Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- lifesavers [2018/09/25 01:14] – admin
+++ lifesavers [2026/10/17 15:43] (current) – admin
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 ====== Lifesavers ======
-{{:the_lifesavors.jpg?nolink|}}
+{{:the_lifesavors.jpg?nolink&460|}}
 |**Band:**|Lifesavers / The Lifesavors|
 |**Origin:**|California|
-|**Genres:**|[[Punk Rock]]|
+|**Genres:**|Punk Rock|
-|:::|[[Alternative Rock]]|
+|:::|Alternative Rock|
-|:::|[[New Wave]]|
+|:::|New Wave|
 |**Years Active:**|1980-1985 (as The Lifesavors)|
 |:::|1986-1999, 2008-2014 (as Lifesavers)|
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 |:::|[[M8 Records]]|
 |:::|[[Retroactive Records]]|
-|**Members:**|(1980-1981) Chris Wimber, Ray Hersom|
+|**Members:**|(1980-1981) [[Mark Krischak]], Chris Wimber, Ray Hersom, Kevin Lee|
-|:::|(1981-1982) [[Mark Krishchak]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee Annis, [[Michael Knott]]|
+|:::|(1981-1982) [[Mark Krischak]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee, [[Michael Knott]]|
-|:::|(1982) [[Mark Krishchak]], [[Michael Knott]], Kevin Lee Annis, John ? , Brandon ?|
+|:::|(1982) [[Mark Krischak]], [[Michael Knott]], Kevin Lee, John ? , Brandon ?|
-|:::|(1982) [[Michael Knott]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee Annis|
+|:::|(1982) [[Michael Knott]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee |
-|:::|(1982) [[Michael Knott]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee Annis, Brian Goins|
+|:::|(1982) [[Michael Knott]], Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee, Brian Goins |
-|:::|(1983) Brian Goins, Kirk Heiner, Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee Annis|
+|:::|(1983) Brian Goins, Kirk Heiner, Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee |
-|:::|(1984) [[Mark Krishchak]], Kirk Heiner, Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee Annis|
+|:::|(1984) [[Mark Krischak]], Kirk Heiner, Chris Wimber, Kevin Lee |
-|:::|(1986) [[Michael Knott]], Brian Doidge, Kevin Lee Annis|
+|:::|(1986) [[Michael Knott]], Brian Doidge, Kevin Lee |
 |:::|(1991) [[Michel Knott]], Michael Sauerbrey, [[Steve Hindalong]]|
 |:::|(1995) [[Michael Knott]], Brian Doidge, Chuck Cummings|
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ==== Early Versions: 1978 - 1979 ====
-The Lifesavers (and [[Undercover]]) formed out of members that came from two earlier bands, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Both bands started in 1978. They were described by John J. Thompson as “edgier than Larry Norman and Love Song.” Chris Wimber was in [[Boaz]] before forming The Lifesavors, but [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] had line-ups that were changing and intermixing. By 1979, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], and Dave Hackbarth while [[Boaz]] was Chris Wimber, Danny Pavlis, Ray Hersom and [[Ric Alba]] (among a few others). [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was also noted as having a demo tape, but it is unknown if [[Boaz]] ever recorded.
+The Lifesavers (and [[Undercover]]) formed out of members that came from two earlier bands, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]]. Both bands started in 1978. They were described by John J. Thompson as “edgier than Larry Norman and Love Song.” Chris Wimber was in [[Boaz]] before forming The Lifesavors, but [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] had line-ups that were changing and intermixing. By 1979, [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] was Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], and Dave Hackbarth while [[Boaz]] was Chris Wimber, Danny Pavlis, Ray Hersom and [[Ric Alba]] (among a few others). Members of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] have mentioned that both bands had demo tapes, but these have not surfaced digitally yet.
 Gary Wilson tells what he remembers of [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] in the book //God's Not Dead (And Neither Are We)//. As of 1979, Jim Nicolson and [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]] were both in the band, and they had a tape that Wilson liked. They were eventually able to convinced Wilson to join on drums. About 4-6 weeks after he joined, the band split up.
-Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], Danny Pavlis (drums), and [[Ric Alba]] (bass) started [[Undercover]]. [[Undercover]] started rehearsing in a greenhouse owned by Danny's parents. Chris Wimber and Ray Hersom formed [[The Lifesavors]].
+Jim Nicolson, [[Ojo|Joe Taylor]], Danny Pavlis (drums), and [[Ric Alba]] (bass) started [[Undercover]]. [[Undercover]] started rehearsing in a greenhouse owned by Danny's parents. Chris Wimber and Ray Hersom connected with [[Mark Krischak]] and Kevin Lee to form [[The Lifesavors]].
 [[Ric Alba]] had this to say about the two bands:
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 >"I played keys in [[Boaz]] starting in 1978. I met them when my drummer-since-childhood Frank Pipitone auditioned and joined [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]]. Frank and I had 'got saved' at a hippie bible study group at the home of Ross Mann, and we had a hippy folk trio with Ross that broke up when Frank joined [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]]. [[Ojo]] had a friend, Chris Wimber, with a band that needed a singer and keyboard player, so Ross and I joined up and there was [[Boaz]].
