Censored started in early 2000 and was quite unlike what it is today. Michael had just been in a band called "Hey That's My Bike!" but was kicked out when he wanted to change the name. Joe and Michael became friends in English class and decided to try to start a band. Joe planned on getting a bass guitar soon, and they began to meet outside of school. Once Joe got his bass pack, Michael and Joe began playing music on a regular basis and Michael helped Joe learn by showing Joe what he knew from playing guitar. Joe was quick to learn and they soon began to compose songs together, most of the earlier songs being influenced by bands like Green Day and Operation Ivy, as were their musical influences at the time. Out of hours spent improvising music, the bands oldest song that is still played is also their first ska song, titled simply "Skankin’ Ska Song". Out of a slew of songs many were thrown out and combined together with others, leaving the two with a smaller amount of much better songs. During this whole time, Joe and Michael had been in search of a drummer who would not only be a good musician, but a good friend. After months of searching, Joe met Joey at school in their freshman year. They began practicing as often as possible, working around Joey's schedule in the school band. The band performed their first shows at birthday parties and Dreamworld music complex. For a while the band was a little stuck, Joey still getting accustomed to confidence in performing, Joe trying to maintain vocals with his quick bass riffs, and Michael trying to become more active on stage. During these times, Joe was getting into trouble, and/or just getting grounded by his parents frequently. The band managed to get together whenever they could, but things were moving slowly. Eventually, after Joe returned from being a runaway for a little over a month the band decided they could use a separate vocalist. Since they were a band of good friends, they wanted a vocalist who they had already known and been friends with for some time, this made the process more difficult. One of the people who tried for a quick time was their friend Stephen. It didn't quite work out, because he did not live very close and they never got to hear him sing. In Joe's junior year of high school, he made friends with some skaters. He showed them music they hadn't heard from time to time. Two of which, Travis and Trey liked ska-core. Trey had an old trumpet he used to play, and it was decided he could play with them whenever they saw it necessary to have horn. Then Travis volunteered to sing for them when they needed it. Practices became more regular again, and as new songs were written they replaced older songs that were thought to need some tweaking. Travis caught on to what they needed vocally, and fell right into place as the vocalist for the band. Since 2001 the band's sound had grown steadily more solid, and by the time they had all their current members, they were a well oiled machine. Shows became more frequent than ever, and at more venues then ever. These times included the bands first paying shows and first merchandise. Money was collected to make pre-orders of Censored shirts, designed by Michael for the song “Too Hot”, and a live recording of one of their Dreamworld shows was sold on CD’s for a small price. The band has been raising money, and putting it away towards the recording and release of their first full length CD. Censored hopes to release the CD by summer of 2004. Expect much more from the band in time to come! (Last updated in spring of 2004)

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