Capitol Offense (band)
Encyclopedia
Capitol Offense is an American rock band
. It is most notable for its bassist, Mike Huckabee
, who is the former Governor of Arkansas and former 2008 Republican candidate for President of the United States
.
by newly-elected governor Mike Huckabee and members of his executive staff: Chris Pyle (drums); DeWayne Hayes (lead guitar); and Mike Perkins (vocals), who all enjoyed classic rock
. They drew their name from the fact that all of them work in the Capitol building
, and because according to Huckabee, "in the course of our playing, we offend just about everybody." The band's first performance was at a Governor's staff Christmas party in 1996, where their setlist consisted of Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music," Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," and the Beatles' "Come Together." Thereafter, the band would often play at Governor's staff events. In 1999, the band gave a performance in the Governor's Conference Room, during a bill-signing ceremony in honor of Arkansas
native Johnny Cash
. The band was also a regular guest at the annual Hope Watermelon Festival in Huckabee's hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Huckabee, the front man and by far the most famous member of the band, was drawn to music from very early on in his life. He has played guitar since he was a child and states unequivocally that "music was life changing for me."
inaugural balls put on by the Free Republic
in both 2001 and 2005. In recent years Capitol Offense has honed their sound to such an extent that they have opened for several high profile artists, including The Charlie Daniels Band, Dionne Warwick, REO Speedwagon
, Willie Nelson
, Percy Sledge
, .38 Special
, and Grand Funk Railroad
. During 2007, front man Huckabee took his musical act on the presidential stump with him, performing numerous times without Capitol Offense during his campaign in Iowa
. At one stop, backed by two record store employees, he covered a Chuck Berry
song, before answering questions from the crowd at the store.
During Huckabee's 2008 campaign, Boston
's guitarist and songwriter Tom Scholz
wrote to Huckabee, requesting him to stop performing the Boston song More than a Feeling
at public appearances. Huckabee was reported to have been regularly playing the song, sometimes with former Boston band member Barry Goudreau.
that plays a mix of classic rock
, Motown, country
and blues
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. It is most notable for its bassist, Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
, who is the former Governor of Arkansas and former 2008 Republican candidate for President of the United States
Mike Huckabee presidential campaign, 2008
Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination for the 2008 presidential election in the United States on January 28, 2007...
.
Early years (1996-2000)
The band was formed in July 19961996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
by newly-elected governor Mike Huckabee and members of his executive staff: Chris Pyle (drums); DeWayne Hayes (lead guitar); and Mike Perkins (vocals), who all enjoyed classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
. They drew their name from the fact that all of them work in the Capitol building
Arkansas State Capitol
The Arkansas State Capitol Building, located in Little Rock, is the main house of government of the state of Arkansas.-History:In 1899, the St. Louis architect George R. Mann visited the governor of Arkansas Daniel W. Jones, and presented his drawings of his winning competition design for the...
, and because according to Huckabee, "in the course of our playing, we offend just about everybody." The band's first performance was at a Governor's staff Christmas party in 1996, where their setlist consisted of Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music," Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," and the Beatles' "Come Together." Thereafter, the band would often play at Governor's staff events. In 1999, the band gave a performance in the Governor's Conference Room, during a bill-signing ceremony in honor of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
native Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
. The band was also a regular guest at the annual Hope Watermelon Festival in Huckabee's hometown of Hope, Arkansas.
Huckabee, the front man and by far the most famous member of the band, was drawn to music from very early on in his life. He has played guitar since he was a child and states unequivocally that "music was life changing for me."
Recent times (2001-present)
Huckabee's band played at WashingtonWashington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
inaugural balls put on by the Free Republic
Free Republic
Free Republic is a moderated Internet forum for activists, and chat site for self-described conservatives, primarily within the United States. It presents articles and comments posted pseudonymously by registered members, known as "Freepers", using screen names...
in both 2001 and 2005. In recent years Capitol Offense has honed their sound to such an extent that they have opened for several high profile artists, including The Charlie Daniels Band, Dionne Warwick, REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
, .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
, and Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
. During 2007, front man Huckabee took his musical act on the presidential stump with him, performing numerous times without Capitol Offense during his campaign in Iowa
Mike Huckabee presidential campaign, 2008
Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination for the 2008 presidential election in the United States on January 28, 2007...
. At one stop, backed by two record store employees, he covered a Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
song, before answering questions from the crowd at the store.
During Huckabee's 2008 campaign, Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
's guitarist and songwriter Tom Scholz
Tom Scholz
Donald Thomas "Tom" Scholz is an American rock musician, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, inventor, and mechanical engineer, best known as the founder of the hard rock band Boston. He is also the inventor of the Rockman guitar amplifier...
wrote to Huckabee, requesting him to stop performing the Boston song More than a Feeling
More Than a Feeling
"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the rock band Boston, released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin'" on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100...
at public appearances. Huckabee was reported to have been regularly playing the song, sometimes with former Boston band member Barry Goudreau.
Style
Capitol Offense is a cover bandCover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
that plays a mix of classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, Motown, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
.
Lineup
Capitol Offense's lineup is as follows:- Mike HuckabeeMike HuckabeeMichael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
- bass - Chris Pyle - drums
- DeWayne Hayes - lead guitar (1996–2003)
- Mike Perkins - vocals (1996)
- Grant Tennille - vocals (1997–1999)
- Rick Calhoun - guitar, vocals
- Aaron Black - vocals
- Steve Pyle - vocals
- Teri Cox - vocals
- Marynell Branch - keyboard
- Gordon Caffey - lead guitar, vocals