08/08/1995 8:45:02 PM Opening Whiteheart 08/08/1995 for recording. OnlineHost : Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc. (Reprinted With Permission) OnlineHost : Whiteheart is a band that has been true to its : artistic and spiritual quest for more than 12 : years. That commitment to integrity has been a : hallmark of their success, measured in part by : these statistics; over 1.5 million in sales, 18 #1 : hits, 35 top 10 singles, two Grammy nominations : and a host of other accolades. OnlineHost : The core of Whiteheart has remained the same : since its inception, with the founders Mark : Gersmehl (keyboard and vocals) and Billy Smiley : (guitar and vocals) at the creative reins. Rick : Florian joined the band as lead vocalist nine : years ago. The other members include; Brian Wooten : on lead guitar, Jon Knox on drums, and John Thorne : playing bass. OnlineHost : Together, intelligent lyrics combine with : passionate music -fresh as any in the rock or : alternative worlds-for a product of the : imagination that is as compelling as it is : convicting and convincing. Such is the essence of : Whiteheart's new release on Curb Records, INSIDE. ChristOnLi : Welcome Whiteheart to Christianity Online and AOL! ChristOnLi : Are you ready to start? WH85 : FIRE AWAY Question : hey guys....great music! will your new album be anything like "freedom" or Question : "wonder"......stylistically, those were my favorite WH85 : DIFFERENT THAN ALL OF THOSE, BUT AS BIG OF A LEAP STYLISTICALLY AS FREEDOM WAS. WH85 : Sorry to shout Question : when is your new album coming out and are you going on a tour with it? WH85 : INSIDE will be released on September 26, we will tour lightly in the fall with a major spring tour Question : What were your musical influences? WH85 : Aerosmith, Bubble Puppy, Led Zeppelin, Fogelberg and Joni Mitchell...diverse enough? Question : I Noticed That On The Release Of Nothing But The Best (Rock Edition) That The New Songs Question : Were Kind Of Geared Towards An Alternative Sound. Coincidence, Or Is This The Direction Of Question : Whitehearts Music Now?? WH85 : It has taken somewhat of an alternative feel, it has generally been a return to our musical roots. Question : how did you get involved in Christian music? How would a person go about doing so? WH85 : Fly to Mars... WH85 : hee hee WH85 : Whiteheart originated with the Gaither trio and has evolved session players, producers and staff... WH85 : writers... Question : I caught the new video on CCM-TV Saturday night. Very simple, different from your usual Question : complex layers and such. Does this represent a new direction for you guys? WH85 : That cut is one of the more straight ahead lyrically and is an acoustic version to begin with Question : Who started the band? WH85 : Mark and Billy originally founded the band with Dan Huff on lead guitar Question : What is Whitehearts' goal as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned? WH85 : Bear with us, we're all arguing over answers... WH85 : hee hee WH85 : To be included... WH85 : hee hee Question : What specific things do all of you do to keep a close relationship with the Lord while Question : travelling on the road? Do you visit churches on Sundays? (Hope so) :) WH85 : Unfortunately, we are either traveling or performing on sundays....we don't get to be in WH85 : a sunday morning service as often as we'd like Question : Where did you come up with the name Whiteheart? WH85 : Our first lead singer for WH, Steve Green, saw Joan Jett and the Blackhearts video and thought we WH85 : should have the opposite representation ChristOnLi : Here is a good question, guys. Question : Which members of the group are participating this evening? WH85 : everyone is crammed in Ricks living room around a computer...billy is in Phoenix. Question : Not that i want to bag the new bass player, but what happened to Anthony Sallee? WH85 : John just left the house... WH85 : just kidding WH85 : He married and started a family Question : What is your guy's favorite album that you've done? WH85 : a "plethora" of responses, most say this one, others are saying "not sure" Question : What kind of formal musical training (if any) do you guys have?... or did you just teach Question : yourselves? WH85 : Mark and Billy both have music degrees, Rick has a biology degree...as if that means anything WH85 : and the John and Jon went through the school of hard knocks WH85 : Jon Knox played in high scholl WH85 : school WH85 : sorry Question : How is this album different then your last one? WH85 : definitely a more "raw" sound, fewer layers in production Question : I noticed you changed labels. Why? WH85 : CURB offered more of an opportunity to reach a broader and more varied audience Question : What is the baby saying at the end of Powertools? I have to know! WH85 : simply this..."Babies with Power Tools" it's billy's little girl brittany Question : Have you ever thought of doing a remake of the song "Heroes"? WH85 : absolutely not...but thanks for asking ChristOnLi : Here is a tough question. Question : Billy Smiley, Do you and the group still keep in contact with Scott Douglas? How are Question : things there? Do you think the Christian Community responded correctly? How are you guys with Question : that now? WH85 : Billy is vacationing in Phoenix...Scott should be getting out this fall. Please realize that it is WH85 : a hard place to heal....wish we had more time to discuss thoroughly and sensitively Question : Has it been tough to remain true to your faith while being on the road and subject to Question : worldly temptation? WH85 : No, it hasn't been hard...we are accountable to each other both on and off the road Question : How long have you guys known the LORD? and what makes you want to sing for HIM in a rock Question : band? Praise the LORD for the lives that are saved........ WH85 : The sum of all of our saved years equals 75. :) We sing for HIM because it's whats in our hearts Question : Any response from radio on the release of "Even The Hardest Heart?" WH85 : Too early to tell Question : when do you think you guys will be in south carolina again ? WH85 : We don't have a schedule in front of us...but more than likely in the spring... WH85 : IF YOU BOOK THEM...THEY WILL COME. ChristOnLi : Ha Ha. Question : Who will be touring with you guys this time? WH85 : Church of Rhythm on some fall dates....TBA for the Spring WH85 : Jon just asked who TBA was... WH85 : hee hee Question : Last Album Sounded A Little ALternative, Is This A New Direction For The Band?? Or Question : Stickin' With The Gritty Rock Roots?? WH85 : Which last album...Highlands? WH85 : I'll take that as a yes.... WH85 : We explained earlier that the new sound is a bit "rawer, if that's a word. Question : Is there a particular theme to the album..where do you feel yourselves moving lyrically? WH85 : This album deals honestly with some of the rough edges and other experiences we've been through WH85 : in the last 2 years Question : Rick ... (Welcome to the Online World!!) .... You've probably had this question asked of Question : you tons of times already ... but why the different spellings of your name on each album? ;D WH85 : Rick just left to make shakes.... WH85 : cool WH85 : It was all Billy's idea WH85 : for some strange, unknown, cosmic reason... Question : Hey guys!! It seems that mainstream music industry is discovering that money can be made Question : from Contemporary Christian music. Are you concerned that this may have some impact of the Question : content of your music?? WH85 : good question....hang on. ChristOnLi : :::::hanging:::::: WH85 : It hasn't had a negative impact on our music. We were under NO pressure to compromise WH85 : any of what we say or believe by CURB records, they want us as we are Question : John Thorne is the newest WH member. Tell us about him. WH85 : He WH85 : a WH85 : RABID WH85 : Miami WH85 : Dolphins WH85 : fan WH85 : Summed up by saying...his life is one big 2 minute warning. ChristOnLi : Group question. Question : what scripture do you tend to lean on? WH85 : A little too broad for the entire group, some of the favorites are...John 1:5, Hebrews 12, Psalms 23 Question : What do youwant to accomplish as musicians WH85 : The entire band wants to be both the best musicians they can be, and at the same time the best WH85 : christians Question : Any videos planned? WH85 : Billy just called via cellular....any questions? WH85 : We finished "Even the Hardest Heart", plans are to film the 2nd video "Inside" soon./ Question : Are any of you guys married? WH85 : Everyone is... Question : Mark, will you be writing anymore children's music- my kids love The Friendship Company Question : song? WH85 : If they ask me too....it's something i really enjoy. WH85 : Rick is involved in a childrens story, the main character's name is "Flumpa" ChristOnLi : Tennis question???? Question : who was your guy's influence for the song Gabriela? WH85 : My major influence was a rainy saturday morning and a deep wish for a godly woman... Question : Mark, What's you're favorite song on INSIDE (from Sarah Crawford) WH85 : Hey Sarah! Probably "It could've been You" Question : How do you get the ideas for your songs? WH85 : Mark: watching the world go by, wondering why, reading, running and searching the Word. WH85 : Majoy chocolate shake party going on here. WH85 : That's MAJOR> Question : Could you let us know just who is answering the question...maybe introduce them? WH85 : Does the name "Kevin Mills" ring a bell? Question : Rick (Rhik, Ric, Rik, whatever) Do you drive the tour bus? I heard that you use to do that Question : sort of thing. WH85 : Only when he's sleep walking, seriously, he quit that practice long ago ChristOnLi : Here is a fan... Question : Hi Rick, met you in CT... great concert. Had my picutre taken with you. Do you still say Question : "Show all your teeth"? WH85 : Oh yes... Question : One of my favorite songs that your group used to do... was "Invitation" .. when Tommy Sims Question : was with the group ... song was definately cool .. lyrically, musically .. (great bass!) .. Question : always got the place going!! Do you ever do that song anymore? WH85 : We used to do it, but hasn't been performed in the last year and a half. ChristOnLi : One last question before we close down shop. Question : Are you targeting a specific group with the new release? (Generations X....etc???) WH85 : We are targeting the World at large....trying to fulfill the Great Commission as best we know how ChristOnLi : Thanks Whiteheart for joining us tonight. Any closing comments? WH85 : Thank you guys for hanging out....we thought we'd be here til 11, we're having a shake party...come WH85 : join us WH85 : look for the new album at the end of Sept, see you on tour ChristOnLi : Thanks guys you were GREAT! WH85 : Goodnight OnlineHost : Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc.