Online interview
with Disciple
November, 2003
www.disciplerocks.com
Disciple are evangelists, missionaries, preachers, living examples and musicians. They are a shining light into the world today and even though some question appearances, style and music..no one can question the heart of Disciple when hearing them minister to thousands of screaming fans. If it wasn't for some ground breaking from these guys, many hard rock and hard core bands would have no where to go in Christian music. This is one band you can bet on they won't be selling out anytime soon!
Dennis: For those that may not be familiar
with Disciple, tell us a little about the style of the music and how you
guys began.
Brad – I always say that we are hard,
rock-n-roll, but some people say we’re metal or rap-core. We started
11 years ago when we were, 16, 17, and 18 years old. We just met and
started jamming around at the church. Eventually we started playing
shows and things have just slowly progressed from there.
Dennis: With now 5 CD's under your belts, what has been
your favorites both by album and by song?
Tim: Favorite album – Back Again – We
spent a lot more time developing the songs on Back Again and there are a
couple of songs that are completely different than anything Disciple has
ever done. As a whole, I think it is our best album.
Favorite songs - "Turmoil"
from This Might Sting a Little, and the title track off Back
Again.
Kevin: Favorite album – Back Again – We put a lot of
time into. Favorite song(s) – The title track off Back Again
and "Fill My Shoes" from My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy.
Brad: Favorite album – Back Again – We worked really
hard on this album. Favorite songs – "Hardened" and
"Remembering" off the Back Again album.
Dennis: Your latest CD, Back Again, in my
opinion is your best yet! We had the chance to review the CD a few
days before it hit the streets and the style seems to be changing
very slightly in the direction of maturity. I know in the past you
have credited bands like White Cross and Petra for influence. What
seems to be the musical influence that you feel today? Or what
bands seem to be going in a direction that you see yourselves going
towards musically?
Tim: As far as Petra and White Cross, I would have to say that for
me they are really just influences on our ministry, not necessarily our
music. Musically, obviously P.O.D and Blindside have really great
sounds, but it is also influence by the mainstream sound as a whole.
Kevin: A lot of modern rock bands are influencing us musically right now. I plan on singing more on the next album, and we really want to have a great hook to every song. We basically just want to make great music.
Brad: I wouldn’t say that Petra or White Cross has had a musical influence on me in particular. I listen to all kinds of mainstream music and try to keep up with what is going on with the kids.
Dennis: With so many Christians, image seems
to mean so much. People tend to label what a "Christian"
looks like. I am personally a fan of stepping outside the box and
even sport a few tattoos myself. It really makes my blood boil
when someone sees a poster of some of our concerts and I hear that
piercing sound, "they don't look Christian." How do you
respond to people like that that put labels on others outside the box?
Kevin: Well, we wrote a song about that exact thing. It is called
"Not the Same" and it is off the new album. Appearance means
nothing, but our heart is what counts. In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the
heart." One time I saw a street preacher in Knoxville and I went up
to shake his hand and thank him for being bold and he said to me
"Son, how can you be of God when you look, dress, and smell like
the world." He went on to say that he couldn’t tell me apart from
the rest of the world. I was shocked at first, but then replied "I
am sorry that you don’t know me well enough to judge me by my heart,
but if we are going to judge only on appearances, then you look no
different than every crooked thief on Wall Street in a suite and
tie."
Dennis: I have had the pleasure of promoting
4 shows with you guys now and have seen the sincerity behind all three
of you. I also know that you guys always do an altar call every
performance and chance you get. When I preach, I have taken your
guys example and always do that as well. So I want to thank you
for being that light to me. But for those that may not understand
to story behind it, can you explain the drive and passion behind your
altar calls?
Kevin: I grew up watching bands like Petra, White Cross, and
Carman, and they all did altar calls in the middle of their set. We knew
that music was an effective way to prepare someone for an altar call and
that is what we have always wanted to do – use music to bring kids to
Christ. There have been so many amazing stories that have transpired
throughout the ministry of Disciple, but there is one in particular that
is special. Around five years ago, there was a young man who received
Christ at one of our concerts, and then was killed on his way home that
night. I will never forget the impact that it had on all of us. That
night reaffirmed to us that it could always be someone’s last night to
receive Christ, and we wanted to be sure to give them that opportunity.
Dennis: Your lyrics and actions scream,
literally, "Christian". So many bands are running back
and forth between the Christian and secular scene and many bands I
admire so much for being able to do so. Also, many bands that are
even less successful than Disciple have signed major record deals.
What are the thoughts of where Disciple falls in the avenue of that
approach?
Tim: Ultimately a goal of ours is to be successful in the secular
scene, we don’t necessarily want to cross over but we would like to
see our music made available to the secular world. We have seen some
success with the limited secular distribution that we have had, but
obviously we have had more success in the Christian world. The one thing
we do know and trust, is that right here is where God has us for now and
in His time and in His way we will be able to make that next step.
Dennis: A lot of discussion goes on in our
site dealing with the issue of secular music. Our stance towards
Christian teens has always been that they must weigh whether the music
is a positive or negative influence in their life. What are your
thoughts on the influence of secular music on Christian teens.
Kevin: I think that music is very influential in a teens life, and
that whether they realize it or not what they do listen to can sometimes
effect their behavior. I believe that if they listen to the word of God
in music that is has a major positive impact on their life.
Dennis: If you could name a band, past and
present, that you could tour with, who would it be and why?
Tim: P.O.D – They are such a well known
band that they are going to pull a ton of kids to the show, both secular
and Christian, but at the same time they are on the same page as us as
to why they are playing music.
Brad: In the past we would go on tour with Def Leppard, so I could watch them play every night. Today I would want to tour with Reba Macentire – for the crowd J/K .
Dennis: Temptation is something that all of
us no matter sex, age or race deal with daily. How do you guys
deal with those temptations on the road and what are your words of
encouragement to teens reading this article now?
Kevin: First of all, I would like to reiterate
(even though you stated it in the question) the fact that all of us in
Disciple face temptation daily. For me, when we are on the road, it is
much easier to deal with temptation. I feel like we are on a mission,
and I have to stay ready to speak with kids about God, and I am more
diligent in keeping my quiet times with Him. Also, we are together most
of the time and able to hold each other accountable. It is when I am
home that I face the most temptation. Even though I may not be
ministering through Disciple that night, I have to constantly remind
myself that I am ministering regardless of where I am. I think the key
to temptation is spending time with God. In His presence there is
fullness of joy, and the joy of the Lord is my strength. If these two
things are true then we need his joy if we expect to have strength to
overcome temptation. And the only place to find joy is in His presence.
Dennis: I always give the band the final
chance to plug or add anything I have missed. Maybe give us an
answer to a question you wished I would have asked.
Kevin: We’ve been
filming for an upcoming DVD that will have a bonus CD of a 45 minute
live performance of Cornerstone, NC. It will have tons of footage of us
on the road and at home being crazy! The videos for "Back
Again" and "One More Time" will also be on it. We hope it
will be out before Christmas. Be looking for it in stores and on our
website www.disciplerocks.com.
Also, we are going in the studio in
January to record a new album. It’s going to be our best album to
date. It will probably be available in stores late Spring or early
Summer.
Dennis: Thanks guys!!!!!