 >
->"Chris' dad being John Wimber, we found ourselves opening for Lonnie Frisbee a number of times. Then we got some local notoriety for going, (gasp) "New Wave" when I wrote the song, "Francine" in 1979. This was the only [[Boaz]] song to outlive the big switcheroo of personnel when [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] became [[Undercover]] and [[The Lifesavors]].
+>"Chris' dad being John Wimber (founder of the Vineyard movement), we found ourselves opening for Lonnie Frisbee a number of times. Then we got some local notoriety for going, (gasp) "New Wave" when I wrote the song, "Francine" in 1979. This was the only [[Boaz]] song to outlive the big switcheroo of personnel when [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]] and [[Boaz]] became [[Undercover]] and [[The Lifesavors]].
 >
 >"I had secretly idolized Taylor and Nicholson for their prog-rock abilities, as I was becoming a huge fan of Yes and Chris Squire at the time. I would have muscled my way into a band with them sooner but [[JC Rose|J.C. Rose]]'s bassist, Jerry Davis, had become a good friend of mine and I respected that. Jerry became John's bassist for the Vineyard worship team, which lasted many years after that."
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 {{:the_lifesavors_-_us_kids_-_band_1.jpg?nolink|Band photo from Us Kids insert}}
-The Lifesavors were an early Christian pogo punk/new wave band that formed in 1980. According to the liner notes to [[Undercover]]'s //Volume 1// compilation, The Lifesavors were formed by Chris Wimber (the son of Vineyard founder John Wimber) and Ray Hersom. Their first concert as The Lifesavors was at a roller skating rink in Yorba Linda sometime late in 1980. [[Undercover]] and a band called [[The Chosen Ones]] also played at the concert. It is unknown at what point [[Mark Krishchak]] joined the band, but a live demo called //3-14-81 Live// (recorded at a church in Downey, CA) contains at least one song credited to [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] on a later album. [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] served as the early leader of the band performing as lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and lead guitarist. In early 1981, The Lifesavors and [[Undercover]] were both asked to release albums through the [[Ministry Resource Center]] (MRC) label. By the time The Lifesavors released their debut full length album //Us Kids//, Hersom was not in the band and two new members were listed. Joining bass guitarist Wimber and lead vocalist / guitarist [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] were Kevin Lee Annis (brother of [[Mike Stand]] of the [[Altar Boys]]) on drums and [[Michael Knott]] on rhythm guitars. [[Michael Knott|Knott]] has later stated that he was about 16 or 17 years old at this time. [[Michael Knott|Knott]]'s involvement with The Lifesavors on //Us Kids// was minimal at the most. According to Kevin Sorrells, "[[Michael Knott|Mike]] stepped in the middle of the recording. I think he only collaborated on one song."
+The Lifesavors are known as an early Christian pogo punk/new wave band that formed in 1980. [[Mark Krischak]] had originally been a part of [[The Popsicles]], a power pop / teen “glam” pop rock band based in Huntington Beach, California, that formed in 1978. After recording an independent 45 record on the OSP label in 1978, The Popsicles frequently played the Los Angeles Strip club scene. Rodney Bingenheimer of LA’s KROQ FM brought The Popsicles to the attention of famed record producer Kim Fowley in 1979. Fowley signed The Popsicles to a five-year record deal. The Popsicles two songs that were released on Kim Fowley’s //Hollywood Confidential// compilation LP. They were also featured in //Super Teen// magazine.
-[[Altar Boys]] bassist [[Ric Alba]] also worked with The Lifesavors at one point. According to [[Ric Alba|Alba]]:
+In 1980, Krischak disappeared for two weeks and then reappeared saying he was a born-again Christian and had to quit the band. The Popsicles carried on, but one by one they also all became Christians. Their last concert was as a Christian band at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Krischak ended up at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa because, according to him, “Chuck Smith’s church seemed to have a lot of music and bands going on at the time.” However, the pressures of life led to The Popsicles breaking up after that last concert. Krischak went around looking for people that liked the same kind of music and that wanted to have a ministry-type of band.
+About a year after becoming a Christian, Krischak went around looking for people that liked the same kind of music and that wanted to have a ministry-type of band. According to Krischak, "I was at a concert, and I met Chris Wimber, and he said that he knew a drummer named Kevin Lee (brother of [[Mike Stand]] of the [[Altar Boys]]). We needed a rhythm guitar player, and Ray Hersom used to let us practice at his house, and he had an amp and guitar and I asked him to play with us." Kevin Lee had a landscape business together with his brother [[Mike Stand]]. Stand recalled that one day out of the blue Lee mentioned to him that he was now playing with The Lifesavors.
+As far as the name of the band, Krischak was the one that came up with The Lifesavors. According to him, "I thought that since Jesus saves, that it would be a good name for the band, because we would be telling people about Jesus."
+Their first concert as The Lifesavors was at a roller skating rink in Yorba Linda, California, sometime in late 1980. Undercover and a band called [[The Chosen Ones]] also played at the concert. Stand went to see them the first time that The Lifesavors played at Calvary Chapel, where he was inspired to go that direction musically.
+The original version of the band recorded their first demo, which also became known as //3-14-81 Live//. This demo was recorded at a church in Downey, California. Krischak served as the early leader of the band performing as lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and lead guitarist.
+The Lifesavors seemed to be more at home in Hollywood clubs and dance halls than churches. Some of the more famous clubs that they played in were The Starwood, The Whisky-a-Go-Go, The China Club, Cathay de Grande, Club Lingerie, Florentine Gardens, and Cuckoo's Nest. They often played with several punk icons, including the Darby Crash Band (Crash was co-founder of The Germs) in late 1980. They still played at churches from time to time, but Krischak later said “playing at Calvary Costa Mesa was kind of weird because they didn’t really care for dancing there and we were kind of used to everyone dancing and having fun.”
+Krischak later recalled that the band preferred to play their own shows at dance halls: "mostly we rented out halls and did our own shows, which was a good idea, because we wouldn't charge that much to get in (compared to the clubs). We would charge like $1.00, and we used to fill up the halls this way."
+Stand also recalled how The Lifesavors had a Bible study at Ray Hersom’s house. [[Altar Boys]] bassist [[Ric Alba]] also worked with The Lifesavors at one point. According to [[Ric Alba|Alba]]:
 >"I did some keys for The Lifesavors, but was never a member. They were forming while [[Undercover]] was at the same time. Lifesavors rehearsed in Ray Hersom's living room when Chris and I were renting spare rooms in Ray's house. At that time though, Ray was in [[Undercover]]. At the same time we held open jam sessions at the house, often attended by Kevin's (Lifesavor's drummer) little brother Mike, who became [[Mike Stand]]."
-[[Michael Knott|Knott]] described the band's early sound as "psuedo punk rock songs." Many outlets refer to //Us Kids// as the first Christian Punk album (although //No Sham!// by the [[Bill Mason Band]] preceded it by two years). The album's producer Thom Roy refers to the sound as Power Pop. The band had its fair share of controversy in the early days, including being banned from playing at Calvary Chapels because [[Michael Knott|Knott]] would dance on stage during concerts. But the band also played local California rock clubs with other punk icons, including Darby Crash.
+In early 1981, The Lifesavors and [[Undercover]] were both asked to release albums through The [[Ministry Resource Center]] (MRC) label. By the time The Lifesavors released their debut full length album //Us Kids//, Hersom was not in the band and [[Michael Knott]] had joined on rhythm guitars. According to Krischak: "I wanted to get a stronger rhythm guitar player, since Ray had just started playing guitar, and I heard that (Knott) was doing a show with his band that was called [[The One]].  After his show, I asked him if he wanted to join the Lifesavers, and he said yes."
+Knott has later stated that he was about 16 or 17 years old at this time (but he was more likely 18 or 19). Knott’s involvement with The Lifesavors on //Us Kids// was minimal at the most. According to Lee, “Mike stepped in the middle of the recording. I think he only collaborated on one song.” Krischak agreed with this assessment, stating "He learned the songs, did a few back-ups on the record, and played some of the rhythm guitars." Stand also stated that the Lifesavors Bible study at Hersom’s house was started five or six months before Knott came on the scene.
+Before The Lifesavors, Knott already had an extensive background in the Orange County music scene. Various bands of his like [[The One]], [[The Hightops]], and [[Mike Knotts Rubber Band]] would play clubs such as The Cuckoos Nest and the KooKoo Lounge as well as at colleges, house parties, and pool parties. His bands were so popular that they would draw huge crowds wherever they played. Knott became a an evangelical Christian in high school (although he had been raised a Catholic Christian). A Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa band led by Brian Doidge called [[The Chosen Ones]] put out an ad for a lead singer and Knott auditioned. Knott’s girlfriend at the time went to see The Lifesavors in concert at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. She met the band and introduced Knott to Krischak. Krischak saw Knott play with [[The One]] and then took Knott to some band practices while asking Knott to join the band. He decided to go with The Lifesavors instead of [[The Chosen Ones]].
+[[Michael Knott|Knott]] described the band’s early sound as “pseudo punk rock songs.” Many outlets refer to //Us Kids// as the first Christian punk album (although a few releases like //No Sham!// by the [[Bill Mason Band]] preceded it by two years). The album’s producer Thom Roy refers to the sound as power pop.
+Two weeks after joining the band, Knott started dancing around on stage during a Lifesavors concert at Calvary Chapel Downey and encouraging the crowd there to do the same. This led to the band getting in trouble and being banned from playing churches for 8 months. This forced the band to focus almost exclusively on clubs. The Lifesavors became a popular band on the club circuit, often opening for larger bands. The Lifesavors would get anywhere from 800 to 3,000 people at any given gig.
 {{:the_lifesavors_-_us_kids_-_live_shots_1.jpg?nolink|}}
@@ Line 63: / Line 85: @@
 ==== Transition: 1982 ====
-A live bootleg from 1982 features [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]], Annis, and [[Michael Knott|Knott]] - as well as mentioning John, Brandon and former member Ray. It is unknown who John and Brandon are. They also talk about recording their second album on their own label. Eight songs from the bootleg were never released, so those were probably meant for the new album that never materialized. [[Michael Knott]] mentions writing one of the unreleased songs called "For You."
+A live bootleg from 1982 features [[Mark Krischak|Krischak]], Lee, and [[Michael Knott|Knott]] - as well as mentioning John, Brandon, and former member Ray. It is unknown who John and Brandon are. They also talk about recording their second album on their own label. Eight songs from the bootleg were never released, so those were probably meant for the new album that never materialized. [[Michael Knott]] mentions writing one of the unreleased songs called "For You." Another song (“Jesus Hold Me Closer”) was covered by [[Dead Artist Syndrome]] on their 2015 album //Kissing Strangers// and credited to Knott. The song “Front Sliders” was later recorded by [[The Lifters]] on their 1985 album //What Love’s All About// and credited to Chris Brigandi. When asked about the song, Brigandi later said that Knott actually wrote the song but gave it to The Lifters to record as along as he didn’t get publishing credit for it. The only way to do that was to credit the song to Brigandi.
-At some point in 1982, [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] leaves the band and [[Michael Knott|Knott]] takes over to record the two song //You and Me// single. John and Brandon are not listed on this release. The line-up for the single is just the trio of [[Michael Knott|Knott]], Wimber, and Annis. The full story of what happened is unknown at this time, but Kevin Sorrells had this to say at one time about internal disagreements within the band: "[[Mark Krishchak|Mark]] got jealous of [[Michael Knott|Mike]] and quit after [he had] invited [[Michael Knott|Mike]] in the band in the first place.... We begged [[Mark Krishchak|Mark]] not to leave. [Chris] Wimber always had to be the boss, and that caused tension. But Chris was a very creative guy [with a] strong personality and a trendsetter. I love the guy and miss him." [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] was also known to later refer to [[Michael Knott|Knott]] on discussion boards as a "spawn of Satan" that he would never work with again.
+At some point in early 1982, Krischak left the band and Knott took over to record the two song //You and Me// single. John and Brandon are not listed on this release. The line-up for the single is just the trio of Knott, Wimber, and Lee. The full story of what happened is unknown at this time, but Lee had this to say at one time about internal disagreements within the band: “Mark got jealous of Mike and quit after [he had] invited Mike in the band in the first place…. We begged Mark not to leave. [Chris] Wimber always had to be the boss, and that caused tension. But Chris was a very creative guy [with a] strong personality and a trendsetter. I love the guy and miss him.” Krischak was also known to later refer to Knott on discussion boards as a “spawn of Satan” that he would never work with again. However, Krischak later had this to say: “there were two front men (me and Mike) and two songwriters (me and Mike) so I figured that the band would be better if it was just going in one direction / singer / songwriter instead of two.” Mike Stand did sound for the band after Krischak left for about 6 months until The Altar Boys took off.
+Side B of the You and Me single is “The One,” which contains a line about the kids hanging out at the church at Canyon High. Canyon High School is in Anaheim Hills, California and was the first home for the Vineyard church pastored by John Wimber. This was the church where Knott led a popular Bible study in which a traveling group of prophets often associated with the Vineyard movement took people away into a false gospel. This story is chronicled on [[L.S. Underground]]’s //The Grape Prophet//.
 {{:lifesavers_1.jpg?nolink|}}
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 ==== Constant Changes: 1983 ====
-At some point after they recorded the 1982 single, Brian Goins was brought into the band. One live photo with [[Michael Knott|Knott]], Wimber, Annis, and Goins does exist, but according to Annis there was only one concert with this line up. The band began recording the first version of //Dream Life// with [[Michael Knott|Knott]] on lead vocals and guitars.
+At some point after they recorded the 1982 single, Brian Goins was brought into the band. One live photo with [[Michael Knott|Knott]], Wimber, Lee, and Goins does exist, but according to Lee there was only one concert with this line up. The band began recording the first version of //Dream Life// with [[Michael Knott|Knott]] on lead vocals and guitars.
 {{:lifesavers_concert.jpg?nolink|}}
@@ Line 80: / Line 104: @@
 {{:the_lifesavors_-_dream_life_-_group.jpg?nolink|}}
-At some point during the recording, [[Michael Knott|Knott]] says that John Wimber told them that he wanted the band to travel around the United States planting churches. [[Michael Knott|Knott]] didn't feel led to do that, so he left the band and formed [[Idle Lovell]]. Kirk Heiner joined the band after [[Michael Knott|Knott]] left. According to Heiner, at this point they decided to re-record the vocals on //Dream Life//, with Goins singing lead vocals on about five songs and Heiner handling lead vocals on about six. [[Michael Knott|Knott]]'s background vocals were left in the mix, as well as some of his guitar work. Most songs on the //Dream Life// album are credited in part to [[Michael Knott|Knott]]. At the time of the album's release, Annis and Wimber are still listed as members, with Kirk Heiner now listed as guitarist and Brian Goins listed as the new vocalist.
+At some point during the recording, [[Michael Knott|Knott]] says that John Wimber told them that he wanted the band to travel around the United States planting churches. [[Michael Knott|Knott]] didn't feel led to do that, so he left the band and formed [[Idle Lovell]]. At some point in this time period, Mark Allen was brought into the band to handle lead vocals for a few months. He played several shows, but ultimately did no work out. Kirk Heiner also joined the band after [[Michael Knott|Knott]] left. According to Heiner, at this point they decided to re-record the vocals on //Dream Life//, with Goins singing lead vocals on about five songs and Heiner handling lead vocals on about six. [[Michael Knott|Knott]]'s background vocals were left in the mix, as well as some of his guitar work. Most songs on the //Dream Life// album are credited in part to [[Michael Knott|Knott]]. At the time of the album's release, Lee and Wimber are still listed as members, with Kirk Heiner now listed as guitarist and Brian Goins listed as the new vocalist.
+Goins was not able to tour for //Dream Life//, so [[Mark Krischak|Krischak]] was brought back in for the tour.
 {{:the_lifesavors_-_dream_life_-_band_1.jpg?nolink|}}
 {{:the_lifesavors_-_dream_life_-_band_2.jpg?nolink|}}
 {{:lifesavers_promo_1_refuge.jpg?nolink|}}
-Goins was not able to tour for //Dream Life//, so [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] was brought back in for the tour.
 ==== Lost Years: 1984 - 1985 ====
-One oddity exists from 1984 - a demo usually referred to as the //Lost Nashville Demo//. Sources have confirmed that [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] was the band leader at this time. Kirk Heiner had this to say about the song writing process for the album:
+One oddity exists from 1984 - a demo usually referred to as the //Lost Nashville Demo//. Sources have confirmed that [[Mark Krischak|Krischak]] was the band leader at this time. Kirk Heiner had this to say about the song writing process for the album:
->"The song 'Voices / Lost in the Darkness' was completely written by me. The other songs were pretty much written by [[Mark Krishchak]] but came together as a collaboration of [[Mark Krishchak|Mark]], Chris, Kevin and me. We recorded late that evening. Chris, [[Mark Krishchak|Mark]] & Kevin had all flown in earlier, but I flew in a day later than the rest because at the time I ran a business. We got to the recording studio around midnight. The building was amazing: a two story brick building with a two story waterfall in the entry. The recording room was large enough for a full orchestra. It had a new technology system of recording using glass sheets hanging in the air. Wires connected to the glass would vibrate, sending back a perfect recording of the sounds in the studio. We had a studio musician show up for the keyboard tracks. He worked for [[Refuge Records]]. I had been working on the song 'Voices' that was about all of the voices that try to influence us. Some good, some bad, some just our own thoughts. I asked the keyboard player if he had any kinda scary, haunted house type sounds in his synthesizer, so he pulled one up. When he did, it was playing through these huge speakers in the recording booth. It sounded like the devil himself came out of that keyboard - scared the crud out of all of us. I said, ‘Put that thing back’.”
+>"The song 'Voices / Lost in the Darkness' was completely written by me. The other songs were pretty much written by [[Mark Krischak]] but came together as a collaboration of [[Mark Krischak|Mark]], Chris, Kevin and me. We recorded late that evening. Chris, [[Mark Krischak|Mark]] & Kevin had all flown in earlier, but I flew in a day later than the rest because at the time I ran a business. We got to the recording studio around midnight. The building was amazing: a two story brick building with a two story waterfall in the entry. The recording room was large enough for a full orchestra. It had a new technology system of recording using glass sheets hanging in the air. Wires connected to the glass would vibrate, sending back a perfect recording of the sounds in the studio. We had a studio musician show up for the keyboard tracks. He worked for [[Refuge Records]]. I had been working on the song 'Voices' that was about all of the voices that try to influence us. Some good, some bad, some just our own thoughts. I asked the keyboard player if he had any kinda scary, haunted house type sounds in his synthesizer, so he pulled one up. When he did, it was playing through these huge speakers in the recording booth. It sounded like the devil himself came out of that keyboard - scared the crud out of all of us. I said, ‘Put that thing back’.”
 After recording, The Lifesavors embarked on a major tour. Heiner recalls:
@@ Line 106: / Line 130: @@
 ==== Permanent Name Change: 1986 ====
-At some point between 1984 and 1986, several changes occurred: [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] left the band (with [[Michael Knott|Knott]] taking over as leader), Wimber also left (to be replaced by Brian Doidge - formerly of [[The Chosen Ones]] - on bass), and the name of the band was changed slightly. In 1986, Lifesavers signed to [[Frontline Records]] and released //Kiss of Life//. The name was not the only thing to change - [[Michael Knott|Knott]] also steered the band in a more alternative direction, drawing comparisons to The Psychedelic Furs. Some sources also claim that [[Michael Knott|Knott]] no longer likes this album, even though some songs do occasionally make it in to his solo live shows from time to time.
+Sometime before 1986, The Lifesavors broke up because one of the new members showed up to a concert noticeably drunk. Word spread quickly of the event, and the band could no longer play Christian concerts. Different people started calling [[Michael Knott|Knott]] to do Lifesavors shows at churches again. So he reformed the Lifesavors as Lifesavers with Doidge and Lee and started playing shows. The name change was simply to avoid legal hassles.
+In 1986, Lifesavers signed to [[Frontline Records]] and released //A Kiss of Life//. The name was not the only thing to change – Knott also steered the band in a more alternative direction, drawing comparisons to The Psychedelic Furs. Some sources also claim that [[Michael Knott|Knott]] no longer likes this album, even though some songs do occasionally make it in to his solo live shows from time to time.
+Knott started dating [[Windy Lyre]] during the recording of //A Kiss of Life//. Lyre’s mother was Ruth Mayer, a well-known painter with her own art gallery on the Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California. The horse that Knott is riding on the cover of the album was owned by Lyre at the time. That horse is also the mother of the horse on the cover of [[Adam Again]]’s //Perfecta// album.
 {{:lifesavers_-_kiss_of_life_-_band_1.jpg?nolink|}}
@@ Line 116: / Line 144: @@
 ==== Side Project: 1987 - 1999 ====
-In 1987, [[Michael Knott|Knott]] decided to take Lifesavers in a darker direction, both musically and lyrically. This major change in direction caused him to also change the name of the band to [[Lifesavers Underground]] (also known as L.S.U. or L.S. Underground). Several albums were released under this name and it appeared that the Lifesavers were no more.
+On December 1, 1986, [[Michael Knott|Knott]] announced at a concert that the band was changing names and directions. Knott felt that too much in the Church was fake and surface-y. The Lifesavers decided to address this by writing darker, more serious music. However, they were afraid that Frontline Records and the churches would hate it, so they changed their name. The new name was [[Lifesavers Underground]] (also known as L.S.U. or L.S. Underground). Several albums were released under this name and it appeared that the Lifesavers were no more.
-In reality, the Lifesavers were just dormant and in 1991 [[Michael Knott|Knott]] would begin releasing albums under both names. 1991's //Poplife// saw the Lifesavers head in a more surf rock direction. It also saw an entirely new band behind [[Michael Knott|Knott]], with Michael Sauerbrey on bass guitar and [[Steve Hindalong]] ([[The Choir]]) handling drums.
+In reality, the Lifesavers were just dormant and in 1991 Knott would begin releasing albums under both names. 1991’s //Poplife// saw the Lifesavers head in a more surf rock direction. It also saw an entirely new band behind Knott, with Michael Sauerbrey on bass guitar and [[Steve Hindalong]] ([[The Choir]]) handling drums.
-The Lifesavers went quiet for a few more years until 1995 when they released //Huntington Beach//. This album saw the return of Doidge on bass guitar and the addition of Chuck Cummings on drums. //Huntington Beach// was also the heaviest Lifesavers album to date - a return to their punk rock roots. Songwriting was split between Doidge and [[Michael Knott|Knott]] on this album, with less spiritual lyrics that focused on many humorous aspects of life on the title beach.
+The Lifesavers went quiet for a few more years until 1995 when they released //Huntington Beach//. This album saw the return of Doidge on bass guitar and the addition of Chuck Cummings on drums. //Huntington Beach// was also the heaviest Lifesavers album to date – a return to their punk rock roots. Songwriting was split between Doidge and Knott on this album, with less spiritual lyrics that focused on many humorous aspects of life on the title beach.
-The late 1990s saw several Lifesavers album re-issued by various labels - //Kiss of Life// in 1995 on [[Alarma Records]] and both //Us Kids// and //Poplife// on [[M8 Records]] in 1999. After that, the Lifesavers went dormant again for almost a decade.
+The late 1990s saw several Lifesavers album re-issued by various labels – //A Kiss of Life// in 1995 on [[Alarma Records]] and both //Us Kids// and //Poplife// on [[M8 records]] in 1999. After that, the Lifesavers went dormant again for almost a decade.
-Chris Wimber went on to be a [[https://www.discogs.com/artist/558881-Chris-Wimber|record producer]] as well as manager of the [[https://www.discogs.com/label/67411-Vineyard-Music-Group|Vineyard Music Group]]. Sadly, Chris Wimber died on February 6, 1998 at his Southern California home after a long-term battle with melanoma cancer. He was 40. Almost two months prior to Wimber's death his father, John, founder of the Vineyard stream of churches, died from a brain hemorrhage at age 63.
