The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

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====== Altar Boys ======

Punk Rock\\
California, USA

Altar Boys were Christian punk rock band from California formed in 1982. The original members were [[Mike Stand]] (vocals, songwriting, and guitar), Jeff Crandall (drums), Steve Pannier (guitars) and [[Ric Alba]] (bass, background vocals). Mark Robertson would later replace Alba on bass.

The formation of The Altar Boys, according to [[Mike Stand]]:

"In 1980 I committed my life to Jesus Christ and began working on my salvation with “fear and trembling”. I began playing in a Christian rock group called “Image” with my cousins Jeff and Bill Crandall and a guy named Armand Barocio. We were not really that good, but it was a start. The band lasted for about two years.

Anyway, Bill and Armand kind of dropped out of Image after about a year and we got a different bass player along with Ken Tamplin from Shout but that really didn’t work either. Jeff and I decided to form a different band – the Altar Boys name came later. Ironically, we auditioned lead singers, and someone who could be a front man. I had no intention of being the main songwriter, singer or front man – it wasn’t even on my radar. As you might guess we couldn’t find anyone who fit the bill, so at some point I decided just to do it – I suppose it worked out in the end and was meant to be.

I remember in 1981 I went to see my brother’s band “The Lifesavors” play and became inspired. I became good friends with the guys in Undercover and began writing songs with a more punk feel to them. I kind of felt that I was just writing Beatles music that was sped up. We did experiment with ska and light pop, but I think we did the “power punk” (or whatever you want to call it) the best. Hence, you see the results of what I was really going for on //Gut Level Musi//c, //When You’re a Rebel// had hints of it as did //Against the Grain//. By the time we recorded //Forever Mercy// we had kind of strayed from our original sound – bad move.

Our first bass player came as a recommendation from Undercover, he stayed with us for about 2 years until Ric joined the band – that change improved the band greatly. Steve auditioned for the group in May of 1982 – he was a real good fit.

We played our first gig at First Baptist church in Fullerton in July of 1983. I have some great photos from that gig. We were well received. After that first performance the band sort of took off and we played anywhere and everywhere, about 10 times a month… I suppose the rest is history (With a small h).

We sought to be a little more melodic on //Forever Mercy//. But our fan base loved the hard driving stuff. With that said, the //Forever Mercy// project was just so different, it had its good moments but everyone wanted to hear //Gut Level Music//. In the end, the music did not “work” very well in the live setting. Hence we pulled mostly from our older material.... We were hoping to do a 6th record called //No Substitute// that really was basically more in line with //Gut Level Music//, but we just could not seem to get back into the studio. Some of those songs were used on the [[Clash of Symbol]]’s first recording while others are not going anywhere."

===== Discography =====

| 1983 | Demo |
| 1984? | Live Demo | 
| 1984 | Altar Boys | [[Ministry Resource Center]] |
| 1985 | When You're a Rebel | [[Alarma Records]] |
| 1986 | Gut Level Music | [[Alarma Records]] |
| 1987 | Against the Grain | [[Alarma Records]] |
| 1989 | Forever Mercy | [[Alarma Records]] |
| 1990 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2026/11/07/altar-boys-mike-stand-mercy-thoughts/|Mercy Thoughts]] |
| 1991 | The Collection | [[Alarma Records]] |
| 1992 | No Substitute | (unreleased) |
| 2000 | Live at Cornerstone | [[Millenium Eight Records]] |
| 2018 | No Substitute | [[Lo-Fidelity Records]] |

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==== Demo ====

1983 Independent

[[Mike Stand]] - Lead vocals, guitar\\
Steve Pannier - Guitar\\
First bass player?\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums

  - Go for You (2:17)
  - Mary Ann (2:42)
  - You're Lost (1:36)
  - Anytime at All (2:21)

------

==== Live Demo ====

1984? Independent

  - I'm Into God
  - Ballad of Chucky
  - Oh Nancy
  - Alright
  - Take in the Son
  - Come Along and See
  - Where's it Gonna Lead You
  - Now Your Mine
  - Mary Ann

These are all live recordings. The band would hand these out at their shows along with a business card.

