Underoath members reflect on breakup, legacy, more during 'Tired Violence' Q&A
Last Thursday, April 30, at a theater in Florida, Underoath's Chris Dudley, Tim McTague, Grant Brandell and James Smith sat down with the BadChristian guys for a special Q&A session, which followed a private screening of their farewell DVD, Tired Violence. The open hearing had its lighter, comical moments, of course, but it also had its serious, more darker parts (which may seem odd coming from the Emery guys). Ultimately, it was a great way for those still mourning over Underoath's breakup to receive some closure.
Read more: Christian band or not, Aaron Gillespie would “100 percent” do an Underoath reunion
A fan kicked off the session a question regarding who Underoath would pass their torch to in the scene today. Obviously, due to UO's mentality, answering this proved difficult for them. As a whole, the band simply don't believe what they did deserves the praise they are still receiving today, two years after their breakup. Among a handful of other thoughts, Timmy offered a few brief words that fit UO's mold pristinely, “You [just] don't realize the fruits of your labor.”
Having personally spoken with various members of Underoath in the past, I've felt that they have a tendency to downplay the impact they had on music with their unwavering humbleness. With this short response from Timmy, however, it's more clear as to the aspect of which they are coming from. Underoath know what they did was special, but they're going to be the last people to get a big ego because of it—and that's becoming more and more difficult to find in today's industry.
Other topics touched on the difference between crowds before and after drummer Aaron Gillespie was in the band, the time Grant filled in on bass for Emery, each member's favorite songs to play live, those dubstep remixes that ended up on the deluxe edition of Disambiguation and the potential for disconnect being in a Christian band on the road. You can listen to the session in full over at the BadChristian website.
Read more: Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie list their top five Underoath songs
In a recent interview with AltPress, Timmy commented on if Tired Violence was a way to officially put Underoath to rest:
Is the film a way to ultimately put the Underoath name to rest?
[Long pause.] Man, I don’t know. Personally, I don’t think Underoath will ever go to rest. Underoath was a lifestyle for us; it was our lives. I think it will always be alive in all of us and we don’t know what that looks like, per se. But I could totally see things just… being different.
So you wouldn’t be opposed to a reunion in the future?
No! Not at all. I don’t think any of us are necessarily opposed, it’s always just [up to] our schedules. None of us left the band hating it; none of us don’t like each other. If anything, we talk about how we all miss it. I think something like that is 100 percent possible. alt
Regardless of what happens to Underoath in the future, what they did throughout their time together truely was special. They transcended genres from album to album, captivating not only ears, but hearts, as well. When their last note rang out into the night in St. Petersburg, Florida, on January 26, 2013, an undeniable void formed within heavy music—a vacant area that will potentially never be filled. Despite their steadfast humbleness and self-effacing attitudes, Underoath were truly a one-of-a-kind band that made an unparalleled impact on our scene. They’re an influence that won't soon be forgotten.
