Audio Adrenaline was an American
Christian rock band that formed in 1986 at
Kentucky Christian University in
Grayson,
Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
. The band gained recognition during the 1990s and received two
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
s and multiple
Dove Awards.
Audio Adrenaline were regular performers at the annual
Creation Festival,
Spirit West Coast festival,
Agape Music Festival, and
Alive Festival. In 2007, the group disbanded due to lead singer
Mark Stuart's
spasmodic dysphonia.
After a hiatus, the band reformed in 2012 with only bassist Will McGinniss returning from the original line-up. The new Audio Adrenaline was fronted by
Kevin Max, formerly of
DC Talk, as the new lead vocalist. This new line-up released ''
Kings & Queens'' on March 12, 2013. In June 2014, Max stepped down as lead singer of the band. He was replaced by Josh Engler, a former member of the band
Abandon until February 2015 when
Adam Agee of
Stellar Kart was offered and accepted the role.
In 2015, McGinniss departed from the band, leaving no original members left in the lineup. The first single of the new Audio Adrenaline, "Love Was Stronger", was released in 2015 and was included on ''
Sound of the Saints'', their tenth and final studio album.
History
1986–1990: Formation as A-180
The band was formed as A-180 in 1986 by Mark Stuart (lead vocals), Barry Blair (guitars), Will McGinniss (bass), David Stuart (keyboards), and Phil Vaughan (drums), who all attended Kentucky Christian University. The band went on hiatus the following year when Mark traveled 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 and traveling as far west as Texas, north to Chicago, and 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", which would later be included on the first Audio Adrenaline release.
The band's big break would come upon meeting
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. The song was described in a CCM Magazine article as "a curious marriage of heavy metal and rap". After the song was recorded at
Landmark Recording Studios, in Ohio, A-180 asked Herdman to join them as their songwriter. As a result, Herdman also started to learn to play keyboards and guitar. The
demo tape of "My God" was sent to radio stations and quickly scaled the charts. Following this, 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
a name that Herdman had come up with previously.
1991–1993: Record deal with ForeFront and first albums
After signing their deal with Forefront, the band started writing and recording demo songs similar to "My God" for the first album. The band has described this period as one of adaptation and experimentation since ForeFront wanted a hip-hop act. As a result, Dave Stuart and Ron Gibson left the band. Singer Mark Stuart said in an interview "We had no idea what we were doing. Forefront signed us to do this rap/metal stuff, and we only had one song" while original guitarist Barry Blair said "We thought 'If they liked My God, we'll send them more songs like that." Blair added that it was a "big, long process of getting to where we are now, of creating music we like, not music we think is what they
oreFrontwould like."
[
The band's first Forefront album was the self-titled '' Audio Adrenaline'', released in 1992. Filled with drum machine beats, rap and hip-hop it eventually went out of print. It included "DC-10", the only track from the original A-180 recordings (live drums) and was well received selling 75,000 copies.][ However, the band was not happy with the result. Blair was quoted as saying:
The follow-up album, '' Don't Censor Me'', came the next year and featured what is considered the biggest hit of the band, " 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. Next the band released '' Live Bootleg''.
Although ''Don't Censor Me'' leaned more towards rock, the band still was not happy. Stuart said of the songs "there are really only a few songs I love to play live. I like to do 'Big House,' 'We're a Band' and 'Scum Sweetheart.'" On the other hand, most of the band members disliked "Jesus and the California Kid" which Stuart referred to as "pure agony". Still, the album earned them their first Dove Award for Long Form Music Video of the Year for "Big House", as well as a Billboard Music Award Nomination.
]
1994–1999: Maturity and success
As a result of the success of ''Don't Censor Me'', Audio Adrenaline went on tour opening for DC Talk on the ''Free at Last'' Tour and Newsboys' '' Going Public'' Tour. However, on interviews the band expressed their interest to grow beyond the shadow of their musical counterparts.
In 1996, their third studio album, '' Bloom'', was released. The album featured the band returning to their original rock roots, as opposed to their experiments with rap music
Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...
. Many reviewers praised the band's decision to change and referred to the album as showcasing the maturity in the band members.
''Bloom'' was a huge hit becoming (in 1999) the only album of the band to be certified gold by RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. It also marked guitarist Blair's final album, who decided to become a music producer. In a 2015 interview with Breathecast, Blair talked about his reasons to leave citing his love of "the creative part of writing, recording, being in the studio, putting songs together" as the main factor. In the interview, he refers to the ''Bloom'' album as something he was "exceptionally proud of", and how he knew he was creating something that had "meaning and will touch people". Blair also added how his interest started to move away from the touring aspect until he "decided to make the jump to see if I can sink or swim as a producer".
With Blair gone, Audio Adrenaline needed a new guitarist. They found a temporary fill-in with Brian McSweeney (from Seven Day Jesus),[Concert Reviews: The Coming Up To Breathe Tour](_blank)
Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved July 28, 2011. but he decided to stay with his full-time 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, included a song from Barry Blair and was 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
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, usually in sports and creative works, who is largely expected to lose. The party, team, or individual expected to win is called the favorite or wikt:top dog, top dog. In the case where an under ...
'', its fifth studio album. Songwriter Bob Herdman called the album "more fun" than the previous one, while bassist Will McGinniss said how they wanted to "explore more artistically", while merging "ideas from the last three records". The album includes a remake of the band's own "DC-10", which was originally featured in their first album, but this time using a swing style. The album was well received by critics, while peaking at #76 on Billboard. After the release, the band also opened for dc Talk on the Jesus Freak World Tour.
2000–2007: Last albums with original members and retirement
After a short break, Audio Adrenaline released their first greatest hits compilation, '' Hit Parade'', in March 2001. Included in the album are three of their most popular songs, "Big House", "Hands and Feet", and the live staple "We're A Band", as well as a song with The O.C. Supertones, "Blitz", from the album ''Some Kind of Zombie''. It was at this time that 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'' which several critics have classified as the band's best. ''Lift'' also marked the first time that guitarist Burkum shared lead vocals with Stuart. The band then followed 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 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 studio album, '' Until My Heart Caves In'', was released on August 30, 2005. The album featured most of the lead vocals by 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
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
with football game highlights.
On January 18, 2006, Audio Adrenaline announced that they were retiring from active music ministry and cited Stuart's "ongoing vocal challenges" stemming from vocal cord damage as the primary factor. On July 27, 2006, the band played at the popular Christian music Creation Festival, where they had performed every year since the group formed, for the last time with their original lineup. On August 1, 2006, they released their final compilation album, '' Adios: The Greatest Hits'', a farewell album containing two new tracks as well as a selection of the band's greatest hits to date.
For their final national tour in early 2007, Audio Adrenaline opened for MercyMe on their "Coming Up to Breathe Tour". The band performed their last live concert on April 28, 2007, at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu
Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
, Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
. Their final project, '' Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Concert'', was released on August 28, 2007, as a live CD–DVD combo and earned two nominations at the 39th GMA Dove Awards, winning Long Form Music Video of the Year.
2008–2011: Other projects
After the band's retirement, their members dedicated their time to other projects. Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss started a project called Know Hope Collective, which features a changing group of musicians singing worship songs and presenting testimonies. They both have also been working extensively with The Hands and Feet Project in Haiti. Tyler Burkum has been playing for several bands and as a session musician. He also started his own band called The Leagues. Ben Cissell ran a skate club/youth ministry venue called Rocketttown, and then started pursuing film work.Toowoomba
Toowoomba ( ), nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar', is a city on the border of South East Queensland and Darling Downs regions of Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoom ...
, Australia.
2012–2017: Reformation and new singers
In 2012, former members Stuart and McGinniss, along with the band's new manager Wes Campbell, decided to re-launch the band with a new line-up. According to them, one of their options was to ask Kevin Max, formerly of DC Talk, to be the new lead vocalist. Max, who had worked with Audio Adrenaline previously, said it was "a no-brainer" for him when they approached him.
In addition to Max as the new lead vocalist, the band also added Dave Ghazarian of Superchick on the guitar, Jared Byers of Bleach on the drums, Jason Walker on the keyboard, and McGinniss on bass. Former singer Stuart remained as producer and songwriter. On March 3, 2013, Audio Adrenaline released '' Kings and Queens''. The album peaked at No. 70 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and No. 4 on the Christian Albums chart. Aside of its chart performance, ''Kings & Queens'' received praise from critics who referred to it as "possibly the greatest comeback project in Christian music today" and a "fresh album that will keep both old and new fans alike".
In 2013, Dave Ghazarian and Jason Walker left the band, and were replaced by Dwayne Larring formerly of Sonicflood. In June 2014, Kevin Max also stepped down as lead vocalist. In an interview with Jesus Freak Hideout, Max said the decision was "amicable" and cited a difference of opinion in terms of the band's musical future as the reason for his departure. According to Max, the band's management wanted to move the band towards a more "worship music mode", even becoming the house band for the Acquire the Fire events, whereas he was more interested in a more "alternative or indie pop rock" style.
Max was temporarily replaced by Josh Engler from Abandon who transitioned in taking on vocal duties.
Band members
* Mark Stuart – lead vocals, guitar (1986–2007, founding member A-180/Audio A)
* Dave Stuart – keyboards, vocals (1986, 1991, founding member A-180/Audio A)
* Phil Vaughan — drums (1986–1988 - founding member A-180)
* Ron Gibson – drums (1988–1991 – drummer for A-180 & founding member/original Audio A drummer)
* Bob Herdman – keyboard, guitar, vocals (1991–2001, founding member of Audio A)
* Barry Blair – guitar, vocals (1986–1996, founding member A-180/Audio A)
* Ben Cissell – drums (1995–2007)
* Tyler Burkum – guitar, vocals, keyboard (1997–2007)
* Dave Ghazarian – guitar (2012–2013)
* Jason Walker – keyboards, vocals, guitar (2012–2013)
* Kevin Max – lead vocals (2012–2014, former member of dc Talk)
* Jared Byers
Jared Byers is an American drummer. He was formerly the drummer for the rock bands Relient K, Bleach, Royal Empire Music, and Audio Adrenaline. Byers had previously filled-in on drums for Audio Adrenaline during a tour in early 2007, which w ...
– drums, vocals (2012–2015, former member of Bleach and Relient K)
* Josh Engler – lead vocals, keyboard (2014–2015, former member of Abandon)
* Dwayne Larring – guitar, vocals (2013–2015, former member of Sonicflood and Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...
)
* Will McGinniss – vocals, bass guitar (1986–2007, 2012–2015, founding member A-180/Audio A)
* Adam Agee – lead vocals (2015–2017, former lead vocalist of Stellar Kart)
* Dave Stovall – bass guitar, vocals (2015–2017, current lead vocalist of Wavorly)
* Jack Campbell – drums (2015–2017)
* Brandon Bagby – guitar, vocals (2015–2017, former touring member of Plumb and Seventh Day Slumber)
Touring musicians
* Brian Hayes – drums (1993–1995)
* Jon Knox – drums (1995 replacing Brian Hayes on various dates before Ben Cissell joined)
* 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'' drums on original "DC-10")
* 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)
* Jared Byers – drums (2007, filled in for Ben Cissell for final shows)
Other projects
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.
In 2003, Mark Stuart was involved in '' !Hero the Rock opera'', playing ''Petrov''. '' !Hero'' was a modern adaption of the story of Christ. Also involved in this production were Michael Tait as HERO, CCM pop vocalist Rebecca St. James as Maggie, Skillet's John Cooper as Kai, the chief Rabbi, and rapper T-Bone as Jairus.
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).
in 2007, Stuart and Will McGinniss launched "Audio Unplugged" (also known as "Audio Talks"), a post-retirement speaking venture that offers "a night of encouragement, testimonies, Audio A classics and worship."
Discography
Original era
* '' Audio Adrenaline'' (1992)
* '' Don't Censor Me'' (1993)
* '' Bloom'' (1996)
* '' Some Kind of Zombie'' (1997)
* ''Underdog
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, usually in sports and creative works, who is largely expected to lose. The party, team, or individual expected to win is called the favorite or wikt:top dog, top dog. In the case where an under ...
'' (1999)
* '' Lift'' (2001)
* '' Worldwide'' (2003)
* '' Until My Heart Caves In'' (2005)
Reboot era
* '' Kings & Queens'' (2013)
* '' Sound of the Saints'' (2015)
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
GMA Dove Awards
References
Further reading
*
External links
Hands and Feet Project
Bob Herdman
* ttp://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Music/2006/09/Adios-Audio-Adrenaline.aspx Adios, Audio Adrenaline Interview of Will McGinniss on Beliefnet.com
*
*
{{Authority control
Christian rock groups from Kentucky
ForeFront Records
Grammy Award winners
Carter County, Kentucky
Musical groups established in 1986
Musical groups disestablished in 2007
Musical groups reestablished in 2012
Musical groups disestablished in 2017
1986 establishments in Kentucky
2007 disestablishments in Kentucky
2012 establishments in Kentucky
2017 disestablishments in Kentucky