AD (band)
Encyclopedia
AD was a 1980s Christian rock
band, featuring former Kansas
members Kerry Livgren
and Dave Hope
, and former Bloodrock
member Warren Ham
sharing the lead vocal duties along with Michael Gleason.
had been guitarist, keyboardist, and principal composer for the successful rock band, Kansas
. During his tenure with the group, he had explored numerous eastern religions such as Hinduism
and Buddhism
. These themes often appeared in the lyrics to songs on the early Kansas records such as Kansas, Song For America
, and Masque.
Livgren's eventual conversion to Christianity
in 1979, followed by that of bassist Dave Hope
, created something of a rift in the band. The change of lyrical direction turned out to be the last straw for original lead singer Steve Walsh
, who left to form the band Streets
in 1981.
After numerous auditions, John Elefante
was hired as Walsh's replacement, but hopefuls Warren Ham
and Michael Gleason left an impression on Livgren, who was in the process of writing material for a second solo album for CBS Records
. Instead of using different musicians for each song as he had done on 1980's Seeds of Change
, he put together a single group consisting of himself, Hope, Ham, Gleason, and drummer Dennis Holt.
, Livgren found working with fellow Christians refreshing and began discussing with Hope the possibility of leaving Kansas and forming a new band.
Time Line was released in 1984 and credited to Kerry Livgren/AD. It received virtually no promotion from the record label who probably saw the side project as a threat to the continued success of Kansas. Livgren and Hope found themselves legally tied to their former band and had to get special permission from CBS to record future projects with AD for the "religious marketplace". It had never been Livgren's intention to start a "Christian rock band" but it appeared to be the only path available.
Spring of 1985 saw the release of their second album, Art of the State, this time on Livgren's own Christian label Kerygma Records (distributed by Sparrow Records
) and the first credited to the band name AD. The group began touring, but were quickly discouraged by a lack of professionalism in the Christian venues. After the tour, Warren Ham left the band, and the remaining four members decided to produce one more album before ending AD. Michael Gleason was left to handle the lead vocals alone on the next album, appropriately titled Reconstructions.
In the late 1990s Livgren re-released Art of the State on his new independent record label, Numavox Records. Partially re-recorded versions of Reconstructions and Prime Mover followed along with AD Live, a sound board recording taken from the Art of the State tour.
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band, featuring former Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
members Kerry Livgren
Kerry Livgren
Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
and Dave Hope
Dave Hope
Dave Hope is an American bass guitarist who played with the American rock band Kansas from 1973 until the band's first split in 1983. He then started the Christian band AD with Kerry Livgren and others....
, and former Bloodrock
Bloodrock
Bloodrock was an American hard rock band, based in Fort Worth, Texas, that had considerable success in the 1970s, and was one of the earliest of a number of significant bands to emerge from the Fort Worth club and music scene during the early to mid 1970s and on into the new century.-Early...
member Warren Ham
Warren Ham
Warren Ham is a vocalist, saxophonist, flutist from Fort Worth, Texas. During the early 70s, Warren and his brother Bill formed The HamBrothers Band and included Ira Wilkes on bass, Red Young on piano and organ and Dahrell Norris on drums. The group recorded for Texas producer Huey P. Meaux...
sharing the lead vocal duties along with Michael Gleason.
Background
Throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s, Kerry LivgrenKerry Livgren
Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
had been guitarist, keyboardist, and principal composer for the successful rock band, Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
. During his tenure with the group, he had explored numerous eastern religions such as Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. These themes often appeared in the lyrics to songs on the early Kansas records such as Kansas, Song For America
Song for America
Song for America is the second album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1975. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2004....
, and Masque.
Livgren's eventual conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in 1979, followed by that of bassist Dave Hope
Dave Hope
Dave Hope is an American bass guitarist who played with the American rock band Kansas from 1973 until the band's first split in 1983. He then started the Christian band AD with Kerry Livgren and others....
, created something of a rift in the band. The change of lyrical direction turned out to be the last straw for original lead singer Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh (musician)
Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
, who left to form the band Streets
Streets (band)
Streets was a band made up of singer, keyboardist Steve Walsh, guitarist Mike Slamer, bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Tim Gehrt.Steve Walsh had also been in the band Kansas and Mike Slamer has been in several other bands, including Britain's City Boy. He has also been a session guitarist...
in 1981.
After numerous auditions, John Elefante
John Elefante
John Elefante is an American singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.-Early years:Born in Levittown, New York, his family soon moved to Long Beach, California. Growing up, he sang and performed drums for his family band, the Brotherhood...
was hired as Walsh's replacement, but hopefuls Warren Ham
Warren Ham
Warren Ham is a vocalist, saxophonist, flutist from Fort Worth, Texas. During the early 70s, Warren and his brother Bill formed The HamBrothers Band and included Ira Wilkes on bass, Red Young on piano and organ and Dahrell Norris on drums. The group recorded for Texas producer Huey P. Meaux...
and Michael Gleason left an impression on Livgren, who was in the process of writing material for a second solo album for CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. Instead of using different musicians for each song as he had done on 1980's Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change (album)
Seeds of Change was Kerry Livgren's first solo album. Released in 1980 while he still was a member of Kansas, three other members of the band appeared as guests . In 1996, Seeds of Change was reissued through Renaissance Records with a 21:24 long interview with Livgren as a bonus track...
, he put together a single group consisting of himself, Hope, Ham, Gleason, and drummer Dennis Holt.
A New Band
During sessions for the album, dubbed Time Line, it became apparent that the players shared many interests, not the least of which was their Christian faith. After years of feeling isolated and artistically stifled in KansasKansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
, Livgren found working with fellow Christians refreshing and began discussing with Hope the possibility of leaving Kansas and forming a new band.
Time Line was released in 1984 and credited to Kerry Livgren/AD. It received virtually no promotion from the record label who probably saw the side project as a threat to the continued success of Kansas. Livgren and Hope found themselves legally tied to their former band and had to get special permission from CBS to record future projects with AD for the "religious marketplace". It had never been Livgren's intention to start a "Christian rock band" but it appeared to be the only path available.
Spring of 1985 saw the release of their second album, Art of the State, this time on Livgren's own Christian label Kerygma Records (distributed by Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
) and the first credited to the band name AD. The group began touring, but were quickly discouraged by a lack of professionalism in the Christian venues. After the tour, Warren Ham left the band, and the remaining four members decided to produce one more album before ending AD. Michael Gleason was left to handle the lead vocals alone on the next album, appropriately titled Reconstructions.
One Last Album
Although they had been disbanded for three years, Kerry Livgren and Warren Ham put together one more album to pay off band bills, with the band name reverting back to Kerry Livgren/AD. Released in 1988, Prime Mover was composed mostly of leftover songs from the band's previous albums.In the late 1990s Livgren re-released Art of the State on his new independent record label, Numavox Records. Partially re-recorded versions of Reconstructions and Prime Mover followed along with AD Live, a sound board recording taken from the Art of the State tour.
Discography
- Time Line (1984, credited to Kerry Livgren/AD)
- Art of the State (1985, credited to AD)
- Reconstructions (1986, credited to AD)
- Prime Mover (1988, credited to Kerry Livgren/AD)
- Reconstructions Reconstructed (1997, credited to Kerry Livgren/AD)
- Prime Mover II (1998, credited to Kerry Livgren)