Altar Boys were a Christian punk band from California formed in 1982. The original members were Mike Stand (vocals, songwriting and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars) and Ric Alba (bass guitar and backing vocals). Mark Robertson later replaced Alba on bass guitar.
The Altar Boys helped to pioneer Christian rock music.[1] They were known for their Ramones-style punk music which was differed radically from the Christian music common at the time of their formation.[2] Especially in their early years, they were known for being explicit with their faith in their lyrics.[2] Their sound was heavily influenced by the punk rock scene in Southern California and they quickly became one of the best known Christian bands on that scene.[3]
The Altar Boys' first album was issued on various labels (e.g. Ministry Resource Center/MRC, Maranatha! Music and Broken Records) and sold over 7,000 copies with their second selling 20,000 in its first two months of release.[4]
Their third and fourth releases, Gut Level Music and Against the Grain, propelled them to national standing.[1][2]Gut Level Music was explicitly aimed at a secular audience, and marked changes designed to enhance their credibility with that audience.[4] Their lyrical approach changed toward a more subtle expression of their faith.[5] They also refined their sound in an attempt to distance themselves from the punk "garage band" image that they had acquired early on.[5]
Their final studio album, Forever Mercy, was released in 1989 and supported with another tour. Some time after the tour, Alba left the band and was replaced by Mark Robertson. Work had begun on a follow-up album, tentatively titled No Substitute, when the Altar Boys went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992.[3]
The group did a number of reunion concerts of which the most notable were Cornerstone 2000 and 2002,[citation needed] and the Broken Records reunion event in July 2005.[citation needed] The group's final performance was in June 2006 at the Corona del Mar Fairgrounds.[citation needed]
The group of four performed live for their final show[citation needed] on September 16, 2018, at House of Blues in Anaheim for the new release of the No Substitute album. At the sold-out performance, the Altar Boys performed crowd favorites Gut Level Music, a few new songs from No Substitute, and other well-known songs from their other albums. Stand's son made guest appearances on both drums and backing guitar.[citation needed] The show's opening act was Crumbacher, which was its first reunion since 2011.[citation needed]
Stand has resurrected many of the Altar Boys songs with a "punktry" project called The Altar Billies.[6]
Drummer and Stand's cousin, Jeff Crandall, is currently[when?] a connector with Worship Catalyst in Tucson, Arizona, who acts as a mentor, coach and trainer to worship leaders in Tucson and across the US.[citation needed]
^ abcPowell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 34–35. ISBN1-56563-679-1.
altar, boys, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2022. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Altar Boys news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Not to be confused with Altar Boyz For the ministers at religious services see Altar server and Acolyte Altar Boys were a Christian punk band from California formed in 1982 The original members were Mike Stand vocals songwriting and guitar Jeff Crandall drums Steve Pannier guitars and Ric Alba bass guitar and backing vocals Mark Robertson later replaced Alba on bass guitar Altar BoysOriginSouthern California USGenresChristian punkYears active1982 1992 indefinite hiatus LabelsMinistry Resource Center Alarma Lo FidelityPast membersMike Stand Jeff Crandall Steve Pannier Ric Alba Mark Robertson Contents 1 Background 2 Album discography 3 References 4 External linksBackground editThe Altar Boys helped to pioneer Christian rock music 1 They were known for their Ramones style punk music which was differed radically from the Christian music common at the time of their formation 2 Especially in their early years they were known for being explicit with their faith in their lyrics 2 Their sound was heavily influenced by the punk rock scene in Southern California and they quickly became one of the best known Christian bands on that scene 3 The Altar Boys first album was issued on various labels e g Ministry Resource Center MRC Maranatha Music and Broken Records and sold over 7 000 copies with their second selling 20 000 in its first two months of release 4 Their third and fourth releases Gut Level Music and Against the Grain propelled them to national standing 1 2 Gut Level Music was explicitly aimed at a secular audience and marked changes designed to enhance their credibility with that audience 4 Their lyrical approach changed toward a more subtle expression of their faith 5 They also refined their sound in an attempt to distance themselves from the punk garage band image that they had acquired early on 5 Their final studio album Forever Mercy was released in 1989 and supported with another tour Some time after the tour Alba left the band and was replaced by Mark Robertson Work had begun on a follow up album tentatively titled No Substitute when the Altar Boys went on an indefinite hiatus in 1992 3 The group did a number of reunion concerts of which the most notable were Cornerstone 2000 and 2002 citation needed and the Broken Records reunion event in July 2005 citation needed The group s final performance was in June 2006 at the Corona del Mar Fairgrounds citation needed The group of four performed live for their final show citation needed on September 16 2018 at House of Blues in Anaheim for the new release of the No Substitute album At the sold out performance the Altar Boys performed crowd favorites Gut Level Music a few new songs from No Substitute and other well known songs from their other albums Stand s son made guest appearances on both drums and backing guitar citation needed The show s opening act was Crumbacher which was its first reunion since 2011 citation needed Stand has resurrected many of the Altar Boys songs with a punktry project called The Altar Billies 6 Drummer and Stand s cousin Jeff Crandall is currently when a connector with Worship Catalyst in Tucson Arizona who acts as a mentor coach and trainer to worship leaders in Tucson and across the US citation needed Album discography edit1984 Altar Boys Ministry Resource Center 1985 When You re a Rebel Alarma Records 1986 Gut Level Music Alarma Records 1987 Against the Grain Alarma Records 1989 Forever Mercy Alarma Records 1990 The Collection Alarma Records 2000 Live at Cornerstone M8 Distribution 2000 Mercy Thoughts M8 Distribution 2018 No Substitute Lo Fidelity Records References edit a b Newcomb Brian Quincy May June 1998 History Altar Boys 7ball 18 a b c Powell Mark Allan 2002 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music First printing ed Peabody Massachusetts Hendrickson Publishers pp 34 35 ISBN 1 56563 679 1 a b Thompson John J 2000 Raised by Wolves ECW Press p 122 ISBN 978 1 55022 421 4 a b Well Chris June 1986 The Altar Boys Come Out of the Garage CCM Magazine 8 12 14 15 ISSN 0746 0066 a b Newcomb Brian Quincy December 1987 Altar Boys Make A Human Sound CCM Magazine 10 6 25 ISSN 1524 7848 The Altar Billies Myspace November 1 2011 Retrieved February 1 2012 External links editAltar Boys discography at MusicBrainz Altar Boys Facebook page Official Altar Boys YouTube channel Altar Billies Facebook page Altar Billies YouTube Channel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Altar Boys amp oldid 1126430354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
