Altar Boys
The Altar Boys were a Christian punk rock band from California, formed in 1… Read Full Bio ↴The Altar Boys were a Christian punk rock band from California, formed in 1982. They were made up of Mike Stand (vocals, songwriting, and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars), Mark Robertson (bass), and Ric Alba (bass, songwriting).
The Altar Boys helped pioneer modern Christian rock music. They were known for their Ramones-style punk music, which was radically different than the more adult contemporary inspired Christian music common at the time of their formation, as well for their mission to speak to and provide help to the hurt and downtrodden in their releases as well as their concerts.. 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 7,000 copies without distribution, and their second disc sold 20,000 units in its first two months of release.
In terms of influences, the group drew greatly from secular hard rock music, with co-songwriter and bassist Ric Alba particularly looking towards Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and Kiss' Gene Simmons for inspiration. Their songs such as fan-favorite "Against the Grain" often took aim at both the problems of shallow, materialistic contemporary society as well as issues with Christian churches. Many conservative-minded Christian preachers that the group encountered judged them negatively for their hairstyles, their taste in clothes, their encouragement of energetic dancing, their open welcoming of poor, hurting non-Christians in their concerts, and the like. Their members often worked with downtrodden fans that came to them for help, doing various social works. Alba later remarked, "Our work as Altar Boys was possible because of people generously opening up their hearts and guts to us."
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. They began playing in secular venues more often, and in 1987 toured England opening with The Jesus and Mary Chain.
The band went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992 However Mike Stand has resurrected much of the Altar Boys songs with his new project called "The Altar Billies". The Altar Billies are a "Punktry" band from Southern California. They are a Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Country style trio led by Mike Stand that perform many of the Altar Boys hits as well as songs from Mike's various solo projects. www.myspace.com/altarbillies
The Altar Boys helped pioneer modern Christian rock music. They were known for their Ramones-style punk music, which was radically different than the more adult contemporary inspired Christian music common at the time of their formation, as well for their mission to speak to and provide help to the hurt and downtrodden in their releases as well as their concerts.. 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 7,000 copies without distribution, and their second disc sold 20,000 units in its first two months of release.
In terms of influences, the group drew greatly from secular hard rock music, with co-songwriter and bassist Ric Alba particularly looking towards Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and Kiss' Gene Simmons for inspiration. Their songs such as fan-favorite "Against the Grain" often took aim at both the problems of shallow, materialistic contemporary society as well as issues with Christian churches. Many conservative-minded Christian preachers that the group encountered judged them negatively for their hairstyles, their taste in clothes, their encouragement of energetic dancing, their open welcoming of poor, hurting non-Christians in their concerts, and the like. Their members often worked with downtrodden fans that came to them for help, doing various social works. Alba later remarked, "Our work as Altar Boys was possible because of people generously opening up their hearts and guts to us."
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. They began playing in secular venues more often, and in 1987 toured England opening with The Jesus and Mary Chain.
The band went on an "indefinite hiatus" in 1992 However Mike Stand has resurrected much of the Altar Boys songs with his new project called "The Altar Billies". The Altar Billies are a "Punktry" band from Southern California. They are a Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Country style trio led by Mike Stand that perform many of the Altar Boys hits as well as songs from Mike's various solo projects. www.myspace.com/altarbillies
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Altar Boys Lyrics
Against The Grain What kind of mess do we have here? Right is wrong…
Alright Words and Music by Mike Stand I really know how you…
Alright! I really know how you feel When life gives you a…
Broken As I stand before you I see who I am A man…
Calling Out to Believers Calling out to believers - Come let your light show…
Calling To You So many dreams have been crushed down Heartaches that just …
Count On Love Here it comes again Man it comes again, oh yea Those seaso…
Faith I've fought to stay alive Though everything pointed to the …
Fallen World Looking out from my window Staring out as the world goes I…
Final Hour In the garden He fell to His knees The time had…
Forever Mercy Hey now! take a look outside There's and angel looking thro…
G.L.M. Jimmy was always running Running from the evil that he'd do…
Good Life Words and Music by Mike Stand My life's been touched a…
Have a Clue Words and Music by Mike Stand Hanging out on 44th street …
He Knows You Better I wanna tell you something, tell you something, uh-huh Some…
Hearts Lost In Nowhere When you were a boy they said you were no…
Here Ends The Night Come and be the savior, of our lives Here beneath the…
Human Sound Listen - there's a mockingbird singing everyone's song List…
I Question It Everything is on the up swing in this land Things are…
I'm Into God -1- My friends wanna know what happened to me what are…
I'm Not Talking About Religion Everybody's going around saying this, saying that You don't…
If You Let Him In You've been looking at your situation, ah-ah Thinking it's …
It's Up to You Words and Music by Mike Stand Caught up in this world Yo…
Jesus is Number One I keep on thinkin about Him Yea, how He came and…
Kids Are On The Run In a rage they stand In a world gone mad Tight fisted…
Life Begins At The Cross Take a look at the world how the people run…
Listen Up I see faces cold dark faces that turn away I see…
Love Eternal Holes in his cage looking nowhere for what he wants…
Mary Ann Verse 1: Last night I saw you, it's been so long, you…
More of You I hold my head up And look to You For my strength…
More Than Words I cry for justice mercy I scream for love In the shadows…
Ride This Train I was just a child of ten When I was told…
Silent Night Way across the fields where the starlight falls On the road…
Take Control Well I dig songs that really make me move With drums…
Take in the Son Words and Music by Mike Stand Everybody everywhere has th…
There Is A Love Looking at the walls that divide you freedom Doubt works ov…
Unconditional Love I know a place where God's people can run free It's…
We Love Jesus Words and Music by Mike Stand We're gonna sing it from…
Well OK When Jesus reached down to me Picked me up and set…
When I See You Sometimes when things get to me That's when I want to…
When I'm With God Oh, when I am alone and need You near me That's…
When You're a Rebel You don't dig some of the things you see Well, sin…
Where's It Gonna Lead You Words and Music by Mike Stand What's gotten into you Are…
Where's The New World On a ship we came Every mother, child and father Thru the…
World Burning I see the worries of the world turning Turning and tearing…
You Are Loved Hard times in the city They just don't go away Out here…
You Found Me Thought that I was a goner Everyone had written my life…