Whitecross

Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1986 in Chicago, releasing their first recording the following year. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. With the departure of guitarist Rex Carroll in 1992, the band's sound underwent a drastic change; so much so that many Whitecross fans show a strong preference for either the earlier or later work exclusively.

Whitecross has won three Dove Awards: two for "Hard music album of the year" with Triumphant Return (in 1990) and In the Kingdom (in 1992); and one for "Come unto the Light" from the Unveiled album, which won "Hard music recorded song of the year" in 1995.

In 1998, singer Scott Wenzel took a two-year break to do mission work in South America, and Whitecross was placed on hiatus. Little happened with the band for seven years, except for a couple of reunion gigs featuring both Wenzel and Carroll in 2002.

In 2005, Scott and Rex reunited to record Nineteen Eighty Seven, which featured re-recordings of nine of the ten songs from their self-titled debut (You're Mine being the exclusion), as well as a re-recording of the song Love on the Line (previously unavailable on CD) and a new guitar instrumental by Rex Carroll.

There are plans to record new material for CD release as well as a possibility of Rex doing a guitar solo CD.

In 2008, on April the 5th, they played at the Legends of Rock festival in Ennepetal, Germany.

Albums

With Rex Carroll

Without Rex Carroll

Videos

• The Reign Goes On - 45 minute VHS, 1992 Star Song Communications (extremely rare)

Members of Whitecross

Current members

• Scott Wenzel - vocals
• Rex Carroll - guitar (1987 - 1992, 2005 - present)
• Mike Feighan - drums (1991 - 1995, 2005 - present)

Former members

Guitars

• Barry Graul (MercyMe) - guitar (1994 - 1995)
• Quinton Gibson - guitar (1996)

Drums

• Mark Hedl - drums (1987 - 1988)
• Mike Elliott - drums (1989)
• Troy Stone - drums (1996)

Bass

• Jon Sproule - bass (1987 - 1988)
• Rick Armstrong - bass (1989)
• Butch Dillon - bass (1991)
• Scott Harper - bass (1992)
• Tracy Ferrie (Stryper) - bass (1994 - 1995)
• Brent Denny - bass (1996)

References

• Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers.

See also

• Contemporary Christian music
• Glam metal
• Heavy metal
• Ratt

External links

• Official Whitecross website
• Whitecross @ ShoutLife Tribute
• Scott Wenzel @ ShoutLife Tribute
• Pictures from the reunion gig at Cornerstone 2002
• Interview with Rex Carroll, including reasons for leaving the band
• 2003 Interview with Scott Wenzel in Rockline
• Whitecross — the best of rock, the worst of rock
• Brief Whitecross biography