Slingshot 57
Encyclopedia
Slingshot 57 is a Christian rock
band from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, which formed in 1999. They have played 450 shows in 23 states. The name was inspired by the Biblical
story of David and Goliath
and Psalm 57
.
's "The Real World
" The band toured nationally with CIY Believe Conferences (also original band) and played festivals, state fairs, and teen conventions, everything from bars to churches, parties to high school auditoriums.
In 2003, four of the members left to pursue other ministries. Kirk Bolen went to St. Charles, Missouri
to become a worship minister. Ross Drennan went to Springfield
to become a children's minister. Matt Harris is now in Colorado
as a campus minister. Gabe Rutledge is a minister of technology in Springfield, Illinois. A search for new members led to a new lineup including Nash Bruce (guitar, vocals), Neill Nation (guitar), Paul Stewart (bass), and Nick McNeely (drums, vocals).
In June 2005 Nick McNeely left the band, with Neill Nation following in April 2006. Both found a new home in the rock band Bastian. After Nick and Neill left Daniel Bishop was recruited to play drums, Tim Wilson was added as the band's new bass player, and Paul Stewart moved to rhythm guitar.
Slingshot 57 played their final show on November 17, 2007 in Mahomet, Illinois with bands The Switch and Dear Future.
Ben Woods was as of Summer 2011 at the University of Illinois as a campus minister for Axiom Ministry.
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 Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, which formed in 1999. They have played 450 shows in 23 states. The name was inspired by the Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
story of David and Goliath
Goliath (Bible)
Goliath , جليات Ǧulyāt ) known also as Goliath of Gath is a figure in the Hebrew Bible . Described as a giant Philistine warrior, he is famous for his combat with the young David, the future king of Israel...
and Psalm 57
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
.
History
Slingshot 57 originated out of Lincoln Christian College, and gained a following in central Illinois. They received heavy national radio airplay in 2001-02 with their single "Everyday." They recorded two full length albums, performed with several major label acts, and had songs aired on three consecutive seasons of MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's "The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
" The band toured nationally with CIY Believe Conferences (also original band) and played festivals, state fairs, and teen conventions, everything from bars to churches, parties to high school auditoriums.
In 2003, four of the members left to pursue other ministries. Kirk Bolen went to St. Charles, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
to become a worship minister. Ross Drennan went to Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
to become a children's minister. Matt Harris is now in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
as a campus minister. Gabe Rutledge is a minister of technology in Springfield, Illinois. A search for new members led to a new lineup including Nash Bruce (guitar, vocals), Neill Nation (guitar), Paul Stewart (bass), and Nick McNeely (drums, vocals).
In June 2005 Nick McNeely left the band, with Neill Nation following in April 2006. Both found a new home in the rock band Bastian. After Nick and Neill left Daniel Bishop was recruited to play drums, Tim Wilson was added as the band's new bass player, and Paul Stewart moved to rhythm guitar.
Slingshot 57 played their final show on November 17, 2007 in Mahomet, Illinois with bands The Switch and Dear Future.
Ben Woods was as of Summer 2011 at the University of Illinois as a campus minister for Axiom Ministry.
Members
- Ben Woods (1999-2007)
- Kirk Bolen (1999-2003)
- Ross Drennan (1999-2003)
- Matt Harris (1999-2003)
- Gabe Rutledge (1999-2003)
- Neill Nation (2003-2006)
- Nick McNeely (2003-2006)
- Nash Bruce (2003-2007)
- Gregory (Paul) Stewart (2003-2007)
- Tim Wilson (2006-2007)
- Daniel Bishop (2006-2007)
Albums
- 5 Smooth Stones (2000)
- Stay the Course (2002)
- Slingshot 57 EP (2004)
- The Evidence (2007) (released on iTunes)