After 15 years, 12 albums and a load of frequent flier miles, Audio Adrenaline has decided to call it a day, due to frontman Mark Stuart's persistent vocal troubles. (Stuart is singing some songs on the band's current farewell tour, but his voice isn't holding up very well.) Long known as a favorite of the youth group set with sing-a-long anthems like "Big House" and "Get Down," the band earned rave reviews from its fans for a rockin' live show and industry acclaim with four Dove Awards and two Grammies. But far more important to the band than these accolades was its tight-knit friendships. Bass player Will McGinniss discusses those friendships in this Q&A (none of the other band members were available for comment), along with what's next for the group and how the band survived a rough introduction to the industry ("PDA" anyone?).

The first Audio Adrenaline video I ever saw was for "PDA." At that point, did you ever think you'd be doing the music thing as long as you have?

Will McGinniss: We had no idea we'd be around for 15 years. And you just referenced one of the videos we absolutely hate about our past. But we were young, and it was our first go-around. We were just excited about having the chance to play our music and travel around the world. So when they told us to make that video, it was like "Whatever you want, man!"

When we made the first record, we were just trying to give the record company [ForeFront] what they wanted, and so it wasn't that great of a record. It wasn't who we were. After that CD, we heard that we might get dropped. But tobyMac from dc talk came in and said, "You're crazy if you drop this band. They're on tour with us, and they're rockin' the crowds. Man, if you just go see them live, they're nothing like the record, they rock!" So they gave us a second chance, and that's when we wrote Don't Censor Me, which had "Big House" on it. And everything was crazy after that.

So what kind of album had the record company wanted you to make?

McGinniss: I think they wanted us to be a hybrid of dc talk and marry the rap and rock thing together like Jesus Jones or EMF. They wanted real danceable grooves but some singing on the chorus or some rap in the verse. We had shown signs of marrying a lot of different styles into a hyper kind of sound. But really at heart, we were just a rock band. We finally started getting around to that on Don't Censor Me, but with Bloom, we got to be what we wanted to be. So it's cool that it was the first record to go gold. Bands still come up to us today and say the Bloom record is why they are in music or totally changed their lives. It's encouraging to hear stories like that.

What are some of the best memories you have as a band?

McGinniss: One of the coolest things is that we're not leaving because of some dysfunctional band member situation. We're actually bearing with one another with this situation with Mark. It's awesome that we can go out like that—loving each other well. Through thick and thin in life, we loved each other and let that love overflow from stage. People really saw that we cared about each other. And we'll be part of each other's lives as we move forward.

Other bands will talk about a great moment onstage, but everyone in Audio Adrenaline will talk about the great times we had on our days off when we went snowboarding, scuba diving or fishing for sharks in Australia. Or when we'd do crazy things like ATVing in Las Vegas or snowmobiling in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We'll remember all the places we've been together and all the fun we had. We're a band who stuck together through life.

Professionally, one of the things we'll always remember is when we played for Billy Graham at a crusade. We met him, and that was a pinnacle experience for all of us. The latest thing was winning our second Grammy for the last record, Until My Heart Caves In. It was a pat on the back, especially with it being our last year, and we were there to enjoy it.

What will you miss about being on the road?

McGinniss: We'll miss being together and telling each other stories. And of course, playing our stupid Nintendo games together. It was like a church camp existence for 15 years. We didn't have to grow up. That's going to be hard to adjust to living without.

Are you going to miss singing "Big House" on a nightly basis?

McGinniss: (laughs) That's one thing I don't think we'll miss, I'm sure. That song's been crazy. We do love the joy it brings when we start playing it. It is an icebreaker, though. Whenever we had a tough crowd, we'd break out "Big House" early, and then we'd win them over.

As the years passed, Mark's voice grew worse and worse. How did he manage to carry through?

McGinniss: Mark never does anything halfway. He's one of the most selfless people I've ever met, and that's why he'd give 100 percent every night. I think a lot of musicians would be embarrassed to go out and not be able to sing, not to be able to control your voice. But Mark is more concerned about giving the fans as much as he can. It's been amazing to see him in this time when he really struggles to sing. Maybe it's even more powerful because we know that it physically hurts him, and the band is breaking up because of it, but he still gives it all he has. And I think it's made the crowd and the shows even more special.

What's next for all of you?

McGinniss: It looks like Mark and I will be doing A&R for Flicker Records. It'll be really fun to be connected with Christian music, the music we love. Maybe we'll even get to help bands break into the mainstream and really encourage them with our years of experience and serve as a mentor to them. We want to bear with them during this life they chose and help them reach their goals and make great records in the process.

Tyler [Burkum, guitar and vocals] is going to be pursuing his solo career, so we'd love it if all our fans would really be supportive of him. Ben [Cissell, drums] will be taking on a youth ministry-type position at Rocketown in Nashville. He's going to oversee outreach to the community through the work at the skate park, touring facility and café upstairs. He's going to try to make it more intentional to meet the skaters on their level.

