Unida
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Unida () is a stoner rock group from the United States, established in 1998. The band’s current members are Mark Sunshine, Arthur Seay, Miguel Cancino, and Collyn McCoy. Their first album, Coping with the Urban Coyote, debuted in 1999. A second album, initially named The Great Divide and later referred to as For the Working Man, was recorded in the early 2000s but has yet to be released.
Formation, Dozer split, and Coping with the Urban Coyote (1998–1999)
Following the breakup of Kyuss in 1995, former vocalist John Garcia joined Slo Burn. During this period, Garcia became acquainted with Arthur Seay and Miguel Cancino, who he regarded as outstanding musicians and songwriters. After Slo Burn dissolved in 1998, Garcia reached out to them to establish a new band.[1][2] The initial lineup consisted of Garcia on vocals, Seay handling guitar duties, Cancino on drums, and Dave Dinsmore playing bass.[3]
The band’s name, Unida—which means "united" in Spanish—was chosen to represent their Southern California origins and Hispanic background. Garcia emphasized the strong sense of community among desert musicians as a significant inspiration.[1]
One of their earliest documented performances occurred in February 1999 at Spaceland in California, where they opened for Nebula;Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name although their very first show is believed to have taken place at a New Year’s Eve party in 1998 hosted by bassist Scott Reeder in Palm Springs.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 1999, Unida appeared on a split EP released by MeteorCity alongside Swedish band Dozer, titled The Best of Wayne-Gro. That same year, they launched their debut studio album Coping with the Urban Coyote through Man's Ruin Records.[3]
Second studio album (2000–2004)
After gaining recognition from The Best of Wayne-Gro and Coping with the Urban Coyote, Unida—now featuring Scott Reeder on bass—signed with Rick Rubin's American Recordings to produce their follow-up album, reportedly titled The Great Divide. The record was produced by George Drakoulias with Rubin serving as executive producer. Production costs were around , and the album was completed by May 2001. However, prior to its release, American Recordings was acquired by Island/Def Jam, who ultimately chose not to distribute the album. Due to missed deadlines, the band terminated their contract but did not regain ownership of the recordings.
In 2002, Scott Reeder explained that despite finalized artwork and production completion, internal complications at the label caused delays that led to the album being shelved. Garcia later disclosed that American Recordings proposed selling the album rights back to them for . Unida pursued alternative distribution options, securing interest from Sony Europe for a European release while seeking an independent label for North America. The tracklist comprising 13 songs was made public in April 2002. During tours, the band circulated rough-cut CD-R copies; however, some unauthorized versions were distributed by management.
In March 2003, Reeder left the group citing frustrations unrelated to his Metallica audition. Paul Gray from Slipknot briefly filled in as touring bassist for a West Coast US tour before Eddie Plascencia assumed bass duties. Later that year, Unida went on hiatus as members engaged in other projects such as Hermano (Garcia) and House of Broken Promises (Seay, Cancino, Plascencia).
Unida’s song "Black Woman" was featured in the 2003 skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground. In 2004, they contributed "Left Us to Mold" to High Times’ compilation High Volume: The Stoner Rock Collection, alongside prominent acts like Clutch and Monster Magnet.
Reunions (2008; 2012–2014; 2022–present)
Unida came together again in February 2008 for a performance alongside Mondo Generator. The band officially regrouped in 2012, delivering their first fresh live appearance that August. They subsequently headlined London's Desertfest Festival and Melbourne's Cherry Rock Festival in 2013, sharing the stage as co-headliners with Sweden's Truckfighters.
The 2012 lineup featured the return of Garcia, Seay, and Cancino, with Owen Seay—Arthur Seay’s nephew—joining on bass. Arthur characterized Owen’s inclusion as bringing "a young hungry dude with no baggage," aligning with the band’s positive familial atmosphere and signaling a new beginning.
During a 2013 interview with HEAVY Magazine, Garcia depicted the band as being in a "permanent idling position," suggesting sporadic activity fueled by enthusiasm rather than continuous productivity. By that time, their long-postponed album from 2001 had been titled For the Working Man. In 2017, Arthur Seay voiced optimism about securing a "proper release" for the album through major label support to expand its reach and bolster other endeavors.
To commemorate milestones of their early work, Unida reunited once more in 2022 for a European tour that included a performance at Desertfest in Antwerp. This iteration marked the first without Garcia on vocals, replaced by Mark Sunshine from Riotgod, and introduced Collyn McCoy (Ultra Electric Mega Galactic) on bass. The band clarified that Garcia "will not be singing but gives us his blessing" and continues to be part of the collective.
Band members
Current members
- Mark Sunshine – vocals (2022–Present)
- Arthur Seay – guitars (1997–Present)
- Collyn McCoy – bass (2022–Present)
- Miguel Cancino – drums (1997–Present)
Former members
- John Garcia – vocals (1997–2014)
- Dave Dinsmore – bass (1998–2000)
- Scott Reeder – bass (1999–2003)
- Eddie Plascencia – bass (2000–2004, 2008)
- Jerry Montano – bass (2003)
Former live members
- Paul Gray – bass (2003)
Studio albums
- Coping with the Urban Coyote (1999)
EPs
- Unida/Dozer (1999)