Pillar (band)

Pillar (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pillar


Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genre = Nu metal (early)
Christian rock
Hard rock
Christian metal
Years_active = 1998 – present
Label = Sony BMG Essential Records (2007-Present)
Flicker Records (1998-2007)
Associated_acts = Stars Go Dim
URL = [http://www.pillarmusic.com/ pillarmusic.com]
Current_members = Rob Beckley
Noah Henson
Past_members = Lester Estelle II : Drums (2002-2008)
Brad Noone : Drums (left 2002)
Travis Jenkins : Guitar (left 2001)
Dustin Adams : Guitar (left 1999)
Joey Avalos : Guitar (2006-07)
Michael Wittig (AKA Kalel) : Bass (1998 - 2008)

Pillar is a Grammy-nominated Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Pillar has moved between different genres, including hard rock, rapcore, and nu metal.

History

Formation and independent albums

Pillar started in Hays, Kansas in 1998, when Fort Hays State University roommates Brad Noone and Rob Beckley got together with friends Travis Jenkins, Dustin Adams, and Michael Wittig, known as Kalel. cite web
url = http://www.angelfire.com/zine/rxmag/pillar.html
title = Pillar
date =
accessdate = 2008-05-15
publisher = Rhythmstx Magazine
] In 1999, Pillar released their first album, " Metamorphosis", on their own independent label, Shadrach Records. After some more touring in Kansas, they released their second independent album, "Original Superman", in 2000. Around this time they relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to try to find a larger fan base.


= Flicker Records and " Above" =

Soon after the release of "Original Superman", Pillar became noticed by Flicker Records, who signed them in mid 2000.cite web
url = http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Pillar-Biography/9DBC2B4595D41F7F48256C8E001E65E8
title = Pillar Biography
date =
accessdate = 2008-05-15
publisher = Sing365.com
] After the signing, Pillar re-cut many of the tracks from "Original Superman" as well as a few new tracks for release on Above,their first major label album. The album had medium success, selling almost 60,000 copies. [cite web
url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hpfpxqrkldde
title = Pillar
date =
accessdate = 2008-05-15
publisher = allmusic.com
] The song "Open Your Eyes" won a Dove Award in 2001 for Hard Music Song of the Year.


= " Fireproof" =

In 2002, Noah Henson took over guitar duties and Pillar released their breakthrough album, "Fireproof". "Fireproof" sold over 300,000 copies, and launched national tours. It also won two Dove Awards. A few years later Pillar went back into the studio with "Fireproof" and released a newer, richer sounding version with little tweaks in songs, including a Bonus DVD. Resulting in two versions of "Fireproof" on the market.Soon after the release of "Fireproof", drummer Lester Estelle, Jr. joined the band. [cite web
url = http://www.lesterdrums.com/site_pages/bio.php
title = Biography
date =
accessdate = 2008-05-15
publisher = LesterDrums.com
]


= " Where Do We Go from Here" =

In 2004, Pillar released their next album " Where Do We Go from Here". "Where Do We Go from Here" was as an instant hit among Christian rock fans everywhere, capturing #1 on sales in the genre for weeks. The album featured multiple hits, including "Bring Me Down", and, "Frontline" which topped the charts for months. Not only did Christian shows and stations play "Bring Me Down", it was requested heavily on secular stations as well.


= "" and "The Reckoning" =

Pillar released an EP called "" in June 2006. It featured 3 new songs (including "Everything") and 4 live tracks. The other two new songs, "Our Escape" and "Dangerous", are not available on their following album, "The Reckoning". The EP was only available at live shows and at their webstore. A limited number of copies (10,000) were created.

Pillar then recorded their fourth album, "The Reckoning", in early 2006. Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., We as Human, 10 Years, Disciple) produced the new album, as he produced all of their previous albums, and it was released on October 3, 2006. In support of "The Reckoning", Pillar embarked on "The Days of the Reckoning Tour" throughout October and November of 2006. Other Christian bands on the tour included Day of Fire, The Showdown (band), and Decyfer Down. "The Reckoning" received a Grammy Award nomination December 6, 2007 for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. This was the first Grammy nomination that Pillar has ever received. [ 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
]


= "For the Love of the Game" to present =

Pillar has played at both Cornerstone Festival and Creation Festival. It was revealed at Soulfest 2007 that the name of their next project would be "For the Love of the Game", which was eventually released on February 26, 2008. They brought back the Pillar logo from "Where Do We Go from Here" and "Fireproof" for this album. ESPN used the new Pillar song, "For the Love of the Game," during montages highlighting the 2007 World Series on its program, "Baseball Tonight".

