RED is the name of a few different musical artists and bands over the years. To quickly answer the question posed in the title – yes, there is a band called RED. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the various groups and musicians that have used the name RED, focusing especially on the prominent Christian rock band by that name. We’ll examine their history, music style, members, albums, awards, and more. A table highlighting their discography is also included to visualize the data.
The Christian Rock Band RED
The most well-known band called RED is the Christian rock group originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. The band’s name is stylized as RED to stand for “Righteous and Evil Delivered.” They are signed to Provident Label Group. RED has released seven studio albums and gone through some lineup changes, but the core group consists of singer Michael Barnes, guitarist Anthony Armstrong, and bassist Randy Armstrong.
Some key facts about the Christian rock band RED:
– Formed in 2002 in Nashville by twin brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong along with Andrew Hendrix.
– Current members are Michael Barnes (lead vocals), Anthony Armstrong (guitar), Randy Armstrong (bass), and Dan Johnson (drums).
– Their debut album End of Silence was released in 2006. It was nominated for a Grammy.
– Style is classified as Christian rock, Christian metal, hard rock. Their songs feature heavy guitar riffs and religious lyrics.
– They’ve won multiple Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association including Rock Album of the Year.
– RIAA-certified gold selling albums include End of Silence (2006), Innocence & Instinct (2009), and Until We Have Faces (2011).
– Popular singles include “Breathe Into Me,” “Death of Me,” “Faceless,” and “Darkest Part.”
– They have over 700,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
So in summary, yes the prominent Christian rock band RED formed in 2002 does exist and has made a significant impact in that genre. Next we’ll take a look at their origin story and albums discography over the years.
History of the Band RED
The band RED originated in Nashville in the early 2000s when twin brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong began playing music together. They grew up with a father who was a preacher and they both found Christianity at a young age. Music was their passion and they started writing songs and performing together in church and local venues around Nashville as teenagers.
In 2002 when the brothers were 20 years old, they recruited guitarist Andrew Hendrix and formed the band called RED. The name stands for “Righteous and Evil Delivered” and represents the duality of human nature. The band started gaining a following from their energetic live shows in Nashville’s rock scene.
RED self-released their debut album End of Silence in 2006 and it ended up being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album the following year. ThisExposure helped them get signed to a mainstream label, Sony BMG imprint Essential Records. RED’s second album, Innocence & Instinct, was released under Essential in 2009 and debuted in the Billboard 200. The single “Death of Me” became a No. 1 Christian rock radio hit.
After the release of their third album Until We Have Faces (2011), RED parted ways with Essential Records and took a couple years off. In early 2015, RED announced they had signed with Nashville Christian label Provident Label Group and had been working on new music. The release of Gone (2015) marked their return.
In 2017, Hendrix left the band to pursue other projects. He was replaced by guitarist Dan Johnson. The twin brothers remain at the core of RED along with new lead singer Michael Barnes who joined in 2015 after vocal issues led prior singer Rob Graves to step away.
RED’s seventh and most recent studio album Declaration was released in 2020. They continue touring and recording new music, cementing their status as one of the most popular Christian rock bands.
Discography of RED
Here is a rundown of the discography of the Christian rock band RED over their two decade career:
| Album | Year | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| End of Silence | 2006 | Self-released |
| Innocence & Instinct | 2009 | Essential Records |
| Until We Have Faces | 2011 | Essential Records |
| Release the Panic | 2013 | Essential Records |
| Gone | 2015 | Provident Label Group |
| Of Beauty and Rage | 2015 | Provident Label Group |
| Declaration | 2020 | Provident Label Group |
As you can see, RED has released 7 full-length studio albums starting with their independently released debut End of Silence in 2006. Their next 5 albums were under Sony’s Essential Records label until they switched to Provident Label Group in 2015. Declaration from 2020 is their most recent. The band’s album Until We Have Faces reached No. 2 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and had their biggest singles to date. After some hiatus years, RED found renewed success after signing with Provident. They continue dropping aggressive Christian rock music with no signs of slowing down.
Members of RED Over the Years
While the band has undergone some transformations in members, RED has been centered around singer Michael Barnes and founding twin brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong for most of its existence:
– Michael Barnes – lead vocals (2015 to present)
– Randy Armstrong – bass (2002 to present)
– Anthony Armstrong – guitar (2002 to present)
– Dan Johnson – guitar (2017 to present)
Past members:
– Rob Graves – lead vocals (2002-2014)
– Jasen Rauch – guitar (2002-2015)
– Andrew Hendrix – guitar (2002-2016)
– Hayden Lamb – drums (2011-2014)
– Joe Rickard – drums (2014-2015)
Randy Armstrong and Anthony Armstrong have been the constants since starting the band in 2002. First lead singer Rob Graves departed due to vocal issues in 2014, leading to Michael Barnes taking over lead vocals in 2015. The Armstrong twins also retained creative control of the songwriting over the years.
Guitarist Andrew Hendrix was an original member who left in 2016. He was replaced by Dan Johnson who joined RED in 2017 and remains today. There has been some turnover in the drummer position as well, but the core group of the Armstrong brothers, Barnes, and Johnson have been steady in recent years as RED continues releasing new music and playing live shows.
Musical Style and Influences
RED plays a style that falls into the Christian rock and Christian metal genres. They are known for high energy guitar riffs, boomling drums, emotional vocals, and lyrics centered on struggles, faith, and redemption.
Some of the band’s main influences and inspirations include:
– Hard rock bands like Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle
– Metal groups like Demon Hunter, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage
– Christian rock artists like Skillet, Decyfer Down, Disciple
– Nu metal pioneers like Korn and Linkin Park
– Classic rock icons like AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses
RED’s sound gravitates toward heavy guitar-driven hard rock and metal. The dual guitars and contrast of screams and melodic vocals create a layered effect. While clearly in the Christian music sphere, their songs tend to focus more on personal battles over overt preaching. RED’s music appeals to Christian rock fans looking for an edgier alternative sound.
Awards and Nominations
Over their multi-album career, the rock band RED has been nominated for and won numerous awards:
– Grammy nomination – Best Rock Gospel Album (End of Silence)
– 8 GMA Dove Award wins – including Rock Album of the Year and Rock Song of the Year
– Billboard Music Awards nomination – Top Christian Album (Until We Have Faces)
– iTunes Awards – Best Christian & Gospel Album (Release the Panic)
– 10 No. 1 singles on ChristianRock.net
RED’s album Until We Have Faces in particular was a commercial and critical breakthrough, winning 2 Dove Awards and hitting No. 2 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart. It propelled them into the upper echelon of Christian rock artists and paved the way for their future success and acclaim in that genre.
The band members have always emphasized the importance of their faith. So while crossing over to mainstream rock recognition, RED continues to proudly wave the Christian rock flag high with their music and wins these types of awards.
Tours and Concerts
In support of their studio albums, RED has toured extensively both as headliners and as openers for some of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal:
– Winter Jam Tour Spectacular (2015, 2020) – Christian music’s largest annual tour
– Carnival of Madness Tour (2013) – Alongside Papa Roach, Skillet, In This Moment
– Make Some Noise Tour (2012) – With Disciple, Manafest
– Music as a Weapon Tour (2009) – With Disturbed, Chevelle, Halestorm
– Unite & Fight Tour (2008) – With Staind & Shinedown
– HardDrive Live Tour (2007) – With Sevendust, Black Stone Cherry
Some notable RED concerts and tours over the past decade include shows at major U.S. rock festivals like Rocklahoma, Rock on the Range, Carolina Rebellion, and more. They also took part in the 2012 Winter Jam European Tour.
In recent years, RED has continued headlining their own tours across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. They still open for hard rock heavyweights on occasion but have firmly established themselves as a premier live act in Christian rock based on their infectious energy and musicianship on stage.
Controversy and Criticisms
While achieving significant success in the Christian rock world, RED has also faced some controversies and criticisms of their music style and identity over the years:
– Accused of being too stylistically similar to mainstream hard rock bands, lacking an original sound.
– Questioned for lyrics that are occasionally vague in expressing their faith.
– Lead singer Michael Barnes received backlash for publicly voicing support of Black Lives Matter movement. Some fans saw this as too political.
– Their peculiar band name RED (Righteous and Evil Delivered) has been critiqued for being possibly interpreted as ambiguous or demonic.
– Handling of departure of original lead singer Rob Graves due to vocal issues was seen by some as cold or ungracious.
– Their aggressive hard rock sound has been criticized as musically and lyrically too angry for a Christian band by some genre purists.
While maintaining a devout Christian identity, RED has straddled the line musically between secular metal/rock and faith-based music. This has opened them up to scrutiny from both sides at times. But their worldwide popularity and award recognition speak to RED’s relevant impact on Christian music culture overall.
Impact and Legacy
With 7 hit studio albums, multiple No. 1 songs and Dove Awards, and over a decade of touring under their belt, RED has cemented a lasting legacy and influence within the Christian rock community:
– Helped lead a sonic shift to heavier hard rock and metal styles gaining prominence in Christian music since the 2000s.
– Trailblazed increased crossover appeal between Christian rock and general market active rock radio/tours.
– Provided a model of how a rock band can project religious faith and positivity through lyrics while still delivering an unrelenting hard rock sound.
– Inspired a new generation of electronicore and Christian metalcore groups like The Devil Wears Prada and Underoath.
– Modernized the image of a Christian rock band through high-energy live shows and edgy outfits/personas.
– Showcased how artists with devout religious conviction can compete in the mainstream music industry without watering down their beliefs.
RED remains one of the most popular and emulated bands in Christian rock today. With their signature balance of heavy guitar riffs and positive faith-inspired messages, RED has made an indelible mark not just in the Christian music scene but with all lovers of passionate, powerfully-played rock and metal. They’ve helped prove that religious conviction and high-quality hard rock can successfully coexist.
Conclusion
In summary, yes – there is most definitely a prominent band called RED. Hailing originally from Nashville, TN, RED is a Christian rock band that formed in 2002 consisting of the core lineup of singer Michael Barnes and founding twin brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong.
RED plays a radio-friendly yet heavy mix of hard rock, metal, and alternative music layered with lyrics expressing their Christian faith. They’ve released 7 hit albums since 2006, won numerous Dove Awards in the Christian music sphere, and toured the world both as headliners and supporting major rock acts like Papa Roach and Disturbed.
While facing occasional controversy over their sound and faith, RED has emerged as one of the most successful and influential groups in the Christian rock genre over the past two decades. Their skilled musicianship, emotional vocals, and dedication to their beliefs has earned them a devoted following. So for those who love passionate, expertly-played rock that also promotes positivity – yes, RED is the real deal.