------

==== Altar Boys ====

1984 Ministry Resource Center (SPCN-7-100-03372-19)\\
2002 Millenium Eight Records (M8D-1131)

[[Mike Stand]] - Guitar, lead vocals\\
Steve Pannier - Guitar\\
[[Ric Alba]] - Bass, keyboards\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, vocals

Produced by [[Ojo Taylor|Joey Taylor]]

  - Alright! (2:24)
  - I'm Into God (2:52)
  - Have a Clue (2:36)
  - Where's It Gonna Lead You (2:24)
  - You Found Me (3:46)
  - Take in the Son (2:44)
  - Well O.K. (2:36)
  - Good Life (3:31)
  - Oh, Oh Nancy (1:33)
  - We Love Jesus (2:40)
  - It's Up to You (3:07)

== 2002 Re-issue Bonus Tracks: ==

  - Go for You (2:17)
  - Mary Ann (2:42)
  - You're Lost (1:36)
  - Anytime at All (2:21)

------

==== When You're a Rebel ====

1985 Broken Records (CD08796)

[[Mike Stand]] - Lead vocals, guitars\\
[[Ric Alba]] - Bass, backing vocals\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Produced by B. B. Stone

  - Difference in Me (4:06)
  - More of You (2:58)
  - Calling Out to Believers! (3:23)
  - When I'm With God (2:33)
  - I'm Into God (reprise) (1:44)
  - When You're a Rebel (3:58)
  - Jesus is Number One (2:46)
  - If You Let Him In (2:25)
  - When I See You (3:08)
  - He Knows You Better (2:58)
  - Does God's Heart Cry? (4:35)

------

==== Gut Level Music ====

1986 Frontline Records (CD9006)\\
2015 Girder Records (GR1005)

Mike Stand - Guitar, Vvocals\\
[[Ric Alba]] - Bass, backing vocals, piano\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, backing vocals

Produced by [[Terry Scott Taylor]]

  - You Are Loved (4:12)
  - G.L.M. (Gut Level Music) (4:04)
  - I'm Not Talking About Religion (3:58)
  - I Question It (2:45)
  - You Found Me (3:42)
  - Unconditional Love (3:33)
  - There is a Love (4:18)
  - Calling to You (3:12)
  - Final Hour (2:56)
  - Life Begins at the Cross (4:09)

Note: The 2015 re-issue included the missing unreleased song "I Just Can't Let Go" (3:59) inserted in between tracks 5 and 6.

------

==== Against the Grain ====

Frontline Records (CD9023)

[[Mike Stand]] - Guitars, vocals\\
[[Ric Alba]] - Bass, backing vocals\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Produced by The Altar Boys and [[Terry Scott Taylor]]

  - Fallen World (4:05)
  - Kids are on the Run (3:48)
  - Hearts Lost in Nowhere (4:01)
  - Broken (3:56)
  - Where's the New World? (5:18)
  - Against the Grain (2:28)
  - Human Sound (4:21)
  - Take Control (3:11)
  - Shout Louder! (3:33)
  - Count on Love (4:27)

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==== Forever Mercy ====

1989 Alarma Records (FLD9057)

[[Mike Stand]] - Lead vocals, lead guitar, harmonica\\
[[Ric Alba]] - Bass, guitar, vocals\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, percussion, vocals

Steve Griffith - Additional drums, vocals, and guitar\\
Steve Pannier - Lead guitar on tracks: 5, 6, and 9

Produced by Steve Griffith

  - Forever Mercy (4:20)
  - Listen Up (4:28)
  - Faith! (4:03)
  - The Meaning of Life (4:26)
  - Ride This Train (4:26)
  - World Burning (4:00)
  - Here Ends the Night (3:53)
  - Love Eternal (3:55)
  - More Than Words (3:48)
  - Silent Night (4:13)

------

==== Mercy Thoughts ====

1990 Independent\\
2000 Millenium Eight Records (M8D-1049)

== 1990 Tape version ==

  - Well O.K. (live 1984) (2:38)
  - You're Lost (1983 2nd demo) (1:31)
  - Where's It Gonna Lead You (live 1984) (2:26)
  - When You're a Rebel (live 1984) (3:49)
  - You are Loved (live 1989) (4:43)
  - Fallen World (live 1989) (4:32)
  - Do I Stand Alone? (demo version) (4:29)
  - It's Me (unreleased solo demo) (3:56)
  - Life in the Streets (unreleased solo demo) (3:42)
  - World Burning (demo version 1989) (3:27)
  - Altar Boys Go Skating (unreleased track from the //Forever Mercy// sessions) (2:31)
  - Stand & Fall (solo demo 1989) (4:15)
  - I Can Hear (unreleased track from the //Simple Expressions// sessions) (4:54)

