PILLAR

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The band started in Hays, Kansas in 1998, when Fort Hays State University roommates Brad Noone and Rob Beckley got together with friends Travis Jenkins, Dustin Adams, and Michael Wittig, known as Kalel.

In 1999, Pillar released their first album, Metamorphosis, on their own independent label, Shadrach Records. After some more touring in Kansas, they released their second independent album, Original Superman, in 2000. Around this time they relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to try to find a larger fan base.

Soon after the release of Original Superman, the band became noticed by Flicker Records, who signed them in mid 2000. After the signing, the group re-cut many of the tracks from Original Superman as well as a few new tracks for release on Above,their first major label album. The album had medium success, selling almost 60,000 copies. The song "Open Your Eyes" won a Dove Award in 2001 for Hard Music Song of the Year.

In 2002, Noah Henson took over guitar duties and the band released their breakthrough album, Fireproof. Fireproof sold over 300,000 copies, and launched national tours. It also won two Dove Awards. A few years later the group went back into the studio with Fireproof and released a newer, richer sounding version with little tweaks in songs, including a Bonus DVD. Resulting in two versions of Fireproof on the market. Soon after the release of Fireproof, drummer Lester Estelle, Jr. joined the band.

In 2004, the band released their next album Where Do We Go from Here. Where Do We Go from Here was as an instant hit among Christian rock fans everywhere, capturing #1 on sales in the genre for weeks. The album featured multiple hits, including "Bring Me Down", and, "Frontline" which topped the charts for months. Not only did Christian shows and stations play "Bring Me Down", it was requested heavily on secular stations as well.

The band released an EP called Nothing Comes for Free in June of 2006. It featured 3 new songs (including "Everything") and 4 live tracks. The other two new songs, "Our Escape" and "Dangerous", are not available on their following album, The Reckoning. The EP was only available at live shows and at their webstore. A limited number of copies (10,000) were created.

The group then recorded their fourth album, The Reckoning, in early 2006. Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., We as Human, 10 Years, Disciple) produced the new album, as he produced all of their previous albums, and it was released on October 3, 2006. The Reckoning received a Grammy Award nomination December 6, 2007 for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. This was the first Grammy nomination that Pillar has ever received.

The band has played at both Cornerstone Festival and Creation Festival. It was revealed at Soulfest 2007 that the name of their next project would be For the Love of the Game, which was eventually released on February 26, 2008. They brought back the Pillar logo from "Where Do We Go from Here" and "Fireproof" for this album. ESPN used the new Pillar song, "For the Love of the Game," during montages highlighting the 2007 World Series on its program, Baseball Tonight. They have recently collaborated with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth on some upcoming songs.

The group recently helped Eowyn record her latest album "Silent Screams" with Beckley contributing vocals to the title track and Henson and Estelle also playing on the album. The band toured on the SHOUTfest tour with After Edmund and various other artists from September to November 2007. They also had a tour for For the Love of the Game from February to April 2008, with Brooke Barrettsmith, Wavorly, and Building 429.

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