Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.28.24Easter Season Playlist 2024
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03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
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ApologetiX: Mission to Mars, New CD, Petra, Rick D
Thu., Apr. 4. 2002 2:01pm EST

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) here.

Thanks to all of you who have expressed so much interest in our next CD. Our drummer, Bill, and our producer/guitarist, Karl, finished the drum sessions, and now our bass player, Keith, is in the studio, playing his parts.

Please pray for Keith (We have some very tricky and prominent bass parts on this CD) and please pray for our lyricist (Me!) as he attempts to complete the lyrics in time for when our vocalist (me again) goes into the studio. We are trying to have the vocals done before Lisa has our baby (scheduled for May 21, but that kind of schedule isn't as predictable as a concert schedule).

Don't worry; we have all of the words done for most of the songs, and much of the words for the other songs, but there is still plenty of work to do. But God always provides, so I'm not worried, but I would appreciate your prayers. Thanks!

1. Tonight (Thursday): In-Store in Cranberry PA
2. Tomorrow (Friday): Concert in Mars PA
3. Feature Story in Christian Musician Magazine
4. ApologetiX, Petra, and the Daniel Band
5. Rick Derringer: Rocker for Christ
6. Oh, Chevy Chase: How About This Vacation Idea?

1. TONIGHT (THURSDAY): IN-STORE IN CRANBERRY PA

Please note that the Thursday event isn't a concert. We'll just be doing what they call an "in store," which is basically the band coming to a store (at the store's request) and being on hand to sign autographs and meet with friends and fans. This is in preparation for our concert the next day in nearby Mars, PA. Here's some ApologetiX trivia for you: The nurse at my wife's baby doctor's office is also the wife of the manager of the bookstore where will be playing, and their son is a huge ApologetiX fan but is currently doing radio in Alaska. Doesn't that sound like a soap opera plot?

Thursday, April 4, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
1717 Rt. 228
Cranberry PA
Contact: Dick Lynch, Store Manager
724-779-7082
Not a concert - but the band will be there to meet fans and sign autographs


2. TOMORROW (FRIDAY): CONCERT IN MARS PA

Yes, there is a Mars, Pa., which I learned at an early age, when our new neighbors, the Millers, moved across the street. How thrilling to have neighbors from Mars!

Actually, Mars isn't too far from Pittsburgh, and there's also a place nearby called Moon. If you own a Saturn or a Mercury, please make sure you drive it to this concert. They'll have a parking "space" for you!

Friday, April 5, 2002 at 7 p.m.
Ticketed Event
Mars Alliance Church
997 Route 228
Mars, PA
Contact: Mars Alliance Church
724-776-9400
Pastor Dave Havener
marsall1@go.com


3. FEATURE STORY IN CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN MAGAZINE

ApologetiX is featured in the new issue of Christian Musician magazine, which hit Christian bookstores April
1. Although Christian Musician is a national magazine, it's not in all Christian bookstores, but the editor has promised to post it on the site soon. It may even be on-line within the next 24 hours, and I'm sure it will probably be up within the next week. If you'd like to check out the feature or just check out the magazine itself, please go to: christianmusician.com


4. APOLOGETIX, PETRA, AND THE DANIEL BAND

We recently got word that we'll be playing a concert with legendary Christian rock band Petra, June 14, in Elk River, MN. This will be our second concert with Petra (the first was in Rockford IL in 1999), a band that was extremely influential to me (and a zillion other people) when I first became a born again Christian. I purchased "Not of This World" and "This Means War" on the same day and eventually owned most of the albums in the Petra catalog, The band's founder/guitarist/lyricist, Bob Hartman, was a huge influence on me as a lyricist, mainly for his strong use of scripture, not to mention puns like "Altar Ego," "Fool's Gold" and "Get On Your Knees and Fight Like a Man." So you can thank him and/or blame him :)

Actually, I first heard of Petra when I was your typical semi-religious pleasure seeker in college, but I didn't know it was a person or a group, so my running joke was to refer to it as "Tony Petra." Little did I know that God had a better sense of humor than I did, and someday I'd be in a band sharing the stage with Petra!

Speaking of Christian bands that inspired us, we recently were contacted by and exchanged a few e-mails with the son of of the bass player for the Daniel Band, which just happens to be the all-time favorite Christian band of our bass player, Keith, beating out even Bloodgood, Stryper and White Cross! Not to be confused with the band Daniel Amos, the Daniel Band is a favorite of many Christian rock lovers, who remember the group from the 1980's. We ended up sending the bass player's son some CDs, and here's what he had to say:

"I received the CD's in the mail yesterday and I wanted to thank you for sending them to me. My Dad and I were sitting down listening to them and we were amazed. My Dad and I loved it so much. We really liked how strong your message was, and also how great the music was. My Dad is planning to send Keith some stuff, so if you could let him know that, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you once again, and I look forward to meeting you guys at Kingdom Bound."


