Whitecross

Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1986 in Chicago, releasing their first recording the following year. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. With the departure of guitarist Rex Carroll in 1992, the band's sound underwent a drastic change; so much so that many Whitecross fans show a strong preference for either the earlier or later work exclusively.

Whitecross has won three Dove Awards: two for "Hard music album of the year" with "Triumphant Return" (in 1990) and "In the Kingdom" (in 1992);cite web |url=http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=31 |title=Dove Award Recipients for Hard Music Album |accessdate=2007-03-12 |publisher=Gospel Music Association ] and one for "Come unto the Light" from the "Unveiled" album, which won "Hard music recorded song of the year" in 1995.cite web |url=http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=1995 |title=Dove Award Recipients for 1995 |accessdate=2007-03-12 |publisher=Gospel Music Association ]

In 1998, singer Scott Wenzel took a two-year break to do mission work in South America, and Whitecross was placed on hiatus. Little happened with the band for seven years, except for a couple of reunion gigs featuring both Wenzel and Carroll in 2002.

In 2005, Scott and Rex reunited to record "Nineteen Eighty Seven", which featured re-recordings of nine of the ten songs from their self-titled debut ("You're Mine" being the exclusion), as well as a re-recording of the song "Love on the Line" (previously unavailable on CD) and a new guitar instrumental by Rex Carroll.

There are plans to record new material for CD release as well as a possibility of Rex doing a guitar solo CD.

In 2008, on April the 5th, they played at the Legends of Rock festival in Ennepetal, Germany.

Albums

With Rex Carroll

Without Rex Carroll

Videos

*The Reign Goes On - 45 minute VHS, 1992 Star Song Communications (extremely rare)

Members of Whitecross

Current members

*Scott Wenzel - vocals
*Rex Carroll - guitar (1987 - 1992, 2005 - present)
*Mike Feighan - drums (1991 - 1995, 2005 - present)

Former members

Guitars

*Barry Graul (MercyMe) - guitar (1994 - 1995)
*Quinton Gibson - guitar (1996)

Drums

*Mark Hedl - drums (1987 - 1988)
*Mike Elliott - drums (1989)
*Troy Stone - drums (1996)

Bass

*Jon Sproule - bass (1987 - 1988)
*Rick Armstrong - bass (1989)
*Butch Dillon - bass (1991)
*Scott Harper - bass (1992)
*Tracy Ferrie (Stryper) - bass (1994 - 1995)
*Brent Denny - bass (1996)

	Whitecross	Hammer & Nail	Triumphant Return	In The Kingdom	High Gear	Unveiled	Equilibrium	Flytrap
Vocals	Scott Wenzel
Guitars	Rex Carroll					Barry Graul		Quinton Gibson
Drums	Mark Hedl		Mike Elliott	Mike Feighan				Troy Stone
Bass	Jon Sproule		Rick Armstrong	Butch Dillon	Scott Harper	Tracy Ferrie		Brent Denny

References

*cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |pages=1030-1033

ee also

*Contemporary Christian music
*Glam metal
*Heavy metal
*Ratt

External links

* [http://www.whitecrossmusic.com/ Official Whitecross website]
* [http://www.shoutlife.com/whitecrossmusic/ Whitecross @ ShoutLife Tribute]
* [http://www.shoutlife.com/scottwenzelmusic/ Scott Wenzel @ ShoutLife Tribute]
* [http://www.allium-sativum.com/c2k2/Whitecross/content.html Pictures from the reunion gig at Cornerstone 2002]
* [http://www.guitarjams.net/Whitecross.html Interview with Rex Carroll, including reasons for leaving the band]
* [http://rocklinemag.com/interviews.php 2003 Interview with Scott Wenzel in Rockline]
* [http://rockhole.bravepages.com/whitecross.html Whitecross — the best of rock, the worst of rock]
* [http://www.80sretromusic.com/biography/W/whitecross.htm Brief Whitecross biography]