5 Cent Deposit formed in Los Angeles in 1984 with Jimmy Shafer on vocals, Dave Handy on guitar, Randy Bradbury on bass, and John Freese on drums. They put out their debut album 'America' in 1988, which included the title track that became their biggest song. The band's sound pulled from rock, punk, and new wave, with lyrics that often touched on social themes.
Their lineup shifted a few times after that first album. Dave Handy left in 1990 and was replaced by Mike Campbell on guitar. John Freese departed in 1992, with Rick Daniels taking over on drums. Shafer and Bradbury stayed through those changes. They released a few more records in the early '90s, like 'Between Two Worlds' and 'Love and Chaos'.
Songs like 'Bird On A Wire,' 'Blu,' and 'Falls Apart' show the band's range from straightforward rock to more textured material. They never broke through to massive mainstream success, but they built a following with their energetic style and direct approach to songwriting.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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