5. RICK DERRINGER: ROCKER FOR CHRIST

It's always great to hear when a famous rocker comes to know Christ. -- not that they will make any more difference in this world than YOU will (We all serve the same God who works in us through His Spirit) -- but just because it's a little like seeing an old friend become a Christian.

Recently, our friend Dave Whittier informed us that Rick Derringer had become a Christian and had released a Christian CD. If you listened to mainstream pop/rock any time between the sixties and the eighties, you probably heard something Rick was involved with. His famous solo hit was "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" in 1974, but he also sang and played lead for the McCoys (most famous for their 1965 #1 hit, "Hang On Sloopy") and played guitar for Edgar and Johnny Winter (the guys who brought you "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride," later covered by Audio Adrenaline), Steely Dan and Cyndi Lauper.

Rick was also a pioneer in the parody field, producing "Weird Al" Yankovic's first string of albums. That's him playing the Van Halenesque solo in the middle of "Eat It," Al's biggest hit. In fact, on Rick's new CD, "Aiming 4 Heaven," he actually does a parody of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo." The CD features Rick, his wife, Brenda, and their kids. You can read more about it and even order it at rickderringer.com If you check out Rick's website, please do us a favor. If you send Rick an e-mail or sign the guest book, please let him know that we told you about him and, more importantly, encourage him in his faith.

I couldn't find Rick's testimony on the site, so I e-mailed him and asked for it. I don't want to quote from it excessively (although I'm sure he wants to share it with others), and if you go the website, you can e-mail for the full testimony, but here's the turning point:

"It all came to a head in 1997. I found out that, while I was traveling on the road, my wife was back home sleeping with another man in my bed. Finally I remembered there is someone to turn to - the Lord.

"I got down on my knees and started praying. I asked forgiveness. I asked for advice. I asked for Divine guidance and help. The Lord keeps His promises. Ask and you shall receive. He gave me the answers I needed and the strength to do what I had to do. But, you know what? Although I still hadn't said thank you, the Lord didn't give up on me. He had a plan for me. He has a plan for us all.

"It was at that time the Lord sent someone to help me right here on earth, for the rest of my life. Her name is Brenda. She has become my wife. Brenda reminded me, finally, to say thank you to the Lord. Brenda said, 'Rick, you've got to be reborn," and she took me to the river to be baptized. I was washed of my sins and began a relationship with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.'

"I have come to realize that the Lord allowed me to survive drugs, alcohol and sins of the flesh so that I can stand here today as an example. A living, breathing example for all of you who think there's no way out; for all of you who think you're trapped in your addictions. The Lord can fix it all! He can bless you with the strength to beat any addiction. He died on the cross and made you Holy.

"Now you and I have a debt to repay. Say thank you to the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness and ask Him to come into your life. He will be there before you can finish the prayer.

"The Lord loves you. You are important to the Lord. Let Him come into your life so that you too can be an example for others."


6. OH, CHEVY CHASE: HOW ABOUT THIS VACATION IDEA?

Some people go to great lengths (literally) to see ApologetiX. We got this e-mail a few days ago:

"Hi J (and the rest of the band),

Just writing you a note to say that (God willing) we are going to be traveling about 1100 miles round trip just to see your Twin Falls ID concert on April 28th. It was my wife's idea to warn you ahead of time."

Jerry Moore Portland OR


7. UPCOMING CONCERTS

There are lot more concerts in the works than what we have listed here, but these are ones that were ready at "press time." For more details on any or all of the concerts below, please go to http://www.apologetix.com/tour.html

To inquire about booking a concert, please contact our booking agent, Kathleen Burke, at booking@apologetix.com or call 949-770-3001, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

Apr 04 - Cranberry PA (in-store) Apr 05 - Mars PA Apr 13 - Fairmont WV Apr 14 - Ashville NY Apr 19 - Monaca PA Apr 20 - Brunswick OH Apr 26 - Hanford CA Apr 27 - Sacramento CA Apr 28 - Twin Falls ID May 04 - Red Wing MN May 11 - Pittsburgh PA Jun 08 - Camdenton MO Jun 14 - Elk River MN Jun 21 - AtlantaFest GA Jul 03 - New Philadelphia OH Jul 13 - SonShine Fest MN Jul 1? - LiFest WI Jul 15 - Oklahoma City OK Jul 17 - Brownwood TX Jul 20 - Spirit Fest Midwest MN Jul 27 - Somerdale OH Aug 04 - Inside Out Soul Fest NH Aug 07 - Kingdom Bound NY Aug 10 - Bloomington MN Aug 17 - Clymer PA Aug 24 - Canton OH Aug 25 - Oakdale PA Aug 31 - Tipton PA Sep 01 - Six Flags NJ Sep 07 - Marion OH Sep 11-14 - Honolulu HI Sep 21 - Holland MI

Apologetically,

J.

-- J. Jackson Lead Singer/Lyricist ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) www.apologetix.com j@apologetix.com


P.S. Don't forget our big announcement on April 15!

Romans 8:10
"But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness."