Audio Adrenaline

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Audio Adrenaline

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Christian alternative rock group



Audio Adrenaline has created waves in the Christian alternative rock realm and has seamlessly shifted from funk and rap music to alternative rock, without losing equilibrium or devoted fans. They worked with the mega Christian group D.C. Talk for more than two years, both on and off the tour circuits, and eventually altered their musical style to create a distinct sound that was separate from that of D.C. Talk. On Squares Music Online, Aaron Brinley called the band's music "great alternative rock ... that jumps right into your lap with a grunge crispness that revitalizes your soul." Audio Adrenaline has meshed punk, thrash, ballads, and grunge, but has also created easy listening music and ballads. The band consists of vocalist Mark Stuart from Owensboro, Kentucky, guitarist/keyboard player Bob Herdman from Lynchburg, Ohio, bassist Will McGinniss from Caledonia, Ohio, drummer Ben Cissell from St. Louis, Missouri, and guitarist Tyler Burkum, a relative newcomer to the band.

Band members grew up listening to rock and 1970s funk music. The Nashville-based quartet formed Audio Adrenaline in 1991 while Stuart and McGinniss studied at Kentucky Christian College in Grayson, Kentucky, and played in a local band. They met Herdman there, as well as former band guitarist Barry Blair, who was replaced by Burkum in 1996. Herdman had written the song "DC-10" and he thought the band might want to perform it, which eventually led to his writing the single "My God" and the band's first record deal. The songs were a cross between speed metal and rap, with a bold religious message. The band members were education and religion majors who planned on becoming chemistry teachers. They had no desire to make music for a living—but their musical success led them to change their minds.

Their college enlisted their assistance to recruit prospective students at youth conventions across the country, sponsoring the band and giving them equipment and a van in return for their recruitment efforts. The group built up a following from their early touring, primarily throughout the Midwest, and also managed to sell a number of independent records.

In 1991 the band signed with Forefront Records in Tennessee. On Audio Adrenaline's first major tour, they were teamed with fellow Forefront artists Geoff Moore & The Distance as the opening act. They were also the roadies; Stuart told HotStar magazine, "It was pretty hard but it was a good time because we were just starting off. It was our first time to experience the whole country."

The group released their debut album, Audio Adrenaline, in 1992, including two singles in the punk rock vein: "DC-10" and "My God." The band released Don't Censor Me in 1993, which had more of a pop and contemporary music tone and sold more than 300,000 units. The single "Big House" from the album received Dove Award nominations for Rock Song and Video of the year, and a Billboard Music Award nomination for Best Christian Video. The single was also used in youth camps as a praise song, and some churches used it in their services.

The band released Live Bootleg in 1995. BloOm was released in 1996 and contained more straight-ahead rock music than their other albums, along with more easy-listening, serene music. The album was produced by John Hampton, whose resume included production work with the Gin Blossoms. BloOm was an attempt to bring religion to the forefront of their music; the first single on the release was titled "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus." BloOm produced seven top five singles, four of them reaching the number one mark.

Some Kind of Zombie was released in 1997. The single "Some Kind of Zombie" is a reference to Colossians Chapter 3, where a life is given over to God. The material was inspired by lead singer Mark Stuart's experiences living with his missionary parents in Haiti—where voodoo was conceived—the message being that you can be dead to your old self after becoming a new person through religion. Some Kind of Zombie utilized new sounds for the band: horns, strings, synthesizers, samples, and loops, and helped broaden their musical base.

After the release of Some Kind of Zombie, Mark Rider—president of Nashville-based Just Radio, a production and programming company—told Billboard 's Deborah Evans Price, "I think this is the best rock record out right now.... It's a real departure from their previous sound, more raw, and kids love it." Evans Price wrote, "Audio Adrenaline is poised to take the leap from promising new act to headliner with the release of Some Kind of Zombie."

The album was slated to be released simultaneously with the book Some Kind of Journey: On the Road with Audio Adrenaline—7 Days, 7 Issues, 7 Souls. The book chronicles the experiences of seven young people who traveled with the band for seven days, and along the way discussed pertinent cultural issues such as struggling through pain, marriage and sexuality, and life in the church. The book was intended as a guide for youth pastors. The book and album were released on enhanced CD format (AVCD), featuring four audio tracks, two videos, interviews, and devotional segments.

