Audio Adrenaline

With their fusion of rock, rap and funk, Audio Adrenaline emerged as one of the most popular CCM acts of the 1990s. Formed in 1986 on the campus of Kentucky Christian College, the band originally featured lead vocalist Mark Stuart, guitarist Barry Blair, bassist Will McGinnis, keyboardist Bob Herdman, and drummer Brian Hayes. Initially named A-180, they recorded an independent single, “My God,” which caught the attention of Forefront Records president Dan Brock, and soon after the label issued Audio Adrenaline’s self-titled debut LP. Don't Censor Me followed in 1993, scoring hits with the singles “Big House” and “Can’t Take God Away.” Live Bootleg was released in 1995, and Bloom in 1996; the latter debuted in the Top 60 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1997, Audio Adrenaline — now consisting of Stuart, McGinnis, Herdman, and drummer Ben Cissell — resurfaced with Some Kind of Zombie; Underdog followed two years later. A greatest-hits collection, Hit Parade, celebrated almost ten years in the music industry, and served as a good introduction to the band. Lift came out the following year. In 2003, Audio Adrenaline delivered their seventh full-length album, Worldwide, which earned the group a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album. The following year, they duplicated their Grammy success with the album Until My Heart Caves In. In 2006, citing lead singer Stuart’s vocal cord injuries, Audio Adrenaline announced they were breaking up. A career-spanning compilation album, Adios: Greatest Hits, followed that same year and the group embarked on a farewell tour in 2007. Two years later, they played a reunion show during Australia’s Easterfest. In 2013, Audio Adrenaline re-formed with a new lineup featuring former dc Talk vocalist Kevin Max, and released the album Kings & Queens. Yet more lineup changes followed for the group’s tenth studio album, 2015′s Sound of the Saints, which found Stellar Kart frontman Adam Agee taking over lead vocal duties. ~ Jason Ankeny