Altar Boys
Encyclopedia
Altar Boys are a Christian punk
rock
band from California, formed in 1982. They are Mike Stand (vocals, songwriting, and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars), Mark Robertson (bass), and Ric Alba.
-style punk music, which was radically different than the Christian music common at the time of their formation. Especially in their early years, they were known for being explicit with their faith in their lyrics. 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. Their first album sold over 7000 copies without distribution, and their second disc sold 20000 units in its first two months of release.
Their third and fourth releases, Gut Level Music and Against the Grain, propelled them to national standing. Gut Level Music was explicitly aimed at a secular audience, and marked changes designed to enhance their credibility with that audience. Their lyrical approach changed toward a more subtle expression of their faith. They also refined their sound in an attempt to distance themselves from the punk "garage band
" image that they had acquired early on. They began playing in secular venues more often, and in 1987 toured England opening with The Jesus and Mary Chain
.
The band went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992.
However Mike Stand has resurrected much of the Altar Boys songs with his new project called "The Altar Billies".
The Altar Billies are a "Punktry" band from Southern California.
They are a Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Country style trio led by Mike Stand that perform many of the Altar Boys hits as well as songs from Mike's various solo projects.
www.myspace.com/altarbillies
Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band from California, formed in 1982. They are Mike Stand (vocals, songwriting, and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars), Mark Robertson (bass), and Ric Alba.
Background
The Altar Boys helped pioneer Christian rock music. They were known for their RamonesRamones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
-style punk music, which was radically different than the Christian music common at the time of their formation. Especially in their early years, they were known for being explicit with their faith in their lyrics. Their sound was heavily influenced by the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and they quickly became one of the best known Christian bands on that scene. Their first album sold over 7000 copies without distribution, and their second disc sold 20000 units in its first two months of release.
Their third and fourth releases, Gut Level Music and Against the Grain, propelled them to national standing. Gut Level Music was explicitly aimed at a secular audience, and marked changes designed to enhance their credibility with that audience. Their lyrical approach changed toward a more subtle expression of their faith. They also refined their sound in an attempt to distance themselves from the punk "garage band
Garage band
The term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
" image that they had acquired early on. They began playing in secular venues more often, and in 1987 toured England opening with The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
.
The band went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992.
However Mike Stand has resurrected much of the Altar Boys songs with his new project called "The Altar Billies".
The Altar Billies are a "Punktry" band from Southern California.
They are a Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Country style trio led by Mike Stand that perform many of the Altar Boys hits as well as songs from Mike's various solo projects.
www.myspace.com/altarbillies
Trivia
- Mike Stand and Jeff Crandall are cousins.
- Jeff Crandall is currently the worship pastor at a Mega Church in Victorville, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
called High Desert Church.
Discography
- 2000: Mercy Thoughts (M8 Distribution)
- 2000: Live At Cornerstone (M8 Distribution)
- 1990: The Collection (Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - 1989: Forever Mercy (Alarma Records)
- 1987: Against the Grain (Alarma Records)
- 1986: Gut Level Music (Alarma Records)
- 1985: When You're A Rebel (Alarma Records)
- 1984: Altar Boys (Broken Records)
External links
- The Altar Boys - Official site
- Mike Stand - Official site
- The Altar Billies - Official Site