== 2000 Millenium Eight Records Version ==

  - Listen to Your Heart Breakdown (demo version 1983) (2:39)
  - Take in the Son (live 1983) (2:33)
  - Come Along and See (live 1983) (2:36)
  - Now Your Mine (live 1983) (2:41)
  - You're Lost (1983 2nd demo) (1:31)
  - Well O.K. (live 1984) (2:38)
  - Where's It Gonna Lead You (live 1984) (2:26)
  - When You're a Rebel (live 1984) (3:49)
  - Gut Level Music (basic track 1986) (4:17)
  - You are Loved (live 1989) (4:43)
  - Fallen World (live 1989) (4:32)
  - Do I Stand Alone? (demo version) (4:29)
  - It's Me (unreleased solo demo) (3:56)
  - Life in the Streets (unreleased solo demo) (3:42)
  - World Burning (demo version 1989) (3:27)
  - Altar Boys Go Skating (unreleased track from the //Forever Mercy// sessions) (2:31)
  - Throw Your Torches Down (live reference demo 1989) (3:41)
  - Altar Boys Go Skating (acoustic version) (demo 1989) (2:26)
  - Stand & Fall (solo demo 1989) (4:15)
  - I Can Hear (unreleased track from the //Simple Expressions// sessions) (4:54)

------

==== The Collection ====

1991 Alarma Records (FLD9268)

Collection of their best songs / greatest hits, with four remixes and three solo  tracks from [[Mike Stand]].

  - You are Loved (remix) (4:11)
  - Heart Lost in Nowhere (4:06)
  - Against the Grain (2:27)
  - Broken (4:00)
  - I Question It (extended remix) (2:51)
  - There is a Love (4:18)
  - Forever Mercy (extended remix) (5:18)
  - World Burning (remix) (4:03)
  - Life Begins at the Cross (4:10)
  - The Meaning of Life (4:56)
  - Ride This Train (4:23)
  - GLM (Gut Level Music) (4:10)
  - [[Mike Stand]] - I'm Only Human (3:36)
  - [[Mike Stand]] - Do I Stand Alone? (4:33)
  - [[Mike Stand]] - Footsteps of Love (3:54)

------

==== No Substitute ====

1992 unreleased

Demo tracks were recorded for this project, but never finished or released at the time they were recorded.

  - Rebel Rock
  - History Comes Back
  - Light of Freedom
  - Outside in the Distance
  - Surround Me
  - You are the One
  - 1,000 Miles
  - We Will Hold On
  - Let me See Your Hands
  - No Substitute

------

==== Live at Cornerstone ====

2000 Millenium Eight Records (M8D-1068)

[[Mike Stand]] - Lead vocals, guitar\\
Steve Pannier - Rhythm guitar, slide guitar\\
Mark Robertson - Bass, vocals\\
Jeff Crandall - Drums, vocals

  - Against the Grain (5:05)
  - You Found Me (4:35)
  - If You Let Him In (0:13)
  - Gut Level Music (GLM) (4:20)
  - He Knows You Better (3:07)
  - [band introduction] (1:13)
  - I Question It (3:10)
  - You Are Loved (3:57)
  - Heart Lost in Nowhere (3:58)
  - Life Begins at the Cross (4:43)
  - [audience applause] (1:58)
  - I'm Into God (2:34)
  - When You're a Rebel (4:45)

------

==== No Substitute ====

2018 Lo-Fidelity Records

The unreleased demos from 1992 were cleaned up, finished, and finally released.

  - Rebel Rock (4:38)
  - No Substitute (4:00)
  - Let Me See Your Hands (3:32)
  - Light of Freedom (4:01)
  - Outside in the Distance (3:25)
  - History Comes Back to Haunt This World (5:18)
  - The Kids Cry (3:58)
  - Surround Me (4:34)
  - Thousand Miles (4:27)
  - Devotion (4:28)
  - Give Our Hearts Back to God (4:16)
  - Revolution of Love (2:53)

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===== Links =====

  * [[http://downthelinezine.com/archives/mike-stand-and-the-altar-boys/|Down the Line interview with Mike Stand]]

{{tag>punk_rock california united_states 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992}}