Marshall and Velasco formed a band called The Phlegmatics and released Alumnus (2006), Billy the Starfighter Pilot Vs. the Phlegmatics (2006), and Life Is Better With a Soundtrack (2013). Hart released the solo albums Human Liturgy (2006), Living Creatures Project (2010), and Fantastical Amazingly Jesus Christmas (2016). Hart also published…
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Since that time, the band have endured a lot of setbacks (such as a flooded recording studio) and pursued various side projects (such as raising families, session work, multimedia projects, Hart’s role as worship leader and pastor at a Houston area church, and managing Hart’s label Feverdream Records). After adding…
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Due to the strength of Penguin Dust , Metal Blade Records quickly signed the band to a long-term deal. Crabb became a full-time member, with longtime Hart friends John Simmons and Ryan Birsinger also rounding out the lineup. While working on new material, Hart compiled the album Alpha and Oranges…
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The band’s label Collision Arts ceased operations, and Atomic Opera found itself without a home, and released their next two albums without a supporting label. After struggling to gain mainstream popularity, the band broke up in 1995 and parted ways with Taylor. Hart continued to write music and decided to…
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In 1994, after Derek Shulman , president of Collision Arts (a subsidiary of Giant Records ) saw the band play live at Zelda’s in Houston, he signed them on the spot. Soon, they released their first full album, For Madmen Only . During this time, the band toured with such…
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In September 1992, Sonnier quit the band, and was replaced on bass by his good friend and bass tech, Jonas Velasco.
In December 1991, Atomic Opera went into Rampart recording studio with producer Sam Taylor, and Engineer Steve Ames to record a demo consisting of the songs “For Madmen Only”, “Daze of Love In Grey”, “The Meaningless Word” and “everdream”. They recorded more demos at Rampart in 1992.
Formed in September 1991, the band began when founding member Frank Hart moved from Missouri and joined forces with producer/manager Sam Taylor. The lineup consisting of Frank, Jonathan Marshall, Mark Poindexter, and Len Sonnier (brother of Dane Sonnier of the Galactic Cowboys ), was fleshed out with a few different…
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