Since forming in 1992, P.O.D. have developed an enormous national following
through relentless touring and performances with many well-known bands
such as GREEN DAY, MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES, BAD BRAINS, KID ROCK and CYPRESS
HILL.
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).
Back in the Day
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, who’d 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 we’re from, it’s 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
don’t 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."
Something’s 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 band’s first show found them opening a local show with Face To Face, followed by a New
Year’s Eve gig opening for Green Day.
"I still remember when Wuv said to me, ‘Yeah, my cousin’s in a rap group,’" recalls Marcos, reflecting on the band’s earliest
moments. "I was like, ‘Dude, Sonny never talks to anybody in the first place – how does he get in front of an audience?’ It’s 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 band’s 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 group’s first three independent releases, beginning in 1993.
That same year, the band’s 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 uncle’s funk band. We weren’t
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 renewedtheir 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, they’ve 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 band’s connection to their fans that often times, the performance accounts for only part of any show’s 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
it’s about music, school, parents, anything. As far as the guys are concerned, such interaction is as inherent to the band’s
purpose as the music itself.
"I’ll spend hours talking after a show," says Sonny. "That’s what this band is about -- we’re just honored to have that kind of
opportunity to connect with young people, y’know."
"The style of music we play – it’s an important part of life for a lot of kids," says Wuv. "The way they feel this music, that’s the
way they’re living life – hardcore. It’s there in the way they dress, the way they do everything. It’s 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 band’s 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 dad’s life. I was like, ‘Dude, this is a trip.’ Also, God totally restored my parent’s 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 Sonny’s mom reading
the Bible. She gave her life to God and started being an example to Sonny."
"When my mom passed away, that’s when I made the decision to start straightening out my life," says Sonny.
"A lot of people, who know where we’re 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, ‘Don’t be watching me
because I’ll disappoint you over and over. I’ll be stumbling all over the place.’ I’m never gonna be perfect. I’m 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.