For Audio Adrenaline, that's really what it's been about, even more than just being a rock band, it's ministry through Hands and Feet and other projects.

McGinniss: I think that's something cool that'll outlive Audio Adrenaline. The music may stop, but the ministry will go on. We'll be part of the Hands and Feet project forever and will want to pass it along to our kids. I think that's one of the things that will keep us together as a band, going down to Haiti for Hands and Feet trips and really loving on these orphans.

What advice would you pass down to the younger artists who hope to have a long career like you've had?

McGinniss: I think what Audio Adrenaline was really good at was knowing its weaknesses, knowing we weren't the best band around. I think we struggled more with our inadequacies rather than thinking we were it. A lot of times we'd just sit around and say, "We're not qualified to play this huge show, closing out Creation Festival or going on tour with dc talk or Steven Curtis Chapman." We always had to realize that we weren't sufficient in ourselves and needed something greater to pull us through—to show up and be a sign and a wonder and to do miracles every night.

Along with that, we understood that we needed to be faithful in the little things, not always looking to the next big thing—that God gives you precious moments every day to talk to someone you bump into at an airport, little things like that. As a band it's tempting to always think about building that career. But in that process you can actually miss the platform you have currently. Instead, many can only think about that "big show" or going on tour with U2 and Coldplay, and you miss what God is doing.

Are you disappointed that you never went on tour with U2 or Coldplay?

McGinniss: (laughs) I'd love to go out with U2; that would be amazing. I think they are the greatest band in the world. They are the reason I play bass. I was a huge U2 fan, starting back in 1980. I actually wrote their manager Paul McGuinness because he has the same name I do. I said, "Hey, we share the same name, and I'm a huge fan of the band. I just wanted to say that I love what they're doing and love their spirituality. They're the reason why I'm a Christian and want to play bass in a rock band." And he actually sent me a postcard back. It was handwritten with their Boy album cover on it. It said the band is currently in the studio, writing October, and "thanks for your wonderful note, and thanks for being supportive of the band and their work." I still have the postcard today from my 10th grade year in high school. So that's my great U2 story.

Then, at the recent Grammies, all of the rock stars were walking beside us, and I realized Bono was walking down the way. I think I toppled over probably 10 or 15 people to get down the aisle. I was like "Hey, Bono" and held out my hand. He shook my hand and gave me the most sincere handshake and look in my eyes. I was so starstruck, and all I could muster up was "Bless you, Bono, bless you. You're doing an amazing work." Then I went down to my seat and apologized to everybody I just mowed over.

That's so cute, you had your own fan moment.

McGinniss: It was a blast.

Just think, some people felt like that to get to you.

McGinniss: Maybe so. Actually, we have to keep that in perspective when kids want to say hello to us because we've definitely had our days when we weren't in the mood or just wanted to get on the bus. During this last tour, we've been doing a lot of interviews about the end of our career. And for one with CBN, Mark and I just broke down. It was an overwhelming sadness; we had to apologize to the fans for when we just weren't in the mood to say "Hey." It's convicting. But you can't always expect to be "on" or be in a good mood, but we still felt like we owed them an apology for when we weren't gracious or thankful for the support they gave.

Give us a little preview. What's the last show going to be like?

McGinniss: If we pull off what we're hoping to, we're going to do a 3-day, 2-night trip to Hawaii with our fans that can afford that. We would go surfing at Waikiki with them, then we would do a luau at night, then the next night, we'd do a rock show with a few of our friends. It would be not so structured, more laid-back. We'd take some requests from the crowd, have a few fans come up on stage and sing with us. We'd have a great time goofing off for the last time. Then we'd spend a week with our families and each other together and reminisce.

What has God taught you the most through your time in Audio Adrenaline?

McGinniss: I think I've really learned a ton from Mark, Ben, and Tyler. Each of their characteristics has taught me so much about God. Whether it's Mark being a leader and having a great heart and vision for big things. From Ben being spunky, playful, the practical jokester, yet still a very creative idea guy. And Tyler was the sensitive, talented musician-type. All of their characteristics encouraged me, then other days they convicted me. Some days, they really showed me something profound. I think God used them to shape me, and that we had strengths and weaknesses that made us rely in each other.

I think God also showed me that he's willing to use anyone who'll say, "Yes, I'll go and do all these crazy things." We were willing to be put in any situation and make the best of it that we could.

For more about Audio Adrenaline and their storied career, check out our site's artist page. You can read our review of Adios: The Greatest Hits by clicking here. Please visit Christianbook.com to listen to song clips and buy the music.

© Christa Banister, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

Click here for more interviews.

Click here to view our music review archives.

Visit the artist pages for related interviews and reviews.

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian Woman Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up now for the Christian Music Today weekly newsletter:    RSS Feed   RSS Help