Knapp, Webb, St. James, Max, and Perry Quit Solo Careers To Form CCM Super-group

Five of the foremost names in Christian music have announced that they will be retiring from solo recording in the next year to form a super-group, in an attempt at taking music-based ministry to a whole new level.

Rebecca St. James, Kevin Max, Jennifer Knapp, Jason Perry, and Derek Webb have been discussing the possibility for almost six months now. The final decision was made after prayerful consideration by Knapp, the final one to commit, that led to a late-March change of heart.

"This will be the most amazing convergence of talent into one group in the history of the genre. Usually a group has one or maybe two good songwriters - that's not the case here. I'm overwhelmed at the creative possibilities here," said Knapp. "What a way to come out of a sabbatical."

"Christian music has been at a creatively stagnant point for a few years now," Perry said in a press release. "It has always been our desire as solo artists to write music that pushed the envelope from an artistic point of view as well as ministered to the people who were listening. The five of us feel that by melding our efforts and coming together we can take the best of what each of us has to offer and present the Gospel at a musical level that has never before been achieved. It's like a miniature version of 'We Are the World,' but with a focus on the eternal."

No name has been chosen for the group yet, but Perry guaranteed that there would be no choreography whatsoever. "Those days are behind me. I have a torn ACL to prove it."

Derek Webb, who last spring released his first solo album, She Must And Shall Go Free, pointed out that the new group would be an easy fit for him. "The majority of my career has been spent in another super-group of sorts, Caedmon's Call, so teaming with Rebecca, Kevin, Jason, and the Knappster is just the next logical progression in my career." Webb also pointed out that he would finally be allowed back into Christian bookstores which had banned She Must and Shall Go Free for its controversial lyrical content. "None of our songs will be about whores, either literally or metaphorically, so I don't think we'll have any censorship problems."

St. James and Knapp, who are the only two without previous group experience, both expect Christian music fans to embrace the project with enthusiasm. Knapp said they'll be playing all of the major summer festivals together, including the famous Cornerstone, to work on their chops and gain experience playing as a group. And plans are in the works for an arena tour in the fall. "We haven't released an album together yet but between the five of us we have enough material to fill a half dozen concerts, let alone just one," St. James pointed out. "We plan on working in parts for each of us into our old material. We've purchased the set from Michael W. Smith's Change Your World Tour, which was one of my all-time favorites, and think that it will allow us to showcase all of our unique personalities. We may even bring back some of his back-up dancers!

"I'm tired of being criticized for my worship music. This group gives me the chance to escape the shallow criticisms that my previous career brought and start all over with a group of well-respected songwriters and artists. We won't sound anything like Alanis Morissette."

Max says that they plan on heading to the studio late winter with an album release scheduled for early spring of 2005. They have not signed yet, but are being suited by over five different labels. "We are choosing a home based upon how well they line up with our creative vision and the amount of artistic freedom that they offer," said Max. He also mentioned that he is looking for a "wardrobe freedom clause" as well.

dc Talk fans should take note that this does not necessarily mean the end of that particular group. But with the success of Toby Mac and Tait in their solo careers, Max felt he was free to align himself with these four artists. "I never liked rap music anyway," he said, but then quickly added "just kidding, Toby. You the man."

Industry insiders were surprised to hear the news. No previous word on the group had surfaced, and even the artists' labels were taken back before being informed in private meetings last week.

"Today is a very special day," said the group in an official announcement. "Christian music will never be the same. Mark this date down. April 1st, 2004, is the start of a new era. And that's no joke!"

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(The preceeding was CMCentral's special announcement for you, our readers on today, the first and only April Fools Day of 2004. We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming)