Godspeed (Christian band)

Godspeed was a Christian rock band that formed in Riverside, California in the early 1990s by notable musician and multiple major music award winner Michael Wittig (AKA Kalel). After the group disbanded at the end of 1994, Michael went on to form his second band, the multiple Dove Award winning and Grammy Award nominated band Pillar (as producer and Bass guitar player). [ cite web
url = http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_Show/list.aspx#11
title = 50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List
date = 2007-12-06
accessdate = 2007-12-07
publisher = The Recording Academy]

Godspeed started out as Q: The Source (controversially named after the Q Document). Michael Wittig wrote most of their music and lyrics, and the band rehearsed in his garage. He also financed all of their endeavors (by way of a recent inheritance). He bought the instruments, amps, studio time, etc. He also arranged most of their gigs.

They started as just a fun thing to do after school, but they soon began playing churches, restaurants, and schools. They soon had a regular gig every Wednesday as the praise band for a local Riverside church. The church let them play their own songs after each service (along with some cover songs of Michael W. Smith, The Prayer Chain, and even Nirvana and Harry Chapin. This started a following, and soon the church was unable to house the people who wanted to watch and listen.

During Christmas 1993, the band decided to record an EP to say thank you to their fans. During the making of this EP, Q: The Source changed their name to Godspeed. Godspeed's self titled EP album was limited to 200 copies and it was given away during the band's 2004 US tour where they played for free at various locations (they would not accept payments to spread the word of God).

The rare cassette only EP has recently sold on eBay for $100.00 to $200.00. It is very sought after by Pillar collectors and fans. Michael Wittig's original hand written lyrics and tabulation from his Godspeed days are also sought after by collectors, and can also fetch a hefty sum on eBay.

In 1994, two songs from their EP were played on a nationally syndicated preacher's half hour Christian radio series as the opening and closing songs to his preaching. The band was approached in the studio while they were recording their EP and they gave him permission to play the songs free of charge. The songs were the two ballads "Searching" and "Your Life". The hard rock song "Her Tears' " anti-pre-marital sex & anti-peer pressure lyrics did not fit the message of the show. While "Your Life's" message of accepting Jesus into your life, and "Searching's" message of man's search for God fit into the show's message very well.

Album

"Godspeed: Godspeed" EP (200 copies released on cassette only)
# "Searching" (words and music by Michael Wittig)
# "Your Life" (words and music by Michael Wittig)
# "Her Tears" (words by Robert Brouhard and music by Michael Wittig)

Band Members

For their EP release the members were:
*Michael Wittig (Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, and additional Bass guitar)
*Mahlon Tobias (Bass)
*Robert Brouhard (vocals)
*David Shawn Valcárcel (drums)

Additional members

Previous Members
*Michael Stoever (Drums)
*Bill Dickenson (Rhythm Guitar)
*Warren Schnack (Saxophone)
*Jason (last name unknown at this time) (Vocals)
*(name unknown at this time) (keyboards)

External links and references

* [http://www.pillarmusic.com Pillar Band Website]