May 1, 2000 – Unified Theory consist of lead singer/guitarist Chris Shinn; ex-Blind Melon members guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith; and Dave Krusen, Pearl Jam's drummer on their Ten debut album. The Unified Theory album – produced by Thorn, Shinn and Smith and mixed by David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Tool, Remy Zero) – will be released August 15 on the 3:33 Music Group label (distributed by Universal).

From the alt-aggro groove of the album's upcoming first single "California," to the expansive, dreamy notes of "Cessna," to the Middle Eastern mellowness of "Passive" to the lovely, lilting and surreal "Keep On," Unified Theory have created a sound and album with ethereal grooves and dynamics.

"We miss that there's so few bands anymore that when you leave their concert you feel as if you've been to church or had a spiritual experience; where the music and vibe changed your life," explains vocalist Chris Shinn of Unified Theory's M.O. "We want the audience to feel like they're sharing a moment with the band. And we wanted the record to be something you want to listen to with headphones."

In Unified Theory, Christopher Thorn reinvents himself as a musician. "This is not a continuation of Blind Melon," he says. "I'm inspired by different things now. On this record, there's slide guitar, piano and strings. I'll play any instrument that makes sense with the song. It helps to be creative on a different instrument, one you're not as competent on, because it's more of a challenge and you think differently," he observes.

His longtime friend and bandmate Smith, who, since the demise of Blind Melon, had been busy producing other bands and working on his now-completed solo LP, concurs. "When we first met Chris [Shinn], it was too easy, too good, too passionate; there was no denying it. It felt fun for the first time in a long time. Sometimes you're paralyzed by too many options and self-doubt. But when we met Chris and we wrote the first two songs together, 'Cessna' and 'Passive,' it was undeniable. We knew it was good. Nobody can argue with this music, no ifs, ands or buts. No one would ever think, 'it's just Blind Melon with a singer.' It's not."

If it was to be Blind Melon with a new singer, that would have occurred following the tragic 1995 death of vocalist Shannon Hoon. But, as Smith notes, "there were a lot of ghosts there, so I went full-fledged with my solo thing." Meanwhile, Thorn too had taken months to recover from the loss of his friend and band. "I built a studio in my house [Lucky Dog, where the album was recorded in addition to Smith's home studio] and produced records for three years. I didn't know if wanted to be in a band again. But after being in the basement so long, I missed being in a band, hanging out with the bros," Thorn explains. "I decided I needed to go to L.A. and find a great singer, and Brad and I already knew we would work together. I moved to L.A. in early '98, and after three months and a million really bad singers, I met Chris after hearing a CD from his band, Celia Green. I was totally floored. The day I met him, I thought, 'he's a fucking rock star.' He answered the door in four-inch heels and this crazy hair tied up in a knot. And I was like, 'okay, I'll buy your record.' He was who I was looking for, I just didn't know his name at the time. When I heard Chris's voice and I met him, I went, 'okay, the search is over.' I felt, 'this is it.' I will bribe, break people's legs to get this guy," he chuckles. "Though, obviously, it's either going to happen organically or not."

As for any comparisons that may be forthcoming between lead singer Chris Shinn and Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon, Shinn isn't concerned. "I was welcomed into Brad and Christopher's and Blind Melon's extended family," he explains. "I respect Shannon and think he was an amazing singer, but I also know that I'm my own singer and no one is like me either."

Unified Theory, whose collaborative songwriting (both lyrically and musically) is nurturing and non-competitive, found they also shared a common belief in the purpose of their music and live show. Hence, Unified Theory has a philosophy that's evident in the band name. First, Thorn laughingly clarifies: "We're not guys with glasses doing math problems…but it's an Einstein theory. The Unified Theory was the last one he was working on before he died. In a seventh-grade version, he was trying to connect everything, to connect quantum theory with the theory of relativity." It was the idea, not the science that appealed to the band. "It's so romantic, more than anything, even if it's never proven," Thorn furthers. "That's sort of what sharing music is, so it made sense."

The band – which toured early last year in the Pacific Northwest under the moniker Luma – is gearing up for their first official tour as Unified Theory in the coming months. In the meantime, fans can log onto the band's official website at www.unifiedtheorymusic.com for the latest buzz, photos and everything else in the world of Unified Theory.