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Biography
Use mdy dates|date=July 2011Refimprove|date=February 2008Infobox musical artist | name = Audio Adrenaline| image = Audio Adrenaline band.jpg| caption = Audio Adrenaline in 2003.| image_size = | background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Grayson, Kentucky|Grayson , Kentucky| instrument =| genre = Christian rock , alternative rock | occupation =| years_active = 1989–2007| label = ForeFront Records|ForeFront | associated_acts = dc Talk , Newsboys , MercyMe , Know Hope Collective | website = URL| http://www.audioa.com| current_members = Mark Stuart (musician)|Mark Stuart Will McGinniss Tyler Burkum Ben Cissell Brian Whitman (musician)|Brian Whitman | past_members = Bob Herdman Barry Blair David Stuart Phil Vaughan Jonathan Schneck Ron Gibson| notable_instruments = Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock rock band|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. http://www.audioa.com/news.aspx? iid=980800& cid=227 '& #39;AA Talks'& #39; news article. AudioA.com. Retrieved on July 28, 2011. 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.
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 (band)|Mortal , Circle of Dust and the indie labels Blonde Vinyl , Frontline/Myx, Tooth & Nail Records|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. http://www.audioa.com The band's website. AudioA.com. Retrieved on July 28, 2011.
Early history
The band was formed in 1986 under the name of A-180 by Mark Stuart (musician)|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". http://flickerofhislight.homestead.com/ccm96.html 100% Adrenaline on CCM Magazine ; Selby, Marykay (April 1996) 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|date=July 2009 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|date=January 2011
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 (album)|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. 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 (song)|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 (Audio Adrenaline album)|Live Bootleg .
In 1996, their third album, Bloom (Audio Adrenaline 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 RIAA certification|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 (Audio Adrenaline album)|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 (Audio Adrenaline album)|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 (Audio Adrenaline album)|Lift . Several critics have classified it as the best from the band. http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Lift.asp Lift on Jesus Freak Hideout ; DiBiase, John (November 6, 2001) http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Audio_Adrenaline/Lift/4302/ Lift on Cross Rhythms ; Cummings, Tony 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 (Audio Adrenaline 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 (musician)|Mark Stuart 's "ongoing vocal challenges" stemming from vocal cord damage as the primary factor. http://www.audioa.com/news.aspx? iid=412762& cid=227 Audio Adrenaline Official Website News – Audio Adrenaline Says "Adios". Audioa.com. Retrieved on July 28, 2011. 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: The Greatest Hits|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 . http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/03/24/2197515.htm? site=southqld ABC Southern Queensland – Easterfest delivers, promises more in 2009. Abc.net.au (2008-03-24). Retrieved on July 28, 2011.
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 (musician)|Mark Stuart & nbsp;— vocals, guitar (1989–2007, founding member)
Will McGinniss & nbsp;— vocals, bass guitar (1989–2007, founding member)
Dave Stuart& nbsp;— keyboards, vocals (1986, 1991, founding member)
Ron Gibson& nbsp;— drums (1988–1991)
Bob Herdman & nbsp;— keyboard, guitar (1991–2001, founding member)
Barry Blair& nbsp;— guitar, vocals (1989–1996, founding member)
Brian Whitman (musician)|Brian Whitman & nbsp;— guitar, vocals (2005–2007)
David Stuart& nbsp;— keyboard, vocals (1986–1991 "You Turn" and "Reaper's Train")
Ron Gibson& nbsp;— drums (1988–1991: "You Turn" and "Reaper's Train")
Jonathan Schneck & nbsp;— backup guitar, backing vocals (2003–2005, Now with Relient K )
Brian McSweeney& nbsp;— guitar, vocals (1996–97, replacing Barry Blair; 2007, filled in for Tyler Burkum for final shows) http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/concerts/ComingUpToBreatheTour07.asp Jesus Freak Hideout Concert Reviews: The Coming Up To Breathe Tour. Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved on July 28, 2011.
Jared Byers & nbsp;— drums (2007, filled in for Ben Cissell for final shows)
Mike Biddle& nbsp;— keyboards, backing vocals (2009)
Side projects
Mark Stuart (musician)|Mark Stuart was involved in !Hero the Rock opera|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 Contemporary Christian music|CCM pop vocalist Rebecca St. James , playing the part of Maggie, and rapper T-Bone (rapper)|T-Bone as Jairus.
Mark Stuart (musician)|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." http://www.aatalks.com AAtalks
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 List of music recording sales certifications
Recording Industry Association of America|US : Goldcite web|url= http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php? resultpage=1& table=SEARCH_RESULTS& action=& title=& artist=Audio%Adrenaline& format=ALBUM& startYear=1958& endYear=2009& sort=Artist& perPage=50|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum|publisher= Recording Industry Association of America |accessdate=January 31, 2011
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500,000+
1997
Some Kind of Zombie
Released: November 18, 1997
Label: Forefront Records
99
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1999
Underdog (Audio Adrenaline album)
Released: September 14, 1999
Label: Forefront Records
76
—
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2001
Lift (Audio Adrenaline album)
Released: November 20, 2001
Label: Forefront Records
169
—
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2003
Worldwide (Audio Adrenaline album)
Released: February 25, 2003
Label: Forefront Records
116
4
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2005
Until My Heart Caves In
Released: August 30, 2005
Label: Forefront Records
122
5
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"—" 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)
http://www.audioa.com/ Official Audio Adrenaline website
http://www.handsandfeetproject.org/ Hands and Feet Project
http://www.eherdman.com/ Bob Herdman
http://www.wespreadtheword.net/musicnewsarticles/audioadrenalinemembersreflectonthesongsthatinspiredagenerationadiosthegreatesthits.html Audio Adrenaline Members Reflect on the Songs that Inspired a Generation.ADIOS: The Greatest Hits
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/199/story_19913.html Adios, Audio Adrenaline Interview of Will McGinniss on Beliefnet.com
Audio Adrenaline Category:Christian rock groups from Kentucky Category:ForeFront Records Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Carter County, Kentucky Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2007
