Interview: Catching up with... thebandwithnoname

|PIC1|Fresh from a sell-out six-week tour of the US, thebandwithnoname have now released their third album, Dying To Be There, and the album features the newest members of the band, Straff, J, and Leon, as the welcome return of frontman chipK.


How was the response to the US tour?

chipK: The response from the USA tour was phenomenal. Hundreds of young people became Christians. The churches we visited really caught the vision for Innervation, and several youth groups asked if they could actually fly over to England to help with some of our missions. Everyone loves the new album, they sold like hotcakes. So did the 'Mind of chipK' books. One youth group bought a hundred copies on the spot. Americans are awesome.

Any memorable stories you would like to share with us regarding the tour?

chipK: After our final concert in Pasadena, California, we were praying back stage with some of the youth bands who'd opened for us. Their high school friends joined in, and before we knew it, our typically small prayer circle had filled the whole backstage! Tina (one of our dancers) said that some people were receiving the 'gift of healing', so I laid hands on the lad across from me and prayed that he'd be able to see Jesus heal many people through him. I prayed for others in the circle too, but this first guy came up to me afterwards and says, "Dude, I'm never going to forget you as long as I live!" He went on to tell me about an accident he was in with his sister last November that left him with chronic back pain. But when I laid hands on him, he felt a huge chill go down his back, and the pain left him. Praise God! So I told him to go and pray that God does the same for others.

What's the theme of the new album Dying to Be There?

chipK: The theme of our latest album is our desperation to be with Jesus in heaven. My grandfather died during the first week of our USA tour, and at his funeral I was like, "What am I doing with my life?" I looked at his body in the casket and thought, "That could just as easily be me in that box." I want to make the most of every breath I'm given in this life. There are many things we'll be able to do in heaven, like meet our Bible heroes, chill with friends and have a huge party around God's throne. But the one thing we won't be able to do is witness. By then it'll be too late. This life is our one shot at winning as many souls as possible, and we don't get very long. Jesus said, "Lose your life for Me, and you'll find it." That's what 'Dying to Be There' is all about.

How is this album different from your previous projects?

chipK: Well, for one thing the line-up on this album is almost completely different! Straff, Leon and J bring so much to these songs, including a fresh passion for reaching young people in a way that is relevant to them. Also, this is our first album to feature a free bonus DVD as part of the 'package'. There's over an hour's worth of footage which I think really takes people right to the core of who we are as individuals and as a band. There's funny stuff, serious stuff and a few surprises along the way. Look out for the hidden material, both on the CD and the DVD!

Who are your musical influences?

Leon: Beatles, Neptunes, Roll Deep, Bloc Party
chipK: dcTalk, Kirk Franklin, Family Force 5, TobyMac, Rebecca St. James
J: Michael Jackson, The Tribe, Justin Timberlake
Straff: King David, U2, Underoath, Me Without You, Sigur Ros

How has the band grown since its establishment in 2002?

chipK: A lot of people have come and gone, and many individuals have contributed to the work of thebandwithnoname over the past five years. We've had some serious help from the media, both Christian and mainstream, for which we are eternally grateful. Thousands of young people have become Christians as a result of our constant touring, and loads of talented young missionaries have been recruited for our 'Collective' school bands. We've taken our show to several countries - USA, Spain, Holland, Norway, Poland and of course the UK - and next year we'll be joining the rest of the church in England for a whole year of mission as part of 'Hope 08'. I wholeheartedly believe that with this new album and this new line-up, the best is yet to come. God has been uniting us closer to Himself and closer together as a band.

Do you plan on touring the UK to promote your new album?

chipK: Of course! Our big album launch is this Saturday (March 31) here in Manchester. We're at Spring Harvest over the next month or so. We're in Belfast over the Easter weekend. We'll be touring with Blush and LZ7 as part of the Hope Tour... The list goes on and on! Check out www.thebandwithnoname.com or www.myspace.com/thebandwithnoname01 for the latest gig dates.

What other projects are you involved in (individually and as a group)?

Leon: Writing and producing music, music workshops for schools.

chipK: TV presenter for God Channel's weekly youth programme 'GTV LIVE', author of 'The Mind of chipK: Enter At Your Own Risk' - a 45 day interactive journal for young people.

J: Eden Old Trafford - involved in helping out at their youth group. Also help lead worship at church.

Straff: Own musical experimentation, sketching in a sketch book, illustrator for Innervation's merchandise range.