Spotlight -- Bloodgood.

This time is Bloodgood the Spotlight band of the month.


Band members.

Les Carlsen: vocals
Michael Bloodgood: bass
Paul Jackson: guitar
Oz Fox: guitar
Mark Welling: drums


Bloodgood
was brought to the attention of Frontline by producer and Christian
music veteran Darrell Mansfield. Bloodgood dared to take Christian
metal to the next level of intensity and boldness. Their self titled
debut project Bloodgood, featured a more street metal sound not found
in any other Christian releases. The band's line up was Les Carlsen on
vocals. Michael Bloodgood (band founder) playing bass, guitars by David
Zaffiro and drummer J.T. Taylor. Stryper had paved the way for
commercial metal bands, but Bloodgood opened doors for the sounds that
would eventually lead to speed and thrash metal to be accepted in the
Christian market.
In 1987 the band released their most successful
album, Detonation. Now with two high charting albums and many requests
for live performances, Bloodgood hit the road for their first major
tour. It was a tour that almost proved to be their last and caused the
band members to grow closer to the Lord and each other. The tour was
filled with dates that were badly promoted, staged, or in many cases,
the venues didn't exist at all when the band rolled in. Most dates they
were asked to accept less money than was agreed upon, and making it
from one city to the next was a financial struggle. Still, they saw the
fruits of their ministry as many hard core unsaved teens came to know
the Lord. And, the band built a reputation as one of the best
performing bands in Christian music.
Discouraged by the financial
losses, but encouraged by their success in ministry, the band returned
to their homes in Seattle to evaluate and plan for the future. It was
there that they met producer Terry Shelton, who along with the band,
decided that a new musical direction should be pursued. The project,
Rock In A Hard Place, spanned the musical spectrum of the metalish Do
Or Die, the arena rock sound of Never Be The Same and experimental
Seven. While sales weren't as brisk as Detonation, the band found more
profitable success in their mini tour for the album as they avoided
many of the pitfalls they had experienced during the Detonation tour.
Mark Welling left the band after the tour and was temporarily replaced
by Kevin Whistler.
Before the recording of their next album, a major
change occurred in the band's line up. Guitarist David Zaffiro left to
become a full time father to his newly born second child and work as an
independent producer. As an important part of their visual presentation
and signature sound, David would not be easily replaced. Session
guitarist Paul Jackson was hired to work on their next release Out Of
The Darkness. This album saw a return to the higher energy arena
rock/metal sound and produced hits like Top Of The Mountain and Out Of
The Darkness. Shortly after the release of this album, the band
embarked on their most ambitious project to date – live videos and
albums, an attempt to capture the magic and emotion of a Bloodgood live
performance.
Even with all the struggles and disappointments,
Bloodgood has left it's mark on the young Christian metal industry.
Every promoter, radio station, store owner or fan who has had contact
with the band has found them to be genuine ministers and committed
Christians. Many of the newer metal bands looked to Michael, Les and
David as examples on how to conduct a viable and effective metal
ministry.
(Above taken from the liner notes of Bloodgood's 1991 Intense Records release: The Collection)
Bloodgood
went on to record All Stand Together in 1991 and toured Russia and
Germany. The band's third live album, To Germany With Love, was
recorded on their 1993 tour of Germany. Bloodgood broke up in 1994.
After
a false start in early 2002, Bloodgood reunited in late 2006, bringing
previous Bloodgood drummer Mark Welling back into the fold, and adding
Stryper guitarist Oz Fox to the lineup. On April 21, 2007 the reformed
band had its first public performance in Nashville, TN.

Discography.

METAL MISSIONARIES
1985 (Cassette Demo)

BLOODGOOD
1986 (Frontline Records)

DETONATION
1987 (Frontline Records)

ROCK IN A HARD PLACE
1988 (Frontline Records)

OUT OF THE DARKNESS
1989 (Intense Records)

ALIVE IN AMERICA:
LIVE VOLUME ONE
1990 (Intense Records)

SHAKIN' THE WORLD:
LIVE VOLUME TWO
1990 (Intense Records)

ALL STAND TOGETHER
1991 (Broken Records)

THE COLLECTION
1991 (Intense Records)

TO GERMANY WITH LOVE!
1993 (SB)

BLOODGOOD /
DETONATION
(REISSUE)
1998 (KMG Records)

ROCK IN A HARD PLACE /
OUT OF THE DARKNES
(REISSUE)
1998 (KMG Records

TO GERMANY WITH LOVE!
LIVE IN GERMANY 1993
(REISSUE)
2000 (Magdalene Records)

Previous Bloodgood members.

Guitar:
David Zaffiro: 1985 - 1988

Drums:
Paul Roraback: 1991 - 1993
Kevin Whistler: 1989 - 1990
Mark Welling: 1986 - 1988
J.T. Taylor: 1985 - 1986