Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline Bio
During 15 years together, the members of Audio Adrenaline have
more than lived up to their super-charged moniker both on stage
and off. Whether inviting an arena full of fans to sing along
on such chart topping hits as "Big House" or riding
ATVs in the Nevada desert, the guys have—to coin a phrase
from bassist Will McGinniss—"sucked every ounce of
marrow" from each experience.
Sadly much of that comes to a close with the stellar collection,
ADIOS: The Greatest Hits as the band prepares to say farewell
to its successful recording career and life on the road. Why
would a GRAMMY-winning rock 'n roll band quit at the peak
of its success? "The real reason we are giving it up
is because our lead singer, Mark Stuart's voice is going,"
says drummer Ben Cissell. "If he was still singing like
an angel we'd probably keep going. A lot of people ask, 'Why
don't we just find a new lead singer?' It just wouldn't be
Audio Adrenaline anymore. Mark is the best front man in Christian
music and for us to go out there with another singer and try
to be Audio Adrenaline, it just wouldn't be the same."
Indeed with any other singer, it wouldn't be Audio Adrenaline.
Stuart and bandmates McGinniss, Cissell and Tyler Burkum are
exiting at the peak of their game, and they can proudly walk
away having accomplished much. The band has sold more than
three million records and scored 18 No. 1 radio hits, among
them "Ocean Floor," "Big House," "Never
Gonna Be As Big As Jesus," "Leaving 99," "Hands
and Feet," and "Some Kind of Zombie." They
won two consecutive GRAMMY awards in the rock gospel album
of the year category for Worldwide in 2004 and for Until My
Heart Caves In in 2006. They've captured four Gospel Music
Association Dove Awards, including rock album of the year
in 2003 for Lift. The band's Bloom disc was certified Gold
by the RIAA in 1999, signifying sales of more than 500,000
units, and they were awarded the prestigious "Song of
the Decade" in the 90s for "Big House" by CCM
Magazine.
All that is not bad for a bunch of guys that have always
considered themselves the underdogs of the Christian music
industry. But even more important than the hit records and
accolades have been the lives that have been touched by the
music and ministry of Audio Adrenaline. Countless young people
have looked to the band for encouragement and inspiration
and have found a template for their own lives. Audio Adrenaline
has always been known as a band that is heavily into missions,
and they've encouraged young people to follow in their footsteps.
Through their Hands and Feet Project, they've brought attention
to the plight of orphans in Haiti and have opened a window
to the world that showed their fans a new way to serve God.
Of course, great music has been the calling card that has
paved the way for the band's many endeavors. ADIOS will be
the band's 11th album on ForeFront Records. In addition to
such Audio Adrenaline hits as "Chevette," "Get
Down" and "Beautiful," the 17-song set will
also feature two new songs—"Goodbye," the album's
first single, and a cover of the Alarm's "Blaze of Glory"—both
potent tunes that fit comfortably among Audio Adrenaline's
classics.
There will also be a special ADIOS CD/DVD edition that includes
a third new song, a cover of Charlie Peacock's "Down
in the Lowlands." Additionally, the DVD will include
eight Audio Adrenaline videos, an extensive interview with
the band and some of the top artists in Christian music talking
about the impact of AudioA's music. Among those sharing their
thoughts and some reminiscences are tobyMac, Steven Curtis
Chapman, Relient K, MercyMe and Pillar.
Fans will get to hear Audio Adrenaline's new songs as well
as their favorites when the band hits the road for the remainder
of this year. Audio Adrenaline is set to headline all the
major Christian festivals this summer. During the fall, they'll
embark on a 35-city trek with MercyMe.
The band members admit that it's a bittersweet time, but
in hindsight, Stuart says he wouldn't have changed a thing.
"I don't have regrets about the way that I performed
or sang," he says. "I think you have to go out and
be who you have to be and if you lose your voice, you lose
your voice. I think if I was to sing differently or done it
differently, it wouldn't have been the same."
Giving audiences 110% every night is the way the members
of Audio Adrenaline approached every show, and it's that commitment
to serving God with passion and unbridled energy that have
helped shape the Christian music community, as well as impacted
individuals around the world. "When we went on stage,
we wanted to give the best show we could and with a lot of
passion musically and spiritually," says McGinniss. "We
just wanted to impact as deep as we could and really not waste
time."
The members of the band see Audio Adrenaline as an example
of how God can use people who are obedient. "I think
that it's a testimony to any one out there if you are willing
to turn your heart and life over to God, that you can do many
things," says Stuart. "We certainly aren't the best
band. We have our weaknesses spiritually and we're not the
best musicians, but I think He works outside of all those
things. He just uses you. I don't think we ever really thought
we could have gone this long, but we just wanted to be humble
and serve God in a faithful way and He's used us."
