Tait (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tait | |
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 Tait performing in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Origin | United States |
| Genre(s) | Christian rock CCM |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label(s) | ForeFront (2000–05) None (2005–present) |
| Associated acts | dc Talk |
| Website | www.taitband.com |
| Members | |
| Michael Tait Evan Wetherford Jordan Hester Chad Chapin |
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| Former members | |
| Pete Stewart Justin York Brian Nutter Lonnie Chapin Dave Clo |
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Tait is a Christian rock band formed by Michael Tait, one of the members of the legendary Christian band, dc Talk.
Contents |
[edit] Musical career
[edit] Pre-formation of Tait (1996-1999)
In 1996, dc Talk member Michael Tait met Chad Chapin and the two became close friends and began to write songs together. After a few years, Michael created his own cover band, a funky hard rock group named Curious George. [1] He toured with Chapin and had a few concerts, performing music from Pearl Jam to King's X and The 77's.[2][3] Afterward was when Tait and Chapin decided that they would eventually get a more permanent music group of their own together and tour the world.[4]
Michael and Tait member Pete Stewart also had a friendship before the band's inception. After Stewart had assisted dc Talk by playing guitar on their album Supernatural, Tait and Stewart co-wrote the song "Uphill Battle" which was featured on ForeFront records' Ten: The Birthday Album. When Stewart's alternative metal group Grammatrain disbanded in 1998, he went on to co-produce his own solo album with the help of Tait. [5]
[edit] Empty (2000-2002)
When dc Talk went on hiatus around 1999, Michael started working unofficially with his own music. As his solo project slowly began to come together, Michael quickly thought of the friendships that within the past few years had become a fundamental part of his career. Pete Stewart came to join Michael, along with the Chapin brothers, Chad and Lonnie who in 1996 had moved to Nashville, Tennessee to see where they could get in the music business. The band officially formed in 2000 and was named Tait after Michael’s father, Rev. Nathel Tait.
After about a year in the studio, the band released their first album entitled Empty. It was generally well received, and the album even broke onto the Top Contemporary Christian charts. The album featured songs that handled subjects like skepticism of others (“Spy”), racism (“American Tragedy”) (This album was controversial though, with the use of a racial slur in the middle of this song) and Michael’s outpouring of grief of losing his father, sister and brother all in the same year (“Unglued”). [6]
[edit] Lose This Life (2003-Present)
After the release of the first album, Pete Stewart took his leave from the group. He was replaced by nineteen year-old guitarist Justin York. Once again the band went into the recording studio in 2002 and worked through 2003 to release a new album. The group was successful, and in November they released Dove Award-winning Lose This Life.[7]
The album proved that the group had matured into a much more aggressive hard rock sound compared to Empty’s more relaxed easy-listening music.[8] Around the time the album was released, band members also participated in the production of !Hero, a rock opera which modernized the life and times of Jesus Christ.
Within the past few years the band has toured on and off, many times with other CCM artists. When asked about the set-backs of recent band member changes, Tait has stated that “I think [with him] spearheading [the band] — if [he takes] off, then the band does change. If a member changes here and there, it does not affect [the band] a bit…. it does not change a bit of [his] vision for this band.”[9] The band does plan to release a third album, Loveology , sometime this fall. Producer and co-writer Ben Moody (best known from Evanescense) has joined the group to help them through the transition. The group will have gone through a major transformation, leaving behind rock and moving into a unique sound Michael himself describes as being “Stevie Wonder meets Maroon 5 meets Lenny Kravitz. . . sort of a groovy pop sound.”[10]
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Michael Tait – vocals, piano
- Evan Weatherford – guitar
- Jordan Hester – bass
- Chad Chapin – drums, percussion
[edit] Former Members
- Pete Stewart – guitar, synthesizer
- Justin York – guitar
- Brian Nutter – guitar
- Lonnie Chapin – bass
- Dave Clo – guitar
[edit] Discography
- Empty, ForeFront Records July 3, 2001
- Lose This Life, ForeFront Records November 4, 2003, GMA Dove Award, Rock Album of the Year (2004)
| Upcoming Album(s) | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Loveology | 2008 | None |
[edit] Chart History
| Year | Title | Label(s) | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Contemporary Christian | Top Christian Albums | Top Heatseekers | |||
| 2001 | Empty | ForeFront | #10 | ||
| 2003 | Lose This Life | ForeFront | #23 | #19 | |
[edit] References
- ^ Thompson, John J. Raised by Wolves: the History of Christian Rock and Roll. ECW P, 2000. 198.
- ^ Kittle, Ashleigh. AllMusic Tait Biography.
- ^ Jones, Chris P. (Sept. 16, 1998). The Lariat Online- Baylor University.
- ^ Tait Biography - Crossmap Lyrics.
- ^ Pete Stewart Biography from ForeFront Records via Christianity Today.
- ^ Breimeier, Russ. Empty – Review from Christian Music Today.
- ^ GMA Dove Awards 2004 – Winners.
- ^ Argyrakis, Andy. Lose This Life – Review from Christian Music Today.
- ^ Flanders, Kim (October 2004). A dc Talk Solo Update: Michael Tait.
- ^ Michael Tait dumps rock, embraces R&B-tinged pop.
[edit] External links
- Tait official website
- dc Talk official website
- dcTalkSolo website
- Michael Tait myspace
- Spy-Headquarters fan site
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