Holy Soldier
Encyclopedia
Background
The band was originally formed in early 1985 by bassist Andy Robbins and guitarist Jamie Cramer. The band gained a strong local following before signing. Holy Soldier was initially noted for their strong evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
focus, although they regularly played to secular audiences. For a time they held the second largest attendance record at Gazzarri's
Gazzarri's
Gazzarri's was a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is most notable as the location where The Doors, and Van Halen were featured house bands for long stretches before being discovered...
, a Hollywood nightclub. In 1989 they signed to Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
, an imprint of Word/A&M, as that label's first metal act. Their eponymous debut, produced by David Zaffiro
David Zaffiro
-Career:His professional career began as guitarist for the metal band Bloodgood. Though he officially left the band following their third album, he did play various parts on later albums. He then began producing records independently and for others...
, was released in 1990 to critical and commercial acclaim. The band garnered two Dove Awards in 1991, in the hard rock song and album of the year categories. After heavy touring the band lost two members almost simultaneously – lead vocalist Steven Patrick, and guitarist Michael Cutting.
The band replaced their losses with Eric Wayne and Scott Soderstrom and continued to tour. Wayne exited when Steven Patrick returned in 1991, but would rejoin the group in 1995. Two years later, the band followed up their debut with Last Train, another critical, though not commercial, success. Although Last Train charted, peaking at the #10 slot on Billboard's CCM chart, the album did not meet the sales expectations of the label, and the band was dropped from their roster. A review in CCM magazine found that although the band's sound had progressed, their lyrics had shifted from evangelicalism to a more ambiguous tone. Additionally, the band was criticised by some in Christian music for being a "crossover success" into the general market.
Once again, the band experienced personnel changes when Steven Patrick departed. The band quickly replaced Patrick with Seattle, WA vocalist Eric Wayne, who helped move the band into a grungier sound. Wayne's lower vocal register allowed Holy Soldier to compete in the metal market with the likes of Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
, Crash Test Dummies
Crash Test Dummies
The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian folk rock/alternative rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, widely known for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts and his distinctive bass-baritone voice...
, and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
. After Holy Soldier's reinvention and extensive touring, the band was signed to ForeFront Records in 1994. Once again recruiting the production skills of producer David Zaffiro
David Zaffiro
-Career:His professional career began as guitarist for the metal band Bloodgood. Though he officially left the band following their third album, he did play various parts on later albums. He then began producing records independently and for others...
, Holy Soldier released Promise Man in 1995. Promise Man returned the band to critical acclaim within Christian music circles, winning the band Doves for hard music album and song in 1996. Despite the success of Promise Man, Holy Soldier was unhappy with the lack of support they received from their record label ForeFront Records and they asked the label to be let out of their contract. In 1997, after a short hiatus, bassist Andy Robbins independently produced on his own boutique label (Spaceport Records) a live retrospective album featuring both current frontman Eric Wayne and original vocalist Steven Patrick. After the release of Encore, Holy Soldier officially disbanded.
In 2005, the original Holy Soldier line-up reunited in August for a benefit concert and possible studio album follow-up. But again, Steven Patrick's reunion with his former band members was extremely brief. Suddenly without its original lead vocalist for the second time, Holy Soldier recruited original drummer Terry Russell's brother, Don, to replace Patrick to perform for a string of festival dates in the summer of 2006.
Studio Albums
- 1990 - Holy Soldier (Myrrh Records / A&M Records, produced by David ZaffiroDavid Zaffiro-Career:His professional career began as guitarist for the metal band Bloodgood. Though he officially left the band following their third album, he did play various parts on later albums. He then began producing records independently and for others...
) - 1992 - Last Train (Myrrh Records, produced by David Zaffiro)
- 1995 - Promise Man (ForeFront / EMI Records, produced by David Zaffiro)
Live Albums
- 1997 - Encore (Spaceport Records, produced by Michael Cutting & David Zaffiro, 8 Feb 1997 @ ROCKETOWN, Nashville, TN)
DVDs
- 2006 - Live, Rare and Raw (Roxx Productions/Spaceport Records)
Members
Current- Andy Robbins - Bass Guitar, Vocals
- Michael Cutting - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals (1985–1991, 1995–1997, 2005+)
- Jamie Cramer - Guitars, Vocals (1985–1992, 2005+)
- Terry Russell - Drums, Vocals (1985–1992, 2005+)
- Don Russell - Lead Vocals (2005+)
Former
- Lead Vocals - Robbie Brauns (1985–1987)
- Lead Vocals - Steven Patrick (1988–1990, 1992, 1997, 2005)
- Lead Vocals - Eric Wayne (1990, 1995–1997)
- Guitars - Scott Soderstrom (1991–1998)
- Drums - Jason Martin (1995–1997)
Trivia
- Andy Robbins from SkinSkin (UK band)Skin are a UK hard rock band active during the 1990s who reformed in 2009, only to disband again in 2010.-History:Skin were formed in the early 1990s by ex-Jagged Edge members Myke Gray and Andy Robbins along with former Kooga vocalist Neville MacDonald and drummer Dicki Fliszar, formerly from...
is not the same from Holy Soldier. - Andy Robbins was baptized by Pat BoonePat BooneCharles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
at Boone's swimming pool at his home in Beverly Hills. - Andy Robbins and Michael Cutting are also avid Pink Floyd fans and today they front a Pink Floyd tribute band called In the Flesh."