Grammatrain
Encyclopedia
Grammatrain is a grunge rock band from Seattle, Washington who were active in the Christian rock
industry in the 1990s. After disbanding in 1998, the group reunited as a secular act in 2009 and released their third full length album entitled "Imperium" the following year.
, bassist Dalton Roraback and his drummer brother Paul Roraback recorded a self-titled three-song demo tape in 1994. After hearing the demo, ForeFront Records
label executive Eddie DeGarmo signed the band. Before releasing their first major album, Grammtrain released a CD containing four studio recordings and five live acoustic numbers. In 1995 they released their first studio album, Lonely House, produced by Aaron Sprinkle
. The album achieved success on Christian Radio.
Their second full length album, Flying
was released in 1997. Critics cited the album's "lighter, more polished feel" when compared to Lonely House. At the end of a tour promoting the album, Grammatrain officially broke up following their final live performance on 12/7/1998 in Germany. An announcement of the break up can be heard on the band's live album.
Following the breakup of the band, Stewart released a self-titled solo album and produced Michael Tait's
band, Tait
, performing on their first album. He also produced four tracks on the debut solo album for TobyMac
, Momentum. In 2003 Stewart reemerged with The Accident Experiment.
had left the Christian faith, the new album was not directed at Christian audiences. Shortly after the announcement, the band played two reunion shows: one in Seattle and one in Germany. A limited edition EP with songs from the forthcoming album was released at the shows and on the band's website.
On March 25, 2010, the single "The Last Sound" was released, written as an anthem for Seattle Sounders FC
. The song has been played at Qwest Field
before the kickoff of Sounders matches, and Sounders FC owner Drew Carey
endorsed the song and promised to get a "proper video" made of it. The video was produced and directed by Nik Venet, who had previously done videos for U2
, Jane's Addiction
and The White Stripes
. The song was also picked up by and released through Rock Band Network
for the Xbox 360
.
On October 10, 2010 (10.10.10), they independently released their newest album, Imperium.
Grammatrain has also appeared on Forefront Record's X (10th Anniversary) Compilation album, as well as tribute albums to Stryper
, Petra
, and Larry Norman
.
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...
industry in the 1990s. After disbanding in 1998, the group reunited as a secular act in 2009 and released their third full length album entitled "Imperium" the following year.
History
Singer/guitarist Pete StewartPete Stewart
Pete Stewart is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer from Washington state. He is the lead singer and guitarist of Grammatrain, was the lead singer for The Accident Experiment, and is the former guitarist of Tait....
, bassist Dalton Roraback and his drummer brother Paul Roraback recorded a self-titled three-song demo tape in 1994. After hearing the demo, ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
label executive Eddie DeGarmo signed the band. Before releasing their first major album, Grammtrain released a CD containing four studio recordings and five live acoustic numbers. In 1995 they released their first studio album, Lonely House, produced by Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
. The album achieved success on Christian Radio.
Their second full length album, Flying
Flying (grammatrain album)
Flying is the second studio album by Grammatrain.-Track listing:# "Jonah" - 2:41# "Less of Me" - 2:48# "Flying" - 5:11# "Rocketship" - 2:25# "Peace" - 4:13# "Pain" - 4:46# "Sell Your Soul" - 3:22# "Fuse" - 3:48# "Spiderweb" - 3:16...
was released in 1997. Critics cited the album's "lighter, more polished feel" when compared to Lonely House. At the end of a tour promoting the album, Grammatrain officially broke up following their final live performance on 12/7/1998 in Germany. An announcement of the break up can be heard on the band's live album.
Following the breakup of the band, Stewart released a self-titled solo album and produced Michael Tait's
Michael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
band, Tait
Tait (band)
Tait is a Christian rock band formed by Michael Tait, one of the members of dc Talk and the lead singer of Newsboys since 2010.- Pre-formation of Tait :...
, performing on their first album. He also produced four tracks on the debut solo album for TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, Momentum. In 2003 Stewart reemerged with The Accident Experiment.
Reunited
In early 2009, Grammatrain announced that they had reunited and were in the process of recording a new album. Because frontman Pete StewartPete Stewart
Pete Stewart is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer from Washington state. He is the lead singer and guitarist of Grammatrain, was the lead singer for The Accident Experiment, and is the former guitarist of Tait....
had left the Christian faith, the new album was not directed at Christian audiences. Shortly after the announcement, the band played two reunion shows: one in Seattle and one in Germany. A limited edition EP with songs from the forthcoming album was released at the shows and on the band's website.
On March 25, 2010, the single "The Last Sound" was released, written as an anthem for Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
. The song has been played at Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
before the kickoff of Sounders matches, and Sounders FC owner Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
endorsed the song and promised to get a "proper video" made of it. The video was produced and directed by Nik Venet, who had previously done videos for U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
and The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
. The song was also picked up by and released through Rock Band Network
Rock Band Network
The Rock Band Network is a downloadable content service designed by Harmonix Music Systems with the help of Microsoft to allow musical artists and record labels to make their music available as playable tracks for the Rock Band series of rhythm video games, starting with Rock Band 2...
for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
On October 10, 2010 (10.10.10), they independently released their newest album, Imperium.
Discography
- Demo Tape - 1994
- Grammatrain - 1995
- Lonely HouseLonely House-Track listing:# "She Don't Know" - 2:32# "Believe" - 3:36# "Execution" - 3:56# "Lonely House" - 5:43# "Psycho" - 5:42# "Sick of Will" - 3:01# "Need" - 6:28# "Drown" - 3:55# "Undivine Election" - 3:35# "Jerky Love Song" - 0:40# "Humanity" - 4:24...
- 1995 - FlyingFlying (grammatrain album)Flying is the second studio album by Grammatrain.-Track listing:# "Jonah" - 2:41# "Less of Me" - 2:48# "Flying" - 5:11# "Rocketship" - 2:25# "Peace" - 4:13# "Pain" - 4:46# "Sell Your Soul" - 3:22# "Fuse" - 3:48# "Spiderweb" - 3:16...
- 1997 - Live 120798 - 1999, Review: HM Magazine
- Kneeling Between Shields (ep) - 2009
- The Last Sound (single) - 2010
- Imperium - 2010
- Spin Automatic (ep) - 2010
Grammatrain has also appeared on Forefront Record's X (10th Anniversary) Compilation album, as well as tribute albums to Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
, Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
, and Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
.
Further reading
- http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/9332/Artist profile on Cross RhythmsCross RhythmsCross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
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