Legendary Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline is back with a new album, new lead singer and a new agenda:to be a voice for orphaned children in Haiti. The net proceeds from the album, Kings & Queens, will go to the Hands and Feet Project, an orphan-care ministry founded by band members in 2004.
The multiple-Grammy-winning group, which formed in 1986 under the name A-180, recorded and toured for two decades until 2006, when former lead vocalist Mark Stuart suffered vocal challenges. In the intervening years, members of the band turned their focus to their families and ministries. So when they were approached about going back on tour, they were a bit reluctant.
“Our first thought was, ‘No, we’re doing other things,’” says bassist Will McGinniss, who serves as chairman of the board of the Hands and Feet Project. “But when we heard the idea that this could really advance what we’re doing in Haiti, that’s what really got us excited about the project.”
The Hands and Feet Project hosts two orphanages in Haiti that house 100 children each in family-style villages. But in recent months, both facilities have reached maximum capacity, and the organization has had to turn away hundreds of children due to lack of space.
This month, the band returns to the tour circuit with new lead singer Kevin Max, formerly of dc Talk, with plans to raise funds to open two more villages.
The album’s first single, “Kings & Queens” showcases children from the orphanages and the miracles God has performed in their lives.