+Chris Wimber went on to be a [[https://www.discogs.com/artist/558881-Chris-Wimber|record producer]] as well as manager of the [[https://www.discogs.com/label/67411-Vineyard-Music-Group|Vineyard Music Group]]. Sadly, Chris Wimber died on February 6, 1998 at his Southern California home after a long-term battle with melanoma cancer. He was 40. Almost two months prior to Wimber’s death his father, John, founder of the Vineyard stream of churches, died from a brain hemorrhage at age 63.
 ==== Resurrection: 2008 - Present ====
-Through the years after the 1990s, there were various rumors about different versions of Lifesavers making a come back. Most of these were not based on substantial claims from members of the band. [[Mark Krishchak|Krishchak]] even made mention of trying to get the band back together (without [[Michael Knott|Knott]]) on different Christian band message boards.
+Through the years after the 1990s, there were various rumors about different versions of Lifesavers making a come back. Most of these were not based on substantial claims from members of the band. [[Mark Krischak|Krischak]] even made mention of trying to get the band back together (without [[Michael Knott|Knott]]) on different Christian band message boards.
 In June 2008, the new bass player for the Lifesavers, Joshua Lory, announced that a new album was being recorded. Joining Lory and [[Michael Knott|Knott]] on the album would be Nick White on drums and Cliffy Huntington on guitar. No definite plans or release dates were initially announced, but the band mentioned that songs were being worked on in a Beach Boys / Ramones vibe.
@@ Line 137: / Line 165: @@
 The album was recorded and released in 2013. Two mixes were completed of the album. The first one by Masaki Liu was released in cardboard sleeve as the "Kickstarter Edition." In 2014, the second mix by J. Powell was re-issued as a digipack by [[Retroactive Records]] as the "Retroactive Edition," with modified and expanded artwork.
+The untimely death of [[Michael Knott]] on March 12, 2024 put an early end to Lifesavers, but efforts to preserve the band’s legacy continue. In August of 2024, Lory ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to finish and add four incomplete songs intended for //Heaven High// and release the complete version on vinyl. In February of 2026, Retroactive Records re-issued //Poplife// on CD and vinyl with a bonus track from the recording sessions called “Nachos” added (this is also the song that has the words “pop life” in it). Rumors of more re-issues also continue to swirl.
 ====== Discography ======
@@ Line 142: / Line 172: @@
 == as "The Lifesavors" ==
-| 1981 | 3-14-81 (live demo) |
+| 1981 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2026/10/17/the-lifesavors-3-14-81-first-demo/|3-14-81]] (live demo) |
-| 1981 | Us Kids | [[Swing Records]] |
+| 1981 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2026/10/17/the-lifesavors-us-kids-reissue/|Us Kids]] | [[Swing Records]] |
-| 1982 | You and Me (7-inch) | [[Swing]] |
+| 1982 | You and Me (7-inch) | [[Swing Records]] |
 | 1982 | Live 1982 (bootleg) |
 | 1983 | Dream Life | [[Refuge Records]] |
@@ Line 166: / Line 196: @@
 | 1999 | Us Kids | [[M8 Records]] | (with bonus songs) |
 | 2014 | Heaven High [retroarchives edition] | [[Retroactive Records]] | (new cover and mix) |
+| 2026 | Poplife | [[Retroactive Records]] | (with a bonus song) |
 ------
@@ Line 174: / Line 205: @@
 [[Key Records]] (KEY 8)
-Mark Krischak\\
+[[Mark Krischak]] - Lead vocals, guitars\\
-Mike Knott\\
+Ray Hersom - Rhtymn guitars, backing vocals\\
-Chris Wimber\\
+Chris Wimber - Bass guitar, backing vocals\\
-Kevin Annis
+Kevin Lee - Drums, backing vocals
   - Christianity
@@ Line 191: / Line 222: @@
 [[Swing Records]]\\
+[[Key Records]]\\
 [[M8 Records]]
-Michael Knott – rhythm guitar, BGVs\\
+[[Mark Krischak]] – Lead vocals, lead guitar, BGVs\\
-Mark Krischak – lead guitar, lead vocals, BGVs\\
+[[Michael Knott]] – Rhythm guitar, BGVs\\
-Chris Wimber – bass, acoustic guitars, rhythm guitars, BGVs\\
+Chris Wimber – Bass, acoustic guitars, rhythm guitars, BGVs\\
-Kevin Annis – drums, percussion, BGVs
+Kevin Lee – Drums, percussion, BGVs
