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ApologetiX

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ApologetiX
2009 lineup - Rear: Tom Milnes, Tom Tincha, Jimmy Tanner, Front: J. Jackson, Keith Haynie, Bill Hubauer
2009 lineup - Rear: Tom Milnes, Tom Tincha, Jimmy Tanner, Front: J. Jackson, Keith Haynie, Bill Hubauer
Background information
OriginPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresChristian rock, CCM, comedy rock, parody
Years active1990–present
LabelsParodudes
MembersJ. Jackson
Keith Haynie
Jimmy Tanner
Bill Hubauer
Tom Milnes
Tom Tincha
Chris VonBartheld
Past membersKarl Messner
Jerry Hayostek
Bob Flaherty
Fred Behanna
Jeff Pakula
Rick Servocky
Andy Sparks
Bill "Moose" Rieger
Todd Waites
Websitewww.apologetix.com

ApologetiX is an American Christian parody band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band was founded in 1990, and since then, has played in almost all 50 states,[1] and as of 2024 has released 75 studio albums,[2] and built up a fan club that includes over 65,000 people.[1] The band is currently composed of J. Jackson on vocals, Keith Haynie on bass guitar, Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner on drums, Bill Hubauer and Chris VonBartheld on keyboard, and Tom Milnes and Tom Tincha (a.k.a. "TNT"), both on lead guitar.[3]

The name ApologetiX is a play on apologetics, the defense of a religious doctrine, in particular, Christian apologetics.[2] The word is used in 1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer [defense or "apologia"] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (NIV).[4]

History

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ApologetiX has had six official drummers. Jeff Pakula (June 1990 – September 1993), Rick Servocky (November 1993 – April 1995), Bob Flaherty (May 1995 – September 1998), Fred Behanna (February 1999 – January 2001), Bill "Moose" Rieger (March 2001 – January 2005) and Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner (October 2005 – present).[5]

ApologetiX has had multiple other drummers as well, including: their longtime fill-in drummer, Keith Harrold (who played on Isn't Wasn't Ain't and Keep the Change); David McKee (who played on Jesus Christ Morningstar as well as two concerts in 1998); and Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (the drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic), who played on seven tracks on Biblical Graffiti.[2] Ron Zanski (two shows in 1993) and Allen Muckle (three shows in 2001) have also played with the band.

According to the band's website, Yankovic himself has told them that he thinks they do "...fabulous work".[2]

Since 2014, the band has been following a quarterly release schedule, producing a new studio album about every three months by releasing double singles bi-weekly. From 2014 to 2017, they were able to produce four albums per year. In 2018, their studio computers started to have speed issues,[citation needed] which slowed down the production of their albums. So far they have released two albums, with a third album on its way.

Musical style and lyrical themes

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ApologetiX rewrites secular songs with Christian lyrics to create parodies with Christian messages, and, in the song "We're In A Parody Band," ApologetiX refers to itself as a cross between "Weird Al" Yankovic and Billy Graham.

The band's lyrical content is derived solely from Biblical passages and practices, frequently in a tongue-in-cheek manner. It is also noteworthy that lyrics are often embedded with Scripture references for further exploration of the song's content.

Some of their parodies include:

Song Parody of Original artist
"Lazy Brain" "Crazy Train" Ozzy Osbourne
"Don't Be Fooled" "Don't Be Cruel" Elvis Presley
"Hotel Can't Afford Ya" "Hotel California" Eagles
"Christmasnite" "Kryptonite" 3 Doors Down
"Enter Samson" "Enter Sandman" Metallica
"The Real Sin Savior" "The Real Slim Shady" Eminem
"Smells Like Thirtysomething Spirit" "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana
"Bethlehemian Rhapsody" "Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen
"Story of a Squirrel" "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" Nine Days
"More Than a Healing" "More Than a Feeling" Boston
"The Devil Went Down to Jordan" "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" Charlie Daniels Band
"We're Not Goin' to Canaan" "We're Not Gonna Take It" Twisted Sister
"Set Him Free" "Let It Be" The Beatles
"This Is From Paul" "This Is a Call" Foo Fighters
"One More Wall" "Wonderwall" Oasis
"Schoolhouse (for Prophets)" "School's Out" Alice Cooper
"One Night in Bethlehem" "One Night in Bangkok" Murray Head
"Drop Your Knife and Hurry Man" "Rock You Like a Hurricane" Scorpions

Band members

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Current
  • J. Jackson - Vocals, lyricist (1990–present)
  • Keith Haynie - Bass guitar (1995–present)
  • Jimmy Tanner - Drums (2005–present)
  • Tom Milnes - Lead guitarist (2008–present)
  • Tom Tincha - Lead guitarist (2008–present)
  • Rich Mannion - Keyboardist, BGV, Drum Programming (2018–present)
Former
  • Chris VonBartheld - Keyboardist, Pianist, bgv's (2013–2018)
  • Bill Hubauer - Keyboardist, producer (1998–2018)
  • Karl Messner - Lead guitarist (1990–2007)
  • Andy Sparks - Rhythm guitarist, Bass (1991–1995)
  • Jerry Hayostek - Bass guitar (1992–1993)
  • B.J. Collins - Keyboardist, producer (1997–1998)
  • Todd Waites - Keyboardist (2011–2013)
  • Jeff Pakula - Drums (1990–1993)
  • Luke "Abaddon" Wienecke - Drums (1994–1996)
  • Rick Servocky - Drums (1993–1995)
  • Bob Flaherty - Drums (1995–1998)
  • Fred Behanna - Drums (1999–2001)
  • David McKee - Drums (2001)
  • Bill Rieger - Drums (2001–2005)
Session
  • Steve Kayner - Bass (1993)
  • Keith Harrold - Drums (1993–2000)
  • Jon Schwartz (drummer)|Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz - Drums (1999)
  • Everlife - Vocals (2003)
  • Janna Jackson - Vocals (2013-)
  • Elaine Heitzer - Vocals (2014)
  • Keely Singer - Vocals (2014)
  • John Marcinizyn - Slide guitar (2016)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Label
1993 Isn't Wasn't Ain't Parodudes
1994 Radical History Tour Parodudes
1997 Ticked Parodudes
1998 Jesus Christ Morningstar Parodudes
1999 Biblical Graffiti Parodudes
2000 Spoofernatural Parodudes
2001 Keep the Change Parodudes
2002 Grace Period Parodudes
2003 Adam Up Parodudes
2005 Apol-acoustiX Parodudes
2006 Wordplay Parodudes
2008 Future Tense Parodudes
2009 Recovery Parodudes
2011 Wise Up and Rock Parodudes
2012 Orchard Avenue Parodudes
2013 Hot Potato Soup Parodudes
2013 Handheld Messiah Parodudes
2014 Singles Group Parodudes
2014 Loaded 45s Parodudes
2014 Apoplectic Parodudes
2014 Unconditional Releases Parodudes
2015 Easter Standard Time Parodudes
2015 Music Is As Music Does Parodudes
2015 Play Nice Parodudes
2015 You Can't Say Euphrates Without The 80s Parodudes
2016 Doves In Snakes' Clothing Parodudes
2016 Minor League Parodudes
2016 Quilt Parodudes
2016 Only A Glorified Cover Band Parodudes
2017 Very Vicarious Parodudes
2017 Zebraic Parodudes
2017 From Hair to Eternity Parodudes
2017 Xit Ego Lopa Parodudes
2018 I Know You Are But What Am I? Parodudes
2018 Nichey Parodudes
2018 That's Too Bad Parodudes
2019 Double Take Parodudes
2019 Sandwich Platter Parodudes
2019 Conspiracy No. 56 Parodudes
2019 Prehysterical Parodudes
2020 Alien Invasion Parodudes
2020 Braggadocious Parodudes
2020 Decent Alternative Parodudes
2020 Overdue Books Parodudes

EPs

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Year Title Label
2012 Orchard Avenue Parodudes
2013 Churchigo II Parodudes
2013 Transformed Soul Parodudes
2017 Churchigo III Parodudes
2017 Churchigo IV Parodudes

Live albums

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Year Title Label
2005 Hits: The Road Parodudes
2007 Chosen Ones Parodudes
2009 The Boys Aren't Backin' Down Parodudes
2010 Soundproof Parodudes
2012 20:20 Vision Parodudes

Christmas albums

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Year Title Label
2002 Have Yourself A Parody Little Christmas Parodudes
2008 The 12 Downloads of Christmas Parodudes

Compilation albums

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Year Title Label
1992 Rare, Not Well Done: ApologetiX Rarities, Vol. 1 & 2 Parodudes
2004 New & Used Hits: The Best of ApologetiX Vol. 1 & 2 Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 60's Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 70's Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 70's, Vol. 2 Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 80's Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 90's Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- The 2000's Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- Oldies Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- Country Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- Lite Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- Heavy Parodudes
2010 ApologetiX Classics -- Party Parodudes
2013 ApologetiX Classics -- Christmas Parodudes

Filmography

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Year Title Label
2003 Downer of a Sister Video Parodudes
2005 Samson Comes Alive: An Evening With ApologetiX DVD Parodudes
2012 20:20 Video DVD Parodudes

Awards

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  • 2005 Best CD Award: New & Used Hits: The Best of ApologetiX Vol. 1 & 2 (Christianity Today's Reader's Choice Awards)
  • 2004 Favorite Indie Artist (CCM Magazine Reader's Choice Awards)
  • 2002 Recorded Fringe Song of the Year: "The Real Sin Savior" (American Christian Music Awards/ChristianBEATS)
  • 2004 American Christian Music Awards, Alternative Song of The Year: "Lifestyles of The Rich & Nameless"[6]
  • 2004 American Christian Music Awards, Outstanding Modern/College Rock Artist[6]

Chart positions of singles & albums

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Albums

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  • Keep The Change

National Christian Retail Bestsellers Rock Chart, published by CCM (#15, November 2001)

  • Adam Up

National Christian Modern/College Rock Album Chart, ChristianBEATS (#1, May/June 2004)

  • New & Used Hits: The Best of ApologetiX Vol. 1 & 2

National Christian Newest Rock Album Chart, American Christian Music Journal (#1, December 2004) National Christian Modern/Alternative Album Chart, American Christian Music Journal (#1, December 2004)

Singles

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Year Title Album Parody of
2001 "The Real Sin Savior" Keep The Change "The Real Slim Shady", Eminem
2002 "Smooth Grandmama" Grace Period "Smooth Criminal", Michael Jackson
"How You Rewind Me" "How You Remind Me", Nickelback
2003 "Look Yourself" Adam Up "Lose Yourself", Eminem
"Downer of a Sister" "Chop Suey", System of a Down
"Lifestyles of the Rich & Nameless" "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous", Good Charlotte
2005 "JC's Mom" Hits: The Road "Stacy's Mom", Fountains of Wayne

References

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  1. ^ a b Bonnett, Vaunda (February 25, 2005). "ApologetiX show opens new facility". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "FAQ". ApologetiX.
  3. ^ "Bios". ApologetiX.
  4. ^ "1 Peter 3:15 - Passage Lookup". Bible Gateway. Archived from the original on November 15, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  5. ^ "Bios - Jimmy". ApologetiX.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Kim. "American Christian Music Awards, 2004". About.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
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