Pillar recently helped Eowyn record her latest album "Silent Screams" with Beckley contributing vocals to the title track and Henson and Estelle also playing on the album. Pillar toured on the SHOUTfest tour with After Edmund and various other artists from September to November 2007. They also had a tour for "For the Love of the Game" from February to April 2008, with Brooke Barrettsmith, Wavorly, and Building 429.

In the fall of 2008, Pillar embarked on the "For The Love of The Fan Tour", which enabled the fans to decide their own ticket price for the show. The tour lasted for three weeks and ended on September 26, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. Lester announced the "For The Love of The Fan Tour" would be his last tour with Pillar. Kalel was not seen playing bass for Pillar, but was being filled in by the bass player of Addison Road, one of the bands on the tour. Later, Kalel announced on his myspace page that he was no longer in Pillar because of his involvement with helping indie Christian bands such as One Minute Halo as well as Lester leaving the band. Kalel also stated that he wanted to be at home with his wife and two children.

As of October 4, 2008, Rob Beckley and Noah Henson are the only original members of Pillar from the "Fireproof" era and will continue on with new band members. As of this time, the new band members have not yet been announced.

Members

* Rob Beckley: Vocals (1998 - Present)
* Noah Henson: Guitar (2001 - Present)

Former Members
* Michael Wittig (AKA Kalel) (1998 - 2008)
* Lester Estelle II: Drums (2002 - 2008)
* Brad Noone : Drums (1998 - 2002)
* Travis Jenkins : Guitar (1999 - 2001)
* Dustin Adams : Guitar (1998 - 1999)
* Joey Avalos : Touring Guitarist (2006-2007)

Awards

Winner

* Dove Awards of 2001 for "Hard Music Album of the Year" - "Above" by Pillar (Travis Wyrick; Flickerrecords.Com)
* Dove Awards of 2002 for "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" - "Live For Him" by Pillar (Rob Beckley, Travis Jenkins, Brad Noone, Michael Wittig)
* Dove Awards of 2003 for "Hard Music Album of the Year" - "Fireproof" by Pillar (Travis Wyrick; Flicker USA)

Nomination

The following are nominations that did not result in a win for Pillar, or those nominations that a winner has not yet been announced:
* 2003 Dove Award Nominee for "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" - "Fireproof" from the album "Fireproof" by Pillar (Rob Beckley, Michael Wittig, Brad Noone, Noah Henson; Flicker USA)
*2008 Grammy Award for "Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album" for "The Reckoning" by Pillar.

Discography

Albums

Related bands and side projects

* Godspeed (1992 - 1994): In high school, Michael Wittig (Kalel) was the founding member of the band Godspeed. They had one album, "Godspeed," which was recorded December 1993 and released in a limited edition of 200 copies in January, 1994 in cassette format only. It contains 3 tracks: "Searching" (written by Michael Wittig), "Your Life" (written by Michael Wittig), and "Her Tears" (written by Robert Brouhard and Michael Wittig). The band's name changed from Q: The Source (named after the Q document) to Godspeed during the recording of this 3 song EP. Band Members at the time of the recording included: Michael Wittig on guitar and bass, Mahlon Tobias on bass, Robert Brouhard on vocals, and David Shawn Valcárcel on drums.

* Stars Go Dim (2007 - current) is a current side project band that Lester Estelle Jr., Michael Wittig, and Joey Avalos are a part of. Sweet Memorial's frontman, Chris Cleveland, is the lead singer. They have released three songs on iTunes ("Come Around," and "Crazy," and "Walk On," which are also available on limited edition promo CDs). Stars Go Dim are currently recording a full length album.

* Eowyn's 2008 song "Silent Screams" features Rob Beckley on guest vocals.

References

External links

* [http://www.pillarmusic.com Band Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/pillar Band's MySpace]
*
* [http://www.firestream.net/fs_rate.php?go=showcat&cat_id=24 Pillar] at [http://www.firestream.net Firestream.net]
* [http://www.lesterdrums.com Lester's Website]
* [http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=121 NewReleaseTuesday.com Exclusive interview with Rob]


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