The group traces its beginnings to 1980, when Doug Pinnick and Jerry Gaskill, who had previously met while recording and touring with Phil Keaggy and touring with the band Petra, recruited Ty Tabor to join them. Calling themselves The Edge, the group extensively performed on the Springfield, Missouri bar and club circuit. The band specialized in Top 40 covers. By 1983, the name of the band had changed to Sneak Preview and they started to record original material. Sneak Preview released a self-titled LP with all original material in 1984.
The group relocated to Houston, Texas with the promise of a recording contract, but the deal fell through. However, it was there that the group met Sam Taylor, then vice president of ZZ Top's production company. Taylor quickly became the group's mentor and convinced them to change their name to King's X. Taylor was instrumental in helping the group secure a contract with Megaforce Records in 1987. Taylor would soon become the group's manager, producer and mentor, and was declared to be the fourth member of the group (according to some).
The group released its first album as King's X, entitled Out of the Silent Planet, in 1988. Despite being hailed by music critics, the album did not fare well commercially, peaking at #144 on the Billboard album charts. The band's 1989 sophomore release, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, fared slightly better from a commercial standpoint. Significantly, the song "Over My Head" received moderate airplay on MTV and radio. The increase in exposure would prove beneficial when the band released their third album, Faith, Hope, Love, in the fall of 1990.
Faith, Hope, Love was the group's first album to crack the US Top 100, with the help of the successful single "It's Love". The band landed a gig opening for AC/DC in the U.S. and Europe for the first half of 1991. They also toured with Living Colour, themselves near the peak of their popularity. The band was signed to major label Atlantic Records for their next release.
The band released their fourth album, King's X, in the Spring of 1992. But rising tensions with Taylor led to the group's most unfocused effort, and the album did not sell as well as Faith, Hope, Love. The only single from the album, "Black Flag" received only moderate airplay on MTV. Not long after the release of King's X, the band parted ways with Taylor. The details of the split have not been made public, but it was believed to be rather acrimonious. In the aftermath, King's X took over a year off to consider their collective future together. The band members followed other, non-musical pursuits - most notably, guitarist Ty Tabor took up semi-professionally racing motocross motorcycles.
In any case, by 1992 grunge was at the peak of its popularity and the group's trademark sound in no way resembled that of commercially successful acts such as Soundgarden or Pearl Jam (though, ironically, King's X were partly responsible for inspiring grunge; Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once said, "King's X invented grunge"). Looking for a new sound and flavour (although not necessarily grunge), the band enlisted veteran producer Brendan O'Brien, who had recently produced Stone Temple Pilots' first album and Pearl Jam's second.
The resulting album, 1994's Dogman, showcased a much more muscular and heavy sound from the group, along with less abstract and spiritual lyrics. The record received a heavier promotional push from Atlantic and the band enjoyed a very successful tour, capped by an appearance at the Woodstock 1994 festival in August. But despite a return to the Top 100 for the group, the album failed to sell as well as Atlantic had hoped, and the label's support for the group quickly faded.
The band's third release under Atlantic, 1996's Ear Candy, would also be their last (not including a subsequent compilation) for the label. Although it sold to the band's sizeable core following, it lacked the mainstream success of previous efforts. The record was soon out of print, and it seemed that the group's chance for commercial success had come and gone.
The group moved to Metal Blade Records in 1998. Their first album for Metal Blade Records, Tape Head, signaled a new era for the band. They modified their creative methods by writing and recording the album together in the studio, rather than coming together to record songs that the individual members had written separately. Their next two albums, Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous and Manic Moonlight were created in this same way.
For their next album, Black Like Sunday, the group arranged and recorded an album full of songs that the band had regularly performed prior to releasing their first album for MegaForce Records, Out of the Silent Planet. The cover art for this album was selected from artwork submitted by fans.
Live All Over The Place was the band's final album for Metal Blade Records, and their first official live release. During the band's time with Metal Blade Records, the members of King's X (as a group and individually) have been musically prolific, releasing a number of solo albums (such as Doug Pinnick's two PoundHound albums and Emotional Animal, Ty Tabor's Naomi's Solar Pumpkin, Moonflower Lane, and Safety, and Jerry Gaskill's musically intriguing Come Somewhere,) and side projects (such as Ty Tabor's work with Platypus, Jughead, and The Jelly Jam). Doug Pinnick will be standing in for lead singer Corey Glover on Living Colour's August 2006 European tour.
The band's latest album, entitled Ogre Tones, was released in September 2005 on the InsideOut label. It was produced by famed rock producer Michael Wagener (Dokken, Extreme, Stryper, White Lion, Skid Row).
May 2008 will see the next studio release from the band, "XV", also on the InsideOut label. Production has again been handled by Michael Wagener.
King's X has in the past struggled with being identified as a Christian metal band. Many of their lyrics have a clear spiritual influence, but this comes from the individual faith of the members rather than an attempt to tap into that market in the way groups such as Stryper did. Their albums used to be marketed highly in Christian book stores, but after Pinnick announced in 1998 that he was a homosexual, their albums were removed from such places. This also caused the band to lose a large number of their Christian fans.
Ty Tabor has indicated in several interviews that King's X was not a Christian rock band.
King's X spiritually-tinged lyrics are less prominent in their later releases, though the band continues to infuse spiritual themes into their music.
The band's lineup has not changed since its inception:
* Doug Pinnick - Vocals, bass guitar
* Ty Tabor - Vocals, guitars
* Jerry Gaskill - Drums, percussion, vocals
Discography
* Out of the Silent Planet (March 23, 1988)
* Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (June 27, 1989)
* Faith Hope Love (October 23, 1990)
* King's X (March 10, 1992)
* Dogman (January 18, 1994)
* Ear Candy (May 20, 1996)
* Best of King's X (November 11, 1997)
* Tape Head (October 20, 1998)
* Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous (May 23, 2000)
* Manic Moonlight (September 25, 2001)
* Black Like Sunday (May 20, 2003)
* Live All Over the Place (November 2, 2004)
* Ogre Tones (September 27, 2005)
* XV (May 16-20, 2008)
Billboard positions
* KING'S X - Out Of The Silent Planet Weeks on Chart: 11 Peak: #144
* KING'S X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska Weeks on Chart: 18 Peak: #123
* KING'S X - Faith Hope Love Weeks on Chart: 24 Peak: #85
* KING'S X - King's X Weeks on Chart: 3 Peak: #138
* KING'S X - Dogman Weeks on Chart: 4 Peak: #88
Pray
King's X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you found peace deep inside of you
If your faith made a mountain move for you then
Don't forget to pray for me, hear me now
If you think that Jesus has saved you
Mother Mary is waiting there for you
If you think that god has spoke to you then
Pray for me
Pray for me
If you really do believe
Then don't forget to pray for me
Hear me now
If you think there's heaven when you die
Waiting for your freedom for your life
When you pray does Allah answer you
Then don't forget to pray for me, hear me now
And if you live in the promised land
And your temple will be built again
If Moses brought you out of pharaoh's hands
Then don't forget to pray for me, hear me now
Pray for me
Pray for me
If you really do believe
Then don't forget to pray for me
Hear me now
You know, every day I look at God
All around me, so near yet so far
If you think you're better off than me
Then don't forget to pray for me
Oh, hear me now
Pray for me
Pray for me
If you really do believe
Then don't forget to pray for me
Hear me now
Umm, umm...
Don't forget to pray for me
Hear me now
The song "Pray" by King's X is a call for spiritual solidarity, highlighting the universal aspect of prayer which the band views as a constructive force that transcends religious boundaries. The lyrics call on people who have found solace and faith in their respective religions to remember those who have not been blessed with the same spiritual experiences as them, inviting them to pray for those less fortunate. The song's lyrics emphasize the fact that prayer is not just an individualistic practice, but one that can benefit and unite all of humanity. The song also touches on themes of community, empathy, and interconnectedness.
The song's opening lines suggest that the singer recognizes the power of prayer in their life and invites listeners who feel the same to pray for them. This creates a sense of shared purpose and hope, transcending religious and cultural barriers.
The lyrics also highlight how different religious traditions have a common thread in prayer. References are made to Jesus, Mother Mary, God, and Allah, indicating that prayer is a universal language that connects people to a higher power or a sense of something greater than themselves. The song's call to pray for others, regardless of differences in religious beliefs, suggests that we can all come together to create a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Line by Line Meaning
And if you feel that what you think is true
If you are confident that your beliefs are true
If you found peace deep inside of you
If you have achieved inner peace
If your faith made a mountain move for you then
If your beliefs have helped you overcome great challenges
Don't forget to pray for me, hear me now
Remember to include me in your prayers
If you think that Jesus has saved you
If you believe that Jesus Christ has saved your soul
Mother Mary is waiting there for you
Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is ready to help you
If you think that god has spoke to you then
If you believe that you have received a message from God
If you think there's heaven when you die
If you believe in the existence of Heaven after death
Waiting for your freedom for your life
Freedom from earthly troubles awaits you in Heaven
When you pray does Allah answer you
If you believe that Allah responds to your prayers
And if you live in the promised land
If you reside in a place that was promised to your people
And your temple will be built again
Your temple, which was destroyed, will be rebuilt
If Moses brought you out of pharaoh's hands
If you were saved from captivity by the prophet Moses
You know, every day I look at God
Every day I seek a connection with God
All around me, so near yet so far
God's presence is felt, yet elusive
If you think you're better off than me
If you believe that your status or fortune is superior to mine
Then don't forget to pray for me
Please remember to pray for me despite any differences
Umm, umm...
An expression conveying uncertainty or hesitation
Don't forget to pray for me
A reiterated request to be included in others' prayers
Hear me now
Listen carefully to my request
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tim Messick
i honestly...just....don't understand the idea that more people don't love this band. power, subtlety, complexity, simplicity, groove, harmony...so many vibes throughout the years, so much talent. they just nail it in general.
Ryan
The way I see it, King's X is a band that will always belong to their true fans, which is an awesome thing. Sometimes it sucks when a band becomes huge, it changes things. King's X will always be a sort of hidden gem for those of us who love them.
R Yackez
Tim Messick they're dull. That's music today.
cygnus x-7
rhiggins30 perfect comment!! I often wish they had more mainstream success, but I (we?) feel an amazing connection to this band and their music. Sometimes it goes even deeper with a smaller fan-base.
Tim Martin
It's just too much.
Always has been.
Mark Flapper
Too Good For The Masses... Check out over all of history, all of music and other arts, of healthy life / thoughts / wants / needs etc etc etc.... Better be happy you're not one of those sheeple. Better be happy your favourite bands are not the hamburgers of our society... ENJOY!!!!
Mick
Woah Kings X. The greatest band no one's heard of! Been with these guys since 'Out of the Silent Planet' and simply don't get why they're not massive! Latest album '3 Sides' keeps the flame alive. Long may you rock mighty Kings X!
Danny Lee
I used to be Jerry's drum tech. King's X consistantly the best live act on the road today, and the nicest guys in the world. Great job on the video, Christian.
RIFFHANGER
Have every album. One of the best rock bands ever. Perfect blend of soul, rock, power, harmonies, and musicianship. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR... GO TELL SOMEBODY!!!!
Sean Scott
I try to tell EVERYBODY! 👌🏾👏✌