CD Worldwide (Forefront Records)   Web Site http://www.audioa.com/   "Hero" Information http://www.herouniverse.com/premise.asp

MUSIC

On a Mission: Audio Adrenaline Not Slowing Down

By Chris Carpenter
CBN.com Producer

If any one song could define what a band truly represents than the opening words on Contemporary Christian (CCM) artist Audio Adrenalines new album "Worldwide" does just that. For better or worse, this is who Audio Adrenaline is, four guys from the Midwest driven by faith to spread the gospel to the far ends of the earth no matter how long it takes. Factor in a large dose of self deprecating humor and the absence of egos so readily found in rock and roll and you have a group completely in tune with their mission.

"After you have been doing rock music for 12 years your influence starts to slip but hopefully your inspiration continues to grow," says lead singer Mark Stuart. "For us, we are not the hottest young band on the block anymore but I think we can still inspire people to do cool and great things for God."

"The fans, the youth groups, and whoever else listens to our records are more important to us than having a particular sound," agrees bassist Will McGinnis. "We want to make great art, but when it comes down to it we are more concerned about the crowd and how they respond to our music."

Audio Adrenaline was formed in 1991 by Stuart, singer/guitarist Barry Blair, and keyboardist Bob Herdman while they were attending Kentucky Christian College in Grayson, Kentucky. The three were Christian Education majors studying for careers as teachers and youth pastors. Little did they know but what began as a summer ministry project representing the college soon turned into a profession. Adding McGinnis and drummer Brian Hayes to the mix, the band soon developed a strong following of ardent fans throughout the Midwest. Due to their surprising success, they signed a record deal with Forefront Records in late 1991 and released their self-titled debut in 1992. By the mid-1990s Hayes had left the band and was replaced by current drummer Ben Cissell. Current guitarist/vocalist Tyler Burkum joined shortly thereafter, taking over for Blair to comprise what is essentially the current Audio Adrenaline line-up (Herdman left the band recently). Through their career, they have earned 17 number one radio hits including "Big House" which was voted the top Contemporary Christian song of the 1990s by CCM Magazine. In addition to having won multiple Dove Awards, the band has earned four Grammy nominations.

After 12 years and nine albums most bands begin to slow down, even go their separate ways, but Audio Adrenaline appears to be just getting started. Following a dizzying winter/spring tour through the United States, Stuart, McGinnis, Burkum, and Cissell are criss-crossing the nation again this summer by playing at many of the Christian music festivals.

A prime illustration of Audio Adrenalines road tested resiliency took place on a recent tour date in the Midwest. The band has been traveling with a 1960s era British touring car (similar to a Cooper Mini) that they bring onstage each evening. On this particular night, stage technicians were to raise the car into the air with the aid of steel cables to give fans the illusion it was flying. There was only one problem. The car got loose onstage and rolled approximately five feet forward striking Stuart in the back. The vehicle nearly pushed him off the stage forcing him to stop singing. After a brief pause and a great deal of laughter the band restarted the song and the concert proceeded without further incident.

"Now, we can actually say our lead singer has been hit by a car onstage," laughs Cissell. "That is Audio Adrenaline. There is never a dull moment."

Aside from the onstage hijinks that seem to transpire on a nightly basis, at its core, Audio Adrenaline is a band devoted to missions. Lending evidence to this assessment is their just concluded tour with Mercy Me called The Go Show. Playing before nearly 140,000 people in 50 cities, the tours primary aim was to offer opportunities to youth and adults to serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by signing up to serve as short term missionaries around the world. During each performance, both bands shared extensively about the foundation they launched together and made both a call to salvation and a call to missions. The tour was a rousing success as more than 5,000 people registered to go on short term missions trips over the next 18 months.

"Something we believe very strongly in is missions," says Cissell. "Some of the kids who signed up are going to be leaving on missions trips soon. We will soon be getting a trickle back of these stories. That is going to be pretty exciting in how it is going to change peoples lives."

However, any great project for the kingdom of God does not come without its pitfalls. In light of the current volatility around the world highlighted by the events of September 11^th and the war in Iraq, a few critics are pointing to the notion that it is unsafe for American youth to be traveling overseas to potentially unsafe flashpoints. Stuart, a former missionary to Haiti, understands these trepidations but disagrees.

"We are excited but at the same time scared too because it is a different world. A lot of countries look at Americans as the enemy rather than a rescuer or missionary. I personally believe God is going to use this time to help. I think it is going to be a good time. I was a missionary to Haiti and things happened to us left and right. I dont think there was anytime, regardless of history or the state of the world that Satan is going to throw things at Christians who are doing great things for God. I think people are hostile in general to the gospel but you just have to be careful and trust God. Be faithful and know that Hes got your back."

As for what lies ahead for Audio Adrenaline, the future looks diversified and bright. Late last year, Stuart toured the United States in the Christian rock opera "Hero". Playing the part of Petrof (Peter), he joined fellow Christian artists Rebecca St. James and Michael Tait of DC Talk and Tait on the road performing this modern day interpretation of the life of Jesus.

"This project took a long time to come to fruition but I thought it would be a cool challenge and would be interesting to do," explains Stuart, of the venture that will also feature an album and a series of comic books. "I thought it was a really unique way to present the gospel in a modern day setting. It is a great evangelical tool."

While Stuart was out on the road, the rest of the band took some well deserved time off to mull over their next project. Like any album they have recorded before, Audio Adrenaline insists that it be down to earth and contain songs that can relay a servants heart to their audience. Based on that criteria it would only seem natural for them to record a praise and worship album as their musical counterparts Third Day and the Newsboys have done recently. Not so fast.

"We do feel like a lot of our songs are worship songs," says McGinnis, mentioning "Hands and Feet" and "Ocean Floor". "We just want it to be generated out of the right heart. It just hasnt been generated yet. We just dont want to be trendy and jump on the band wagon. We have never wanted to do that or be outside of that."

"We definitely talk about it (praise and worship album) because the success is there and it seems like a new trend," adds Cissell. "But our heart has always been toward missions. It is not that I hate worship music, I love it, but I just dont feel like that is what we are supposed to be doing. Dont get me wrong. I would love to do a worship record but I just dont feel it yet."

When a band has been together for over a decade and has experienced the wealth of success that they have, it would be easy for Audio Adrenaline to just churn out album after album based on the formula that brought them to this point in their careers. But that is not what they are about. Audio Adrenaline has a calling on their life and that call is to tell as many people as they can about the wonderful gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

"I think for us it is to be faithful in the little things that God gives you everyday," says Stuart. "Everyday do His will and God is going to bless you. I think what specifically keeps my faith fresh through the years is doing stuff that pushes the envelope a little or makes you step out."

And stepping out is what the aforementioned song "Worldwide:One" stresses with a pulse pounding backbeat. Audio Adrenaline is going to keep the bus rolling, screaming from the rooftops until the whole world knows about Jesus Christ.