UFO MESSIAH

UFO MESSIAH

UFO Messiah was once the name on a hand-lettered sign dotting the roadside in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The coastal town where songwriters Christopher Phipps, Marcus Leahy and drummer Mike Morobitto grew up. They eventually relocated to the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area, but the band name stuck from 1986-present.

Ufo Messiah recorded their first as of yet un-released five song EP under the working title “Young Lockharts”, named after the Ft. Lauderdale band house Marcus Leahy Christopher Phipps and Arthur Hall were living in at the time. After completion of these recordings Phipps flew out to Los Angeles to shop the material with Mike Morobitto who was living there and attending MIT (Musicians Institute of Technology) in Hollywood.

Getting interest from William Morris Agency for a developmental deal, they decided to decline and relocated to Miami, Fla in the late 80’s.

Mike Morobitto, already introduced to live sound and production having worked as a drum tech for many A-List drummers in Los Angeles, started working with Gloria Estefan and The Miami Sound Machine as well as playing drums in the rock band Accelerator and producing / hosting local MTV style television show “The South Florida Rock & Roll Showcase” which London Exchange was commonly featured.

Christopher Phipps got involved in the electronic dance music scene that was taking off at the time in Miami and started the synthpop/freestyle band London Exchange.

 Marcus Leahy played in various projects including seminal Miami punk/hardcore band Johnny Blade Band.

 As fate would have it all three reconvened in the 90’s to record Ufo Messiah debut album which was released in 1997 to rave reviews and was called one of the best original rock music releases of that year by Miami Herald Pop Music critic Howard Cohen.