Grammatrain

Last updated
Grammatrain
Origin Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Years active1994–1998, 2009–present
Labels ForeFront, independent
Members Pete Stewart
Dalton Roraback
Paul Joseph Roraback

Grammatrain is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 1994. The band was active in the Christian rock industry during the 1990s. Grammatrain disbanded in 1998 and reunited in 2009. According to drummer Paul Joseph Roraback in a 1995 interview, the band's name came from a poem he wrote about his grandmother called "Grandma's Train", which was the band's original name before changing it to Grammatrain shortly after forming. [1]

Contents

History

Grammatrain formed in 1994 with vocalist/guitarist Pete Stewart, drummer Paul Joseph Roraback and his brother, bassist Dalton Roraback. Paul was previously a drummer for the Christian metal band Paragon; [2] he performed on the band's two releases, Just Believe in 1984 and Dead and Alive in 1988, both of which were demos released exclusively on cassette. Paul was later a touring member for American Christian metal band Bloodgood [2] [3] from 1991 to 1993. Paul played drums on the band's third live album, To Germany, With Love! - Live in Germany 1993, before Bloodgood disbanded in 1994. [4]

Grammatrain recorded a self-titled three-song demo cassette tape, released independently in March 1994, and later released a self-titled demo CD on Zoe Worldwide Records containing four studio recordings and six live acoustic songs. After hearing one of the demo songs, ForeFront Records label executive Eddie DeGarmo signed the band.

Grammatrain's debut studio album, Lonely House , was released on September 19, 1995 and produced by Aaron Sprinkle. [5] "Believe" and "She Don't Know" were released as singles from the album. [6] [7] "Believe" received a music video, which was directed by Henry Shepherd. Lonely House achieved success on Christian radio. [8]

Grammatrain's second studio album, Flying, was released on July 6, 1997. A music video was made for the song "Peace". Critics cited the album's "lighter, more polished feel" when compared to Lonely House. [9] At the end of a tour promoting the album, Grammatrain officially broke up following their final live performance on December 7, 1998 in Germany. An announcement of the breakup can be heard on the band's live album. Grammatrain's live album, Live 120798, was released on ForeFront Records in 1999. [10] [11] Grammatrain appeared on ForeFront Records' Ten: The Birthday Album compilation in 1998, [12] as well as tribute albums to Larry Norman, Stryper, and Petra. [13]

Reunion

In early 2009, Grammatrain announced they reunited and were in the process of recording a new album. [14] Pete Stewart had left the Christian faith, however, and the album was not directed at Christian audiences. [15] 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.

In 2010, the single "The Last Sound" was released; the video was debuted at a Seattle Sounders FC match. [16] The song has been played at Qwest Field before the kickoff of Sounders matches, [17] and Sounders FC owner Drew Carey endorsed the song and promised to get a "proper video" made of it. [18] The video was produced and directed by Nik Venet, who had previously done videos for Jane's Addiction, The White Stripes and U2. [19] The song was also picked up by and released through Rock Band Network for the Xbox 360. [20]

Grammatrain's third studio album, Imperium, was released independently on October 10, 2010. [16]

Side projects

Following the breakup of Grammatrain in December 1998, Paul and Pete released several solo albums. In 1999, Pete Stewart released a self-titled solo album on ForeFront Records, followed by two independent solo albums, I Gave You a Desert and Under North Sky, released in 2007 and 2010. [21] Stewart joined Michael Tait's Christian rock band Tait in 2001, playing keyboards and guitars on the band's debut album, Empty. He also produced four tracks on the 2001 debut solo album for TobyMac, Momentum. In 2002, Stewart left Tait and joined Marcos Curiel's band The Accident Experiment as the vocalist, which released one EP, Arena, in 2003 and one studio album, United We Fear, in 2005 before going on hiatus in 2006. Stewart was also the guitarist on rap rock group Peace of Mind's self-titled studio album in 2003, with Christian rapper KJ-52 being the vocalist.

Paul Joseph Roraback has released four solo albums under the name PJ Bostic: [22] [23] Bullies at the Border in 2008, 3MS (Three Minute Song) in 2013, Light Me On in 2015, and Faith of Least Resistance in 2021. In 2016, Paul played drums on Love You to Death, the fourth studio album by Christian punk/crossover thrash band One Bad Pig, as well as co-produced, engineered, and mixed the album. Bloodgood singer Les Carlsen contributed guest vocals to the album. [24] Paul also released five solo singles from 2016 to 2022, as well as a music video for his song "Blue Light Gaze" in 2023. [25] [26]

Discography

Grammatrain discography
Studio albums3
Live albums1
Video albums1
Music videos2
EPs2
Singles3
Demo albums2

Studio albums

Live albums

Video albums

Extended plays

Singles

Music videos

Demo albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Max</span> Musical artist

Kevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk. As a solo artist following the band going on hiatus, he has recorded 12 full-length studio albums, including a Christmas album. From 2012 until 2014, he was the lead singer of the band Audio Adrenaline.

<i>Point No. 1</i> 1999 studio album by Chevelle

Point #1 is the debut studio album by the American rock band Chevelle, released on May 4, 1999. It is the only Chevelle album released by Squint Entertainment and their only collaboration with producer Steve Albini. The album featured a notable single in its title track but achieved only minor success, especially compared to Chevelle's major label follow-up in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TobyMac</span> American Christian rapper and singer

Kevin Michael McKeehan, better known by his stage name TobyMac, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. His road band is known as Diverse City. He was first known for being a member of the Christian rap and rock trio dc Talk, staying with them from 1987 until they went on hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of ten studio albums: Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), Portable Sounds (2007), Tonight (2010), Christmas in Diverse City (2011), Eye on It (2012), This Is Not a Test (2015), The Elements (2018), Life After Death (2022), as well as five remixed albums: Re:Mix Momentum (2003), Renovating Diverse City (2005), Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project (2012), Eye'm All Mixed Up (2014) and The St. Nemele Collab Sessions (2019). He became the third Christian artist to have a No. 1 debut on Billboard 200 chart with Eye on It.

<i>Momentum</i> (TobyMac album) 2001 studio album by TobyMac

Momentum is the debut studio album from American recording artist TobyMac. It was released on November 6, 2001, through ForeFront Records.

Pete Stewart is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer from Seattle, Washington. He is the lead singer and guitarist of Grammatrain, was the lead singer for The Accident Experiment, and is the former guitarist of Tait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Tait</span> American contemporary Christian music artist

Michael DeWayne Tait is an American contemporary Christian music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan in 1984 when he was in high school. Both Toby and Michael met Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and together they formed four-time Grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom Michael Tait has released five acclaimed studio albums. Tait is the current lead singer of Newsboys, and one third of Christian rock group DC Talk. Tait also has had success in his solo career, founding a band called Tait in 1997. He toured as a solo act until 2007. He became lead singer of the Christian pop rock band Newsboys in 2009. Aside from singing, Tait is also a self-taught guitar player. Tait also has a sister Lynda Randle, who is a Southern Gospel singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disciple (band)</span> American Christian metal band

Disciple is an American Christian rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee, formed in 1992. The group has released 13 studio albums, 3 extended plays, 1 live extended play, and 1 compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ForeFront Records</span> American Christian record label

ForeFront Records is a contemporary Christian music and Christian rock 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 Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo, and is a division of Universal Music Group under Capitol Christian Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tait (band)</span> American Christian rock band

Tait was an American Christian rock band formed by Michael Tait, one of the members of dc Talk and the lead singer of Newsboys since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guardian (band)</span> American Christian hard rock/metal band

Guardian is an American Christian hard rock and metal band. The band has released seven studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish, and toured extensively worldwide. There are also numerous compilations, independent releases, live records and bootlegs available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Huntingtons</span> American punk band

Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1994 in the Maryland and Delaware area by Cliff Powell, Mike Holt and Mike Pierce. The band is heavily influenced by the Ramones and has extensively toured with numerous ramonescore bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodgood</span> American Christian metal band

Bloodgood was an American Christian metal band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1983. By 1988, Bloodgood represented one of the four largest Christian metal bands alongside Barren Cross, Leviticus, and Whitecross.

<i>Empty</i> (Tait album) 2001 studio album by Tait

Empty is the debut studio album by American Christian rock band Tait and was the first of three solo albums released by members of dc Talk following their 2001 hiatus to work on solo projects. This album features Pete Stewart from Grammatrain, who is absent in the next album. Several songs are influenced by the passing of Michael Tait's late father Nathel, for whom the band is named.

