Whitecross (band)
Whitecross is an American Christian metal band from Illinois, formed in 1985 by singer Scott Wenzel and guitarist Rex Carroll, and re-formed in 2000. The band won three Dove Awards in the 1990s. Its latest album is Nineteen Eighty Seven, released in 2005.
Whitecross | |
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Whitecross in 2013 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Waukegan, Illinois, US |
Genres | Heavy metal, Christian metal, hard rock |
Years active | 1985–present |
Labels | Pure Metal, Star Song |
Members |
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History
Whitecross formed in 1985 in Waukegan, Illinois, releasing their first recording in 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. In 1994, Rex Carroll split with lead vocalist Scott Wenzel. Wenzel retained the use of the name "Whitecross" while Carroll went on to form King James with Jimi Bennett (see below). At this point the band's sound underwent a drastic change.
Whitecross has won three Dove Awards with Triumphant Return (in 1990) and In the Kingdom (in 1992) winning "Metal Album of the Year"[1] and Come unto the Light from the Unveiled album winning "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" at the 25th GMA Dove Awards in 1994.[2]
In 1994 prior to work starting on the Unveiled album, guitarist Rex Carroll left to form the band King James and pursue other musical ventures. In 1998, singer Scott Wenzel took a two-year break to do mission work in Paraguay, South America. During this time, Whitecross went on hiatus before re-emerging at Cornerstone Festival in 2000 when Carroll and Wenzel re-formed the band with Carroll, Wenzel, Michael Feighan and newcomer Benny Ramos providing bass, keyboards and vocals. Finally having achieved a long-sought lineup stability, the band started performing on a regular basis.
In 2005, the band went back into the studio to record Nineteen Eighty Seven, which featured re-recordings of nine of the ten songs from the band's self-titled debut album (You're Mine being the exclusion), as well as a re-recording of the song Love on the Line (previously unavailable on CD) and a new guitar instrumental by Rex Carroll.
On April 5, 2008, they played at the Legends of Rock festival in Ennepetal, Germany. Beginning in July 2008, they played the first of several short tours in Guatemala featuring shows in Guatemala City, Panajachel, Huehuetenango and other cities.
In 2017, Carroll and Feighan joined with David Bach and Jamie Rowe of Guardian to record Revival, a new compilation of Whitecross and Guardian tracks and went on a short tour to promote the project. [3]
Albums
With Rex Carroll
Album | Year |
---|---|
Whitecross | 1987 |
Love on the Line (EP) | 1988 |
Hammer & Nail | 1988 |
Triumphant Return | 1989 |
In the Kingdom | 1991 |
High Gear | 1992 |
Nineteen Eighty Seven | 2005 |
Without Rex Carroll
Album | Year |
---|---|
Unveiled | 1994 |
Equilibrium | 1995 |
Flytrap | 1996 |
Unveiled (re-issue) | 2005 |
Compilations
Album | Year |
---|---|
At Their Best | 1991 |
To the Limit | 1993 |
By Demand | 1995 |
One More Encore | 1998 |
Mega 3 Collection | 2005 |
The Very Best of Whitecross | 2006 |
Their Classic Hits | 2009 |
Videos
- The Reign Goes On - 45 minute VHS, 1992 Star Song Communications (extremely rare)
Members of Whitecross
- Current
- Scott Wenzel – lead vocals (1985–present)
- Rex Carroll – guitar, vocals (1985–1993, 2000–present)
- Michael Feighan – drums, vocals (1991–1995, 2000–present)
- Benny Ramos – bass guitar, vocals (2000–present)
- Former
- Guitars
- Barry Graul (MercyMe) (1994–1995)
- Quinton Gibson (1996)
- Drums
- Mark Hedl (1987–1988)
- Mike Elliott (1989)
- Troy Stone (1996)
- bass guitar
- Jon Sproule (1987–1988)
- Rick Armstrong (1989)
- Butch Dillon (1991)
- Scott Harper (1992–1993)
- Tracy Ferrie (1994–1995)
- Brent Denny (1996)
Whitecross | Hammer & Nail | Triumphant Return | In the Kingdom | High Gear | Unveiled | Equilibrium | Flytrap | Nineteen Eighty Seven | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vocals | Scott Wenzel | ||||||||
Guitars | Rex Carroll | Barry Graul | Quinton Gibson | Rex Carroll | |||||
Drums | Mark Hedl | Mike Elliott | Mike Feighan | Troy Stone | Mike Feighan | ||||
Bass | Jon Sproule | Rick Armstrong | Butch Dillon | Scott Harper | Tracy Ferrie | Brent Denny | Rex Carroll |
References
- "Dove Award Recipients for Hard Music Album". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
- "Dove Award Recipients for 1995". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
- "Guardian + Whitecross - About". guardianwhitecross.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 1030–1033. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
External links
- Whitecross @ ShoutLife Tribute
- Scott Wenzel @ ShoutLife Tribute
- Pictures from the reunion gig at Cornerstone 2002 archived copy taken March 4, 2006
- Brief Whitecross biography