-Produced by: Thom Roy
+Produced by Thom Roy
   - Where You Going
@@ Line 205: / Line 237: @@
   - Oh Yeah
   - New
-  - Youn
+  - Young
   - Blue
   - Operation
@@ Line 233: / Line 265: @@
 [[Swing Records]]
-Mike Knott - Guitar, lead vocals\\
+[[Michael Knott]] - Guitar, lead vocals\\
 Chris Wimber - Bass, rhythm guitar, vocals\\
-Kevin Annis - Drums, percussion, vocals
+Kevin Lee - Drums, percussion, vocals
-Mike Annis ([[Mike Stand]] - Lead guitar
+[[Mike Stand]] - Lead guitar
 Produced and engineered by Thom Roy
@@ Line 250: / Line 282: @@
 Independent
-Michael Knott – rhythm guitar, BGVs\\
+[[Mark Krischak]] – Lead guitar, lead vocals, BGVs\\
-Mark Krischak – lead guitar, lead vocals, BGVs\\
+[[Michael Knott]] – Rhythm guitar, BGVs\\
-Kevin Annis – drums, percussion, BGVs\\
+Kevin Lee – Drums, percussion, BGVs\\
 John – unknown\\
 Brandon – unknown\\
@@ Line 261: / Line 293: @@
   - Front Slider
   - Go Go to Jesus
-  - Trends (aka “Passin’ Trends”
+  - Trends (aka “Passin’ Trends”)
   - Try Anything
   - Take Me Over
@@ Line 282: / Line 314: @@
 [[Refuge Records]]
-Kevin Annis – drums, percussion, vocals\\
+Brian Goins – Vocals\\
-Chris Wimber – bass, rhythm & acoustic guitars, backing vocals\\
+Kirk Heiner – Guitar, keyboards, vocals\\
-Kirk Heiner – guitar, keyboards, vocals\\
+Chris Wimber – Bass, rhythm & acoustic guitars, backing vocals\\
-Brian Goins – vocals
+Kevin Lee – Drums, percussion, vocals
-Michael Knott – additional guitars
+[[Michael Knott]] – additional guitars and vocals
-Produced by: Thom Roy
+Produced by Thom Roy
   - Break in My Head
@@ Line 332: / Line 364: @@
 Independent
-Mark Krischak – vocals, guitar\\
+[[Mark Krischak]] – vocals, guitar\\
 Kirk Heiner – guitar\\
 Chris Wimber – bass guitar\\
-Kevin Annis – drums
+Kevin Lee – drums
   - New Boy (3:47)
@@ Line 350: / Line 382: @@
 [[Frontline Records]]
-Michael Knott – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, percussion\\
+[[Michael Knott]] – Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, percussion\\
-Kevin Lee – drums, percussion\\
+Brian Doidge – Bass guitar\\
-Brian Doidge – bass guitar
+Kevin Lee – Drums, percussion
 Produced by: Doug Doyle
@@ Line 374: / Line 406: @@
 Blonde Vinyl Records
-Michael Knott – Vocals, guitars; bass on “Surf With God”, cover art\\
+[[Michael Knott]] – Vocals, guitars; bass on “Surf With God”, cover art\\
 Michael Sauerbrey – Bass\\
-Steve Hindalong – Drums\\
+[[Steve Hindalong]] – Drums
-Christopher Colbert – guitar on “Surf With God”
-Produced by: Michael Knott
+Christopher Colbert – Guitar on “Surf With God”
+Produced by [[Michael Knott]]
   - I Don’t Know (Sister, Sister)
@@ Line 396: / Line 429: @@
   - I Want Your World
   - Touch Me in the Wind
+== The 206 Retroctive re-issue included this bonus song: ===
+  - Nachos
+------
+==== Huntington Beach ====
+[[Brainstorm Artists International]]
+[[Michael Knott]] – Vocals, guitar, bass\\
+Brian Doidge – Vocals, guitar, bass\\
+Chuck Cummings – Drums
+Produced by The Lifesavers
+  - When She’s Gone
+  - Disappointed
+  - Huntington Beach Police
+  - Mrs. King
+  - Rent a Cop
+  - Out
+  - Big Kimono
+  - Sick
+  - Daddy’s Womp
+  - The Day Elvis Died
+  - Should Have Known
+  - Joey Ramone
+  - The Hightops - Who is She (bonus track from 1978)
+  - The Hightops - Get Outta My Life (bonus track from 1978)
+  - The Hightops - Susie’s Got Eyes For You (bonus track from 1978)
+------
+==== Heaven High ====
+Independent\\
+Retroactive Records
+[[Michael Knott]] – Vocals, additional Guitar on track 10\\
+Joshua Lory – Bass, additional guitar on track 6\\
+Masaki Liu – Guitar, Synth, Keys, Programming\\
+Nick White – Drums\\
+Chris Dugan – Drums on track 7\\
+Rick McDonough – Lap Steel on track 10
+Produced by Masaki Liu and Joshua Lory
+  - Heaven High (2:09)
+  - All Fall Down (3:25)
+  - Bark/Bite (1:54)
+  - Offed My Head (2:27)
+  - I Love It When (2:30)
+  - Dog Days of an Indian Summer (2:28)
+  - Oh Baby (2:52)
+  - Stereo Radio (4:46)
+  - Ocean View Lane (2:19)
+  - Last Spring (3:10)
 ------
@@ Line 403: / Line 495: @@
   * [[The Lifesavers]]
   * [[Lifesavors]]
+{{tag>punk_rock california united_states 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1991 1995}}