That humble, self-effacing view of their own talents has
spawned an underdog mentality among the members of the band
that has made them work harder and never rest on their laurels.
"The last fifteen years of music, ministry and mayhem
have been an incredible blessing," says Stuart. "In
fact, we look at the existence of Audio Adrenaline as nothing
short of a miracle. Everyday we spent writing, recording,
traveling and performing together are dear memories. And to
be able to live out our dreams together with the greatest
fans on the planet was indeed a privilege. To say 'goodbye'
is never easy, but knowing were God has brought us from makes
us so excited about where He's taking us."
For Audio Adrenaline it all started in Bible college. Stuart
and McGinniss met at Kentucky Christian College (now Kentucky
Christian University). Stuart and his brother David were putting
together a rock band and McGinniss' mother told Stuart he
needed to meet her son. The two struck up a friendship and
along with David and Barry Blair launched the band, originally
called A-180. The band recorded two independent albums and
eventually the single, "My God," along with Bob
Herdman, which garnered the band a record contract with ForeFront
Records and launched the band Audio Adrenaline.
McGinniss admits they were a little hesitant initially. "We
thought we should be teachers and play rock and roll in the
summer," he recalls, "but after we prayed about
it for awhile, we realized that it must be coming from God
and he wanted us to go do this full time. We moved to Nashville
in 1991."
The band's self-titled debut disc garnered attention and
the band began building a national reputation for its high-energy
concerts, innovative songwriting, and unwavering commitment
to sharing the gospel. Audio Adrenaline's sophomore album,
Don't Censor Me, was released in 1993, and the band hit its
stride with such hits as "Big House" and "Can't
Take God Away."
They continued with 1995's Live Bootleg and the following
year with the groundbreaking effort, Bloom. Produced by mainstream
hitmaker John Hampton, the album debuted in the Top 60 on
Billboard's Top 200 chart and was certified gold by the RIAA.
Known as some of the music industry's most dedicated road
warriors, the band grew its fan base early on by touring with
dcTalk and Steven Curtis Chapman, before they began headlining
their own gigs. "I really felt like the first Jesus Freak
tour was a pretty eye opening experience for us," Stuart
recalls of the band's outing with dcTalk. "We were playing
sold out shows in front of 15,000 to 20,000 people. When we
played the first couple of notes of 'Big House,' you could
just hold the mic out and see everybody singing. That was
the very first time we experienced having a hit song and that's
when I knew we were in for a pretty good ride, just to see
the reaction from that song and how people sang to it."
Over the years, the band evolved with Blair exiting, and
Cissell and Burkum joining the ranks. Herdman came off the
road in 1999, but continued to contribute by writing songs
for the band, and heading up Flicker Records, an independent
label started with Stuart and McGinniss. The label launched
several new acts, most notably Pillar, before the partners
sold it to Sony/BMG's Christian arm, Provident Music Group
in early 2006. McGinniss and Stuart will continue to work
for the label in an A&R capacity.
In addition to creating great music and nurturing others
to share their God-given gifts, Audio Adrenaline is well known
for mission work, having established the Hands & Feet
Project. Through this project, they have constructed an orphanage
dedicated to attend to the health, welfare and education of
orphaned children in Haiti.Even though the band is winding
down it musical career, the commitment to missions through
the Hands & Feet Project will continue with plans to grow
by starting other orphanages involving other Christian artists.
Though they've always been serious about their music and
ministry, the guys in AudioA also have a healthy appetite
for fun. Whenever they had a day off on the road, they could
be found in the midst of some great adventures. They tell
tales of catching and eating a shark in Australia, boogie
boarding in Hawaii, and an ATV escapade in the desert outside
Vegas.
Audio Adrenaline isn't just a band; it's a brotherhood. They
all admit, the night they take their final bow and walk off
the stage together for the last time will be hard.
"It feels weird," Cissell says of trying to process
emotions as they are winding down. "It feels like you've
graduated high school, like you're ready for a new chapter
in your life, but you are also kind of scared to death because
you don't know what you are supposed to be for the rest of
your life. We all know strongly that we were called to do
Audio Adrenaline. I don't think there's any of us that could
say without a doubt that they feel like they were called to
do something else."
It's obvious with one listen to ADIOS: The Greatest Hits
that the band is leaving behind a powerful musical legacy
that will be enjoyed for decades to come, but what do they
think they'll most be remembered for? "I hope people
remember us for being real," says Stuart. "I think
we were a band who lifted up the hands of those who were weak;
who encouraged those kids who thought they had nothing to
offer.Singing about our shortcomings helped connect us to
a generation that needed hope, and we were able to point to
them to grace."
Addressing his fellow band members Burkum adds, "It's
an honor to even had the chance to be a part of this. All
I can say is it's been a pleasure. I love you guys!"
Courtesy Forefront records.
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