Herdman told Contemporary Christian Music 's Brian Quincy Newcomb, "When we first started the band, the goal was ministry first, music second. We put on a killer show, so when we say music is second, it's not that we don't take it seriously. But we take ministry more seriously. Our number one goal is to spread the gospel."

The band plays primarily at churches and county or state fairs when touring, which serves to keep them out of the mainstream venues. Stuart told J. Warner Soditus of The Lighthouse, "We like to say, 'We're all God's kids.' We try not to have any barriers in our music. It's a lot of fun." Forefront Records' Ron Griffin described Audio Adrenaline to Soditus as, "The heart of a pastor with the energy of a sixteen year old."

In 1999 the group released Underdog, which included "Hands and Feet," a song about using the gifts you have, in order to serve Christ. The song became one of their most popular hits. In 2001 they drew attention while touring in the high-profile Festival Con Dios Tour, and also released Hit Parade: The Greatest Hits and Lift.

By this time, the group knew that they were reaching large audiences and could use that recognition to challenge Christians to take their faith out into the world. With the release of the album Worldwide, the band partnered with another band, MercyMe, to form The Go Foundation, which highlights various mission organizations and attempts to match up fans with organizations. At each concert on a 50-city tour, the Go Show challenged members of the audience to step up to the challenge of a mission experience, and they succeeded in their goal of reaching 5,000 commitments.

As the group matured, several members have married and now have children of their own. In 2004 Mark Stuart, Will McGinniss, and Bob Herdman joined forces with Troy Vest and Mary Manz Simon, a child development expert, to create The Praise Baby Collection: God of Wonders. The album was geared toward the toddler set and released along with a DVD and video.

Audio Adrenaline is clear about their group's message. They know the music is important, and are working together to use the music as a tool to share their message as Christians. Their success over many years indicates that their music will be heard for many more years to come.

Selected discography
Audio Adrenaline, Forefront, 1992.
Don't Censor Me, Forefront, 1993.
Live Bootleg, Forefront, 1995.
BloOm, Forefront, 1996.
Some Kind of Zombie (AVCD single), Forefront, 1997.
Some Kind of Zombie, Forefront, 1997.
Underdog, Forefront, 1999.
Hit Parade: The Greatest Hits, Forefront, 2001.
Lift, Forefront, 2001.
Worldwide, Forefront, 2003.

Sources
Periodicals
Billboard, November 15, 1997.
Contemporary Christian Music, February 1998.
HotStar, April 27, 1998.
Iowa State Daily, May 3, 1996.
The Lighthouse, July/August 1993.
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), March 15, 2003.
Wichita Eagle, October 21, 2004.

Online
"Audio Adrenaline," Christianity Today, http://www.christianitytoday.com (December 15, 2004).
"Audio Adrenaline," Gospel Music Association, http://www.doveawards.com (January 2005).
Audio Adrenaline Official Website, http://www.audioa.com (December 15, 2004).
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  • Genres: Gospel

Biography

With their fusion of rock, rap and funk, Audio Adrenaline emerged as one of the most popular CCM acts of the 1990s. The group was formed on the campus of Kentucky Christian College by lead vocalist Mark Stuart, guitarist Barry Blair, bassist Will McGinnis, keyboardist Bob Herdman and drummer Brian Hayes; originally named A-180, they recorded an independent single, "My God," which caught the attention of Forefront Records president Dan Brock, and soon after the label issued Audio Adrenaline's self-titled debut LP. Don't Censor Me followed in 1993, scoring hits with the singles "Big House" and "Can't Take God Away;" after 1995's Live Bootleg, the band resurfaced a year later with Bloom, which debuted in the Top 60 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1997, Audio Adrenaline -- now consisting of Stuart, McGinnis, Herdman and drummer Ben Cissell -- resurfaced with Some Kind of Zombie; Underdog followed two years later. A greatest hits collection, Hit Parade, celebrated almost ten years in the music industry, and served as a good introduction to the band. Lift came out the following year. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Audio Adrenaline

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Audio Adrenaline

Original Band Members.
Background information
Origin Grayson, Kentucky
Genres Christian rock, alternative rock
Years active 1989–2007
Labels ForeFront
Associated acts dc Talk, Newsboys, MercyMe, Know Hope Collective
Website www.audioa.com
Members
Mark Stuart
Will McGinniss
Tyler Burkum
Ben Cissell
Brian Whitman
Past members
Bob Herdman
Barry Blair
David Stuart
Phil Vaughan
Jonathan Schneck
Ron Gibson

Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles.[1] They were regular performers at the annual Creation Festival, Spirit West Coast festival and Agape Music Festival. Audio Adrenaline also performed at the Alive Festival every year up to their last performance in June 2006.

Contents

History

Audio Adrenaline, along with other Christian music acts like dc Talk and Newsboys, helped fuel a revolution in the "alternative" Christian music genre. This was started by bands like Under Midnight, Mortal, Circle of Dust and the indie labels Blonde Vinyl, Frontline/Myx, Tooth & Nail, and 5 Minute Walk.

Over the course of the band's career, several other Christian artists were influenced by Audio Adrenaline. These bands include MercyMe, Sanctus Real, and Hawk Nelson. Interviews with these bands are available at the Audio Adrenaline website.[2]

Early history

The band was formed in 1986 under the name of A-180 by Mark Stuart, Barry Blair, Will McGinniss, David Stuart, and Phil Vaughan, who all attended Kentucky Christian University. The next year, the band temporarily disbanded when Mark went to Haiti for a semester. Upon Mark's return to Kentucky, the band reformed with Ron Gibson on drums. They became a popular local band, booked by the school nearly every weekend; traveling as far west as Texas, north to Chicago, south to Florida. The band did over 100 shows during this time and recorded two independent releases under the name A-180. The first was You Turn in 1989 and Reaper's Train in 1990. Reaper's Train featured the original version of the song "DC-10", also found on the first Audio Adrenaline release.

The band's big break would come in the form of Bob Herdman. Herdman approached A-180 with two songs he had written, one of them called "My God", and asked A-180 to record it. After "My God" was recorded at Landmark Recording Studio, Ohio, A-180 asked Herdman to join them as their songwriter. The demo tape was sent to radio stations and scaled the charts quickly. The song caught the attention of Toby McKeehan (from dc Talk), who brought it to the executives at ForeFront Records. The label decided to offer a record deal to A-180 but had them change their name to "Audio Adrenaline".[3] The name Audio Adrenaline comes from an incident in which Bob Herdman had been listening to some loud and fast music; he was so enthralled by it that he apparently exclaimed "This is like... audio adrenaline!" while jumping wildly.[citation needed]

Late in 1991, David Stuart left the band to focus more on his family. Ron Gibson also left in December 1991 as he claimed Forefront Records was guiding the band into hip-hop and away from the band's rock roots, as evident in the band's first release.[citation needed]

1990s

After signing their deal with Forefront, the band started writing and recording songs similar to "My God". Their first album under Forefront, the self-titled Audio Adrenaline, was released in 1992. It included "DC-10", the only track from the original A-180 recordings. The album was well received selling 75,000 copies.[3] The follow-up album, Don't Censor Me, came the next year and featured what is considered the biggest hit of the band, and arguably one of the biggest hits in Christian music history – "Big House". The album sold 250,000 copies and launched the band into stardom. The album also includes the song "We're a Band", which remained one of their live staples until their retirement. After that, they released a live album titled Live Bootleg.

In 1996, their third album, Bloom, was released. The album featured the band returning to their original rock roots, as opposed to their experiments with rap music. The album was a huge hit becoming the only album of the band to be certified gold by RIAA in 1999. It also marked guitarist Barry Blair's final album, who decided to become a music producer. Blair still contributed to a song from their next album.

With Blair gone, Audio Adrenaline needed a new guitarist. They found a temporary fill in Brian McSweeney (from Seven Day Jesus), but he decided to stay with his fulltime act. They then turned the guitars over to Tyler Burkum, who joined the band at only 17 years of age, just in time to record some guitars on the band's next album, Some Kind of Zombie. The album, released in 1997, was also the first to feature Ben Cissell as the band's full-time drummer, though Cissell had played percussion on their previous album. In 1999, the band released Underdog, its fifth studio album. The band also opened for dc Talk on the "Jesus Freak World Tour".

2000s

After a short break, Audio Adrenaline released their first greatest hits compilation, Hit Parade, in March 2001. Among Audio Adrenaline's most notable performances are three of their most popular songs, "Big House", "Hands and Feet", and the live staple "We're A Band", as well as a duet with The O.C. Supertones, "Blitz", from the album Some Kind of Zombie. It was at this time that Bob Herdman left the band to become president of a new record label, Flicker Records, which he co-founded along with Stuart and McGinniss.

In November 2001, the band released a new studio album, Lift. Several critics have classified it as the best from the band.[4][5] This album also marked the first time that guitarist Tyler Burkum shared lead vocals with Mark Stuart. They followed it with their ninth album, Worldwide, released in 2003. Worldwide went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2004, the first of two Grammys for the band. In 2004, the band, along with former member Bob Herdman, founded a project in Haiti called the Hands and Feet Project, in which the band built an orphanage for children.

The band's tenth album, Until My Heart Caves In, was released on August 30, 2005. The album featured most of the lead vocals by Tyler Burkum, with only a few sung by Stuart. Until My Heart Caves In received another Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2006. "Clap Your Hands" was also played on ESPN with football game highlights.

On January 18, 2006, Audio Adrenaline announced that they were retiring from active music ministry. The band cited Mark Stuart's "ongoing vocal challenges" stemming from vocal cord damage as the primary factor.[6] On July 27, 2006, the band played at the popular Christian music Creation Festival for the last time. They had performed there every year since they had begun as a band. On August 1, 2006, they released their final compilation album, Adios, a farewell album containing two new tracks as well as more of the band's greatest hits.

For their final national tour in February until April 2007, Audio Adrenaline opened for MercyMe on the "Coming Up To Breathe Tour". The band performed their last live concert on April 28, 2007, at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their final project, which was released on August 28, 2007, is a live CD–DVD combo entitled Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Concert. The album earned two nominations at the 39th GMA Dove Awards, winning Long Form Music Video of the Year.

Reunions

On March 21, 2008, Australian festival Easterfest announced that Audio Adrenaline would be getting back together for a world exclusive concert at Easterfest '09 in Queens Park, Toowoomba.[7]

On February 21, 2012 Mark Stuart mentioned a possible Audio Adrenaline reunion on his and on the new Audio Adrenaline Facebook pages.[citation needed]

Books

On September 1, 2003, the band released its first book Dirty Faith: Becoming the Hands and Feet of Jesus, with Think Books. Co-written with Mark Matlock, the book discusses reaching out to the needy and features an organization called Mission Year.

On September 5, 2006, the band released Hands & Feet: Inspiring Stories and Firsthand Accounts of God Changing Lives, with Regal Books. It takes the reader on a journey to Haiti with the band as they build houses for the children there. The reader also meets Drex and Jo Stuart, the parents of frontman Mark Stuart. The book gives an explanation of life in one of the poorest nations on earth. It also tells of the band's building of The Hands and Feet Project (an orphanage for poor, hungry children).

Band members

  • Mark Stuart — vocals, guitar (1989–2007, founding member)
  • Will McGinniss — vocals, bass guitar (1989–2007, founding member)
  • Dave Stuart — keyboards, vocals (1986, 1991, founding member)
  • Ron Gibson — drums (1988–1991)
  • Bob Herdman — keyboard, guitar (1991–2001, founding member)
  • Barry Blair — guitar, vocals (1989–1996, founding member)
  • Ben Cissell — drums (1995–2007)
  • Tyler Burkum — guitar, vocals, keyboard (1997–2007)

Touring musicians

  • Brian Hayes — drums (1993–1995)
  • Brian Whitman — guitar, vocals (2005–2007)
  • David Stuart — keyboard, vocals (1986–1991 "You Turn" and "Reaper's Train")
  • Ron Gibson — drums (1988–1991: "You Turn" and "Reaper's Train")
  • Jonathan Schneck — backup guitar, backing vocals (2003–2005, Now with Relient K)
  • Brian McSweeney — guitar, vocals (1996–97, replacing Barry Blair; 2007, filled in for Tyler Burkum for final shows)[8]
  • Jared Byers — drums (2007, filled in for Ben Cissell for final shows)[8]
  • Mike Biddle — keyboards, backing vocals (2009)

Side projects

Mark Stuart was involved in !Hero the Rock Opera, playing as Petrov. !Hero was a modern adaption of the story of Christ performed along with dc Talk band member Michael Tait, presently the frontman of the Newsboys. Also involved in this production was popular CCM pop vocalist Rebecca St. James, playing the part of Maggie, and rapper T-Bone as Jairus.

Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss have launched a post-retirement speaking venture titled "Audio Unplugged" formerly known as "Audio Talks". They are available "for a night of encouragement, testimonies, Audio A classics and worship."[9]

Discography

Tapes (A-180)

Year Album title Record label
1989 You Turn Landmark Recording Studio
1990 Reaper's Train Landmark Recording Studio

Albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Sales
US
[10]
Christian
[10]
1992 Audio Adrenaline
1993 Don't Censor Me
  • Released: October 1, 1993
  • Label: Forefront Records
1996 Bloom
  • Released: February 20, 1996
  • Label: Forefront Records
77
  • 500,000+
1997 Some Kind of Zombie
  • Released: November 18, 1997
  • Label: Forefront Records
99
1999 Underdog
  • Released: September 14, 1999
  • Label: Forefront Records
76
2001 Lift
  • Released: November 20, 2001
  • Label: Forefront Records
169
2003 Worldwide
  • Released: February 25, 2003
  • Label: Forefront Records
116 4
2005 Until My Heart Caves In
  • Released: August 30, 2005
  • Label: Forefront Records
122 5
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released.

Live albums

Year Album title Record label(s)
1995 Live Bootleg ForeFront
2007 Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Concert ForeFront

DVDs

Year Album title Record label(s)
2001 Lift DVD ForeFront
2003 Alive DVD ForeFront
2006 Adios: The Greatest Hits (Special Edition CD/DVD) ForeFront
2007 Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Concert CD/DVD ForeFront

Compilations

Year Album title Record label(s)
2001 Hit Parade ForeFront
2006 Adios: The Greatest Hits ForeFront
2008 Greatest Hits ForeFront/EMD
2009 The Ultimate Collection Chordant

Singles

  • "Some Kind of Zombie" (1997)
  • "Big House (Live)" (1997)
  • "Underdog" (1999)
  • "Dirty/Ocean Floor" (2003)
  • "Miracle" (2004)
  • "King" (2005)
  • "Melody (Lost In Wonder)" (2005)
  • "Get Down" (2006)
  • "Goodbye" (2006)

Music videos

  • "PDA" (Audio Adrenaline, 1992)
  • "AKA Public School" (Don't Censor Me, 1993)
  • "Big House" (Don't Censor Me, 1993)
  • "We're A Band" (Don't Censor Me, 1994)
  • "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" (Bloom, 1996)
  • "Free Ride" (Bloom, 1996)
  • "Some Kind of Zombie" (Some Kind of Zombie", 1997)
  • "Blitz (featuring The O.C. Supertones)" (Some Kind of Zombie, 1997)
  • "Get Down" (Underdog, 1999)
  • "Hands and Feet" (Underdog, 1999)
  • "Ocean Floor" (Lift", 2001)
  • "Rejoice" (Lift, 2001)
  • "Church Punks (live)" (Worldwide, 2003)
  • "Leaving 99 (live)" (Worldwide, 2003)

Awards

Grammy Awards

  • 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year for Worldwide
  • 2006 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year for Until My Heart Caves In

Dove Awards

  • 1996 Long Form Music Video of the Year – "Big House" (Don't Censor Me)
  • 1998 Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year – "Some Kind of Zombie" (Some Kind of Zombie)
  • 2000 Rock Recorded Song of the Year – "Get Down" (Underdog)
  • 2003 Rock Album of the Year – Lift
  • 2008 Long Form Music Video of the Year (Live from Hawaii: The Farewell Concert)

References

Further reading

External links


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Copyrights:

Mentioned in

WOW Gospel 2005 (2005 Music Film)
X 2007 (Music Film)
Worldwide (2003 Album by Audio Adrenaline)
Jennifer Knapp (Gospel Artist, '90s, 2000s)
Some Kind of Zombie (1997 Album by Audio Adrenaline)