Whitecross

Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1985 in Chicago, releasing their first recording in the year 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. With the departure of guitarist Rex Carroll in 1994, the band's sound underwent a drastic change; so much so that many Whitecross fans show a strong preference for either the earlier or later work exclusively.

Whitecross has won three Dove Awards: two for "Metal Album of the year" with Triumphant Return (in 1990) and In the Kingdom (in 1992);^[1] and one for "Come unto the Light" from the Unveiled album, which won "Hard music recorded song of the year" in 1995.^[2]

In 1994, Guitarist Rex Carroll left to pursue King James and other musical ventures. In 2000 he and Scott Wenzel re-formed the "classic" lineup with Rex, Scott, Michael Feighan and new-comer Benny Ramos providing bass, keyboards and vocals.

In 1998, singer Scott Wenzel took a two-year break to do mission work in South America, During this time, Whitecross went on hiatus before re-emerging at Cornerstone Festival in 2000. Finally having achieved a long-sought lineup stability, the band now performs on a regular basis.

In 2005, Carroll and Wenzel reunited to record Nineteen Eighty Seven, which featured re-recordings of nine of the ten songs from their self-titled debut (You're Mine being the exclusion), as well as a re-recording of the song Love on the Line (previously unavailable on CD) and a new guitar instrumental by Rex Carroll.

There are plans to record new material for CD release as well as a possibility of Rex doing a guitar solo CD.

On April 5, 2008, they played at the Legends of Rock festival in Ennepetal, Germany. Also beginning in July of 2008, they played the first of several short tours in Guatemala featuring shows in Guatemala City, Panajachel, Huehuetenango, and others.

Albums

With Rex Carroll

Without Rex Carroll

Compilations

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Videos

• The Reign Goes On - 45 minute VHS, 1992 Star Song Communications (extremely rare)

Members of Whitecross

Current members

• Scott Wenzel - Lead Vocals (1985- present)
• Rex Carroll - Guitar and Vocals (1985 - 1993, 2000 - present)
• Michael Feighan - Drums and Vocals] (1991 - 1995, 2000 - present)
• Benny Ramos - Bass and Vocals (2000-present)

Former members

Guitars

• Barry Graul (MercyMe) - guitar (1994 - 1995)
• Quinton Gibson - guitar (1996)

Drums

• Mark Hedl - drums (1987 - 1988)
• Mike Elliott - drums (1989)
• Troy Stone - drums (1996)

Bass

• Jon Sproule - bass (1987 - 1988)
• Rick Armstrong - bass (1989)
• Butch Dillon - bass (1991)
• Scott Harper - bass (1992)
• Tracy Ferrie (Stryper) - bass (1994 - 1995)
• Brent Denny - bass (1996)
• Benny Ramos-bass guitar 2000-present

See also

• Contemporary Christian music
• Glam metal
• Heavy metal
• Ratt

References

• Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 1030–1033. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. 

External links

• Official Whitecross website
• Whitecross @ ShoutLife Tribute
• Scott Wenzel @ ShoutLife Tribute
• Pictures from the reunion gig at Cornerstone 2002
• Interview with Rex Carroll, including reasons for leaving the band
• 2003 Interview with Scott Wenzel in Rockline
• Whitecross — the best of rock, the worst of rock
• Brief Whitecross biography