"I was called 'Baloney-Head' in college," admits bass player, Will Mc Ginniss, "because I had one of the first bowl hair cuts!"
"In college I had "The Colonel" [for a nickname]," says guitar specialist, Barry Blair. That came from a Blues Brothers sketch he did.
Lead singer Mark Stuart they simply call, "Stewie." Tour drummer, Ben Cissell, has earned the name "Pig Ben." And keyboardist, Bob Herdman? "I don't have a nickname," he says firmly.
However these guys are best known for their other popular alias; Audio Adrenaline.
Combining a rare blend of alternative rock 'n' roll with straightforward Christian lyrics, Audio Adrenaline has become one of the hottest bands in Christian music today. They've toured with supergroup DC Talk (twice) and the Newsboys (once), and have performed at high profile venues like Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues. Their albums routinely sell hundreds of thousands of copies, and they recently won a Dove Award for their long form video, "Big House."
Youth96 caught up with "Baloney-Head" and his band-mates in Denver recently. Here's what they had to say...
What words would you use to describe your music?
Bob: I say fun, "Big House" is fun, just a fun, joyous occasion to think about the future.
Barry: It's definately Christian. We want to make a good art and be creative, but we definately want our music to have a Christian message that people can understand and get something from it.
Why do you guys write and sing such unapologetically Christian lyrics?
Mark: It's what we're passionate about... [and] it inevitably comes out in our music. I want to give kids a really strong biblical base, and teach them--and teach adults the same--what God has to say through the Bible.
Bob: We don't want anybody to have any doubt about what we are. We're a total, sold-out-to-God Christian band. We want to be as good and as wild as the next band, but our message is totally Jesus.
Barry: I remember when I was a kid and got into Christian music bands like Petra and the first Stryper record and stuff like that. It was so blantantly Christian. And to me that's what was cool about it. That's what we want to give to kids today.
What's your vision for today's teenagers?
Bob: I hope they'll be strong, stand up, be bold, be a generation that's sold out to God. Totally on fire abou what they believe in and about Christ. Not ashamed at all. Not afraid to say what they believe in. Kids today are going to be the leaders of the church tomorrow, and I hope they are more loving, more compassionate. I hope... that the church they lead will be more loving.
What do you like best bout today's teenagers?
Will: Their sense of fashion! [Also] when I look at kids today and I see how they express themselves so creatively, I think how cool that would be if they knew God and were using that creativity to do something cool for God.
Barry: That youthful energy and excitement about life in general is really cool.
Bob: [Teenagers] try to be more real to who they are, and I guess that's good. At least you know where people stand, you know where to meet them at.
Barry: Also the fact that they're searching and thinking and looking for those answers gives them a chance to find the right answer.
How do you maintain a vibrant relationship with God in the face of the unique stresses of your career?
Ben: Our road pastor is starting to keep us accountable, to help us read the Bible and read good books. He's asking us every day if we spent time with God.
Barry: On this tour we've had our own 'Road Pastor' who's led us in Bible studies and prayer.
Will: At first that makes you mad. The fact that you even have to have someone do that makes you mad. But now we really like it. You feel like, 'Ask me today because I did it!'
Barry: We've [also] talked more and more aobut the importance of personal time with God--Bible reading, prayer and just trying to get closer to Him.
Bob: Sometimes you've got to discipline yourself first to get in the Word. Then after awhile you start to want to do it.
How would you describe Jesus to someone who's never heard of Him?
Bob: Jesus is God. He knows everything, sees everything, is everything. He loves you and he'll save you from yourself and sin.
Barry: He's the ideal best friend.
Will: He's the overall father-figure-slash-friend. He'll love you and accept, he's looking out for your best interests. Even if you do go in the other direction, he still loves you enough to die for you.
A Day With Audio Adrenaline
1:15 pm-- I arrive backstage. Lead singer Mark Stuart is going to the hospital! His eyeballs got sunburned while he was snow boarding yesterday!
1:50 pm-- Barry and Bob fill me in on Mark Stuart. "Mark is pretty much living a country music song," Barry jokes. Bob explains that Mark has a history of bad-luck illnesses. In recent years he's had mononucleosis, bruised throat, kidney stones, a tumor in his ear, pneumonia, and a root canal that was accidentally performed on the wrong tooth!
3:40 pm-- Mark returns wearing dark glasses. He's also got burn cream smeared in his eyes. He goes to call his wife.
3:55 pm-- Road manager Scott Brickell tells me now's a good time for a quick interview with Mark. I go looking for him.
4:00 pm-- A burly security guard repeatedly threatens to kick me out! I try turning on the charm--only to discover I don't have any. Thankfully, Mark comes over and rescues me. Because of his eyes, we do the whole interview in the dark.
4:30 pm-- I get an Audio Adrenaline tee! Stylin'!
5:30 pm-- Sound check. Mark ad-libs a song that goes "I caaaaaaan't see anything..."
7:15 pm-- I take drummer Ben Cissell to meet teenagers from my church's youth group. They're sitting on the very last row of the arena. Ben doesn't complain about having to climb Mount Everest to meet the youth group. They all love him.
7:30 pm-- Concert Starts.It only takes about three seconds for the band to get everyone dancing in the aisles. Loud, fun, and sweaty.
8:00 pm-- Scott Brickell appears from nowhere. He leads me and three of my teenagers on stage! We're standing just out of sight when the band starts "Big House." The audience is a sea of bodies, dancing, pogoing, and doing the bunny hop. Bob Herdman sees us and winks.
8:15 pm-- Audio Adrenaline's part of the concert is over. I'm exhausted, but have had a great time "joining' the band for a day.