<i>Skillet</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Skillet

Skillet is the debut studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Released on October 29, 1996, as an enhanced CD and audio cassette on ForeFront Records and Ardent Records, it showcases Christian lyrics with a grunge sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band on the Run (song)</span> 1974 single by Paul McCartney and Wings

"Band on the Run" is a song by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and Wings, the title track to their 1973 album Band on the Run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad at the World</span> American rock band

Mad at the World is a Christian rock band from Southern California. The band originally consisted of brothers Roger Rose and Randy Rose and their friend Mike Pendleton, later joined by Brent Gordon. Pendleton and Gordon left the band in 1992 and were replaced by Mike Link and Ben Jacobs. The band produced seven studio albums, one compilation package and two double reissues of previous albums.

<i>Lonely House</i> 1995 studio album by Grammatrain

Lonely House is the debut studio album by American rock band Grammatrain, released on September 19, 1995 on ForeFront Records. The album's sound is a combination of grunge, alternative rock, and post-grunge with Christian lyrics. Two songs from the album, "Believe" and "She Don't Know", were released as singles.

<i>Flying</i> (Grammatrain album) 1997 studio album by Grammatrain

Flying is the second studio album by American rock band Grammatrain, released on July 6, 1997 on ForeFront Records. A music video was made for the song "Peace". The music video included on the WWJD compilation VHS in 1998 and the track "Pain" was included on the CD release of the WWJD compilation on November 4, 1997.

Johnny Q. Public was a Christian rock band from Springfield, Missouri that formed in 1994. Although their sound was wholly modern, it was influenced by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Cream. In addition to their music, they were known for their charismatic theology, which they would dramatically display through audience participation at their live shows.

<i>Welcome to the Masquerade</i> 2009 studio album by Thousand Foot Krutch

Welcome to the Masquerade is the fifth studio album by Canadian Christian rock band Thousand Foot Krutch. Released on September 8, 2009 by Tooth & Nail Records, the album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 35 and the Christian Album charts at No. 2. Before its release, band frontman Trevor McNevan stated that "the new record is definitely more aggressive. In some areas, it's the heaviest we've ever been."

References

  1. ↑ Sutherland, Tim (Fall 1995). "Grammatrain". The Bunglo Quarterly (1).
  2. 1 2 "Paul Roraback (Grammatrain) - Jesus Freaks: Vinyl to Digital".
  3. ↑ Doug Van Pelt (August 13, 2016). "Love, Death and One Bad Pig" (online). www.heavensmetalmagazine.com. Heaven's Metal Magazine . Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ To Germany, With Love! - Live in Germany 1993 liner notes. Stephans-Buchhandlung. 1993.
  5. ↑ "Grammatrain, "Flying" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  6. ↑ ""Believe" (Grammatrain Official Website)". Archived from the original on May 7, 1999.
  7. ↑ ""She Don't Know" (Grammatrain Official Website)". Archived from the original on February 21, 1999.
  8. ↑ "Grammatrain Biography & Awards". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  9. ↑ "Grammatrain, "Flying" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  10. ↑ HM Magazine
  11. ↑ Gordon (a girl called) (January–February 2000). "Album Reviews: GRAMMATRAIN, Live 120798". HM Magazine (81). ISSN   1066-6923.
  12. ↑ Forefront Records#Trivia
  13. ↑ "Music Search Feature" . Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  14. ↑ "Grammatrain: Behind The Tracks » Grammatrain: Behind the tracks, Part 1". Grammatrain.podbean.com. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  15. ↑ "Music News, February 2009: GRAMMATRAIN TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN 2009". Jesusfreakhideout.com. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  16. 1 2 "[official Grammatrain site]". Grammatrain.net. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25.
  17. ↑ "Sounders: Sounders FC New Rock Anthem: "The Last Sound" (Grammatrain) - KCPQ". Q13fox.com. 2010-04-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  18. ↑ @DrewFromTV (March 31, 2010). "Make Way For The Sounders!!! Bitchin' tune by Seattle's Grammatrain: http://bit.ly/df8MeA I WILL get them a proper video for this" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "THE LAST SOUND video « [official Grammatrain site]". Grammatrain.net. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  20. ↑ "The Last Sound by Grammatrain // Songs // Rock Band®". Rockband.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  21. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/347089-Pete-Stewart-2 [ bare URL ]
  22. ↑ "PJ Bostic - Music".
  23. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/4640307-PJ-Bostic [ bare URL ]
  24. ↑ Doug Van Pelt (21 June 2016). "One Bad Pig – Love You To Death – HM Magazine" (online). www.hmmagazine.com. HM Magazine . Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Spotify – Web Player". Spotify .
  26. ↑ "PJ Bostic - Blue Light Gaze (Official Music Video)". YouTube . 16 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.