History
United Nations was started by Geoff Rickly, the vocalist/lyricist of the band Thursday. Other artists involved in the project possibly include Daryl Palumbo, vocalist of Glassjaw and Head Automatica, and Ben Koller, drummer for Converge. However, all members except for Rickly are under contracts with other record labels and are not legally permitted to work in projects released by another label, making it difficult for the official lineup to be well known. Since Rickly is the only member whose primary band is currently not under contract, his name is the only one that can legally appear in press materials. Press photos of the band released in 2008 depict four people wearing Ronald Reagan masks.
The idea of this side project can be traced back to the early 2000s, but it was not until 2008 that United Nations took shape. In 2008 the band recorded enough material for two studio albums, two extended plays, and one parody album that would be released at some point. The band is uncertain if these will be the only releases by the band, or if the band will regroup to record more songs.
United Nations released their self-titled debut on September 9, 2008 through Eyeball Records. The band was ready to release the album with essentially the same photo cover for the iconic cover of The Beatles' Abbey Road, with the exception of The Beatles engulfed in flames and walking to the left rather than the right. When stores began refusing to sell the album, pressing was halted with 1,000 albums already made. These were sold exclusively through the Eyeball Records webstore, and it was later released with a different cover. The album received minor success and while it didn't chart on the Billboard 200, it did chart at number 44 on the Billboard Independent Albums and number 14 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers. The vinyl pressing of the album (also limited to 1,000 copies) was intended to include a Kidz Bop version of their self-titled album, titled United Nations Plays Pretty For A Bunch Of Fucking Babies. However recordings of this album were lost and had to be rerecorded for a later release.
The future releases already recorded from the band include a 7" EP on to be Deathwish Inc. titled Never Mind the Bombings, Here's Your Six Figures, which may potentially face similar copyright issues due to the title and cover's parodying of the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. Also a 10" vinyl EP titled Music For Interchanging Parts to be released on Temporary Residence which features one song in many parts, and a second studio album titled Dark Side Of The UN have already been recorded and await a release.
United Nations played their first show on January 20, 2009, the day of Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. They played alongside Anti-Flag, Darkest Hour, Ruiner, and The A.K.A.s in Washington DC.
Exactly 4 years after their first show, United Nations will perform live on January 20, 2013 in Washington DC with Old Lines and Black Clouds.
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