:09/01/1999 color:EP at:09/01/2000 color:EP at:12/01/2000 color:EP at:01/01/2002 color:Studio at:01/01/2004 color:Studio
BarData = bar:Chad text:"Chad Wiggins" bar:Josh text:"Josh Handley" bar:ChrisS text:"Chris Sahagan" bar:Casey text:"Casey Wisenbaker" bar:Mark text:"Mark Popovich" bar: Shawn text:"Shawn Cothran" bar:Taylor text:"Taylor Allender" bar:Todd text:"Todd Wisenbaker" bar:Joey text:"Joey Buli" bar:Roger text:"Roger Bell" bar:Mike text:"Michael Dragon" bar:Dan text:"Daniel Osborn" bar:Chris text:"Chris Zimmerman" bar:Ryan text:"Ryan Horner"
PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Chad from:01/01/1995 till:12/01/1999 color:Vocals bar:Chad from:06/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Vocals bar:Chad from:01/01/2024 till:end color:Vocals bar:Josh from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1998 color:Bass bar:Josh from:01/01/1998 till:12/01/1999 color:Guitar bar:Casey from:01/01/1998 till:12/01/1999 color:Bass bar:Casey from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2003 color:Bass bar:Casey from:01/01/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Vocals bar:ChrisS from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1997 color:Guitar bar:Mark from:01/01/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Bass bar:Taylor from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:end color:Guitar bar:Joey from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Guitar bar:Todd from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Guitar bar: Shawn from: 01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Bass bar:Roger from:06/01/2000 till:12/01/2004 color:Keys bar:Mike from:01/01/1997 till:12/01/1999 color:Drums bar:Dan from:06/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Drums bar:Dan from:01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Guitar bar:Chris from:01/02/2003 till:12/01/2004 color:Drums bar:Ryan from: 01/01/2024 till:12/30/2024 color:Drums