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Altar Boys were 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.

Background

The Altar Boys helped pioneer Christian rock music. They were known for their Ramones-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.

The band went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992. The group did a number of reunion concerts most notable was Cornerstone 2000 and 2002, and the Broken Records reunion event in July 2005. The group's final performance occurred in June of 2006 at the Corona del Mar fair grounds.

Mike Stand has resurrected many of the Altar Boys songs with a "punktry" project called The Altar Billies.

Former drummer, and Stand's cousin, Jeff Crandall, is currently the worship pastor at Saguaro Canyon Church in Tucson, Arizona.

The Story behind the recording of the Altar Boys GLM record as described by Mike Stand In early 1986 we had the idea of recording and releasing an EP of punk rock songs that would speak right to the heart of “kids.” We also knocked around the idea of doing two different records that would speak to two different “audiences.” (Christian and non Christians). But after much deliberation, the group decided the best and most effective thing to do was to combine all of these ideas into one project. That project was tentatively titled: “Gut Level Music” (GLM for short).

Tracking for GLM went quickly and commenced on March 19, 1986 and was completed on April 17th – mastering was done on April 18th. Most of the basics were done in a few days. (I say most because we did have a brief pause as Jeff was laid for a week after having surgery on his hand to remove some shards of glass). We wound up doing overdubs until Jeff was better and then finished up the two remaining basic tracks: “Final Hour” and “life Begins at the Cross.”

The total recording budget for GLM project was a whopping 6,000.00. The recording and mix time clicked in around160 hours – which is minuscule, by today’s standards. Last unconfirmed count is that GLM has sold somewhere between 40 and 50 thousand units.

The first song written for the project was “You Found Me” back in 1982. It can actually be “found” on the Altar Boys first project. However the band decided to record it again, as we felt the first version on “Altar Boys one” just didn’t do the song justice. Except for “You are Loved” and “Calling to You” All the songs for GLM were written in the spare room at my first home on North Flower in West Orange. The last song written for the record was “I Question it.”

GLM was a very enjoyable and easy album for us to make. The sequence from start to finish feels seamless, complete, and natural. In my mind, there wasn’t a weak link anywhere. During the last mix down session, I distinctly remember turning to our road manager at the time – Johnny Stoddard – and saying something to the affect that: “we did it, this is a good one.” However, I did not even remotely think that GLM would have the impact that it did, nor the longevity that it has enjoyed. Sonically, it might not stand up to today’s recordings, but the passion, honesty, and songwriting, in my opinion, holds its own. The songs are still as relevant as ever, maybe even more so. In the end, GLM is more than just a memorable record by the Altar Boys, truth be told: “it’s our communication!”

We rehearsed at Jeff’s house in the garage that was converted into a studio. Jeff’s dad and one of my other uncle’s (Jeff and I are cousin’s by the way) built this cool soundproof studio with air conditioning. It was our “home” for a long time. By the time I started introducing songs for GLM, Steve had already left the group and started 4th watch. During these formative years I was constantly bringing in songs. We would work on a tune, get it right, and then perform it live. So by the time we decided to go in and record GLM, we were doing all of the songs live and they were already arranged, and “proven.”– The one exception might have been “There is a Love” – for whatever reason we had a hard time pulling that one off live

In our world, there was no such thing as taking a month or two off from playing to record a project. We would often leave the studio early and drive out somewhere to play in the evening - so recording and playing gigs went on simultaneously. By today’s standards that is kind of crazy arrangement, but that’s just the way we did it.

Originally we had Billy Batstone slated to produce GLM – he had done Rebel with us and was a really great person to work with. Somewhere along the line Billy had to bow out because of other commitments, and Frontline suggested both Terry Taylor and Rob Watson produce GLM. I don’t remember the exact dynamics, but for the most part Terry and Rob essentially went along with almost everything we wanted to do for GLM. They did make some pivotal suggestions, not so much in the actual arrangements of the songs, but more in the vocals, lead guitar lines, and other overdubs.

We recorded the basic tracks live. I believe it was Terry’s idea to have me sing, “life,…. life begins at the Cross,” and I distinctly remember him guiding me through the guitar solo on You are Loved. During the basic tracking of the project, Jeff had surgery on one of his fingers to remove a few slivers of glass that he “joyfully received” from doing the dishes. So we only had 8 songs laid down – actually it was 9, but we dumped one of the songs called “Let Go”– After Jeff’s finger healed he came back and we recorded the basics for “Final Hour” and I think, “Life Begins at the cross”

It was more Ric and Terry’s idea to do all of the backwards stuff on Final Hour” as well as the sound of a hammer pounding in spikes. Terry was especially enamored with “There is a Love,” and though it is different from all of the driving songs on the project, it stands out on its own and is a nice respite. I was excited to play a vox 12 string on that song, and on the intro and tag of “You are loved.”

I’m not quite sure what prompted me to do a cover of “Unconditional love.” I believe I heard the song on the radio, and had found out that Donna Summer had recently given her life back to Christ – something just registered and we put it together during a rehearsal one day and that was that. We tried it live and it worked!. I really loved the solo on Unconditional Love, and there is one run in there that was based on something Ken Tamplin had showed me years before on the guitar when we played in a band together for a short time.

The project actually went rather quickly. I believe the budget for the GLM project was maybe 6,000.00 and for some reason 160 hours sticks in my mind as the amount of studio time we used – which is minuscule on both accounts. Last I heard the record had sold somewhere between 40 and 50 thousand units, but I can’t confirm that.

I had the idea for the cover. We shot it in a studio where I just kept strumming my hand across the guitar until we captured that faint image you see. Yes, I still own the guitar and am currently plying it in the Altar Billies. The photos for the back cover were shot against a fence right around the corner from my house in West Orange.

It was a very enjoyable and easy album for us to make, When we were just about with all the mixing, I distinctly remember turning to our road manager at the time – Johnny Stoddard – and saying something to the affect that “we did it, this is a good one.” However I did not even remotely think in terms of longevity. I could just sense that when I listened to GLM, the actual sequence from song to song just felt seamless, complete, natural. In my mind and vision for the project, there wasn’t a weak link anywhere. By today’s’ standards it might not stand up sonically, but one can feel the passion and honesty in the songs still communicate an urgent message that is as relevant as it’s ever been. “Gut Level Music it’s our communication! “

Discography

• 1984 Altar Boys (Broken Records)
• 1985 When You're a Rebel (Alarma Records)
• 1986 Gut Level Music (Alarma Records) Remastered and re-issued in 2015 through Girder 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)

References

1. ^ Newcomb, Brian Quincy (May–June 1998). "History: Altar Boys". 7ball (18).
2. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 34–35. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
3. ^ Thompson, John J. (2000). Raised by Wolves. ECW Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-55022-421-4.
4. ^ Well, Chris (June 1986). "The Altar Boys Come Out of the Garage". CCM Magazine. 8 (12): 14–15. ISSN 0746-0066.
5. ^ Newcomb, Brian Quincy (December 1987). "Altar Boys Make A Human Sound". CCM Magazine. 10 (6): 25. ISSN 1524-7848.
6. Un (2011-11-01). "The Altar Billies | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
7. "Music Ministries – Saguaro Canyon EFC". Saguarocanyon.org. Retrieved 2012-02-01.

External links

• Altar Boys discography at MusicBrainz
• - Altar Boys facebook page
• - Official Altar Boys youtube channel
• - Altar Billies facebook page
• - Altar Billies Youtube Channel

• Christian punk groups
• Christian rock groups from California
• Musical groups established in 1982