Convicted
By: Jessica

CS: How did your group form? Did you start out together or did you pick up players along the way?

C: We started in late 2001 as a 5 piece with the intentions of playing in a high school talent show. After a few practices we decided that we should give the whole rock band thing a try. Along the way, we’ve parted ways with a guitar player, two bass players and the original drummer and brought to the line-up Nick Tolar (who’s been playing drums and singing back up with us since 2002) and bassist James RedCloud (a.k.a. “The Cloud”), who joined on in June of 2004. Founding members Josh Ditto (vocals/rhythm guitar) and James Houseman (lead guitar) still play important roles in the band, but we work together as a family on most issues.

CS: How long have you all been together? What kind of relationship do you all have with one another? Are you one big happy family? :-)

C: We’ve been playing together, with the current line-up, since summer of this year. We do act a lot like a family, we definitely have our ups and downs just like any family, but in the end we love each other and are always there for each other when it’s important.

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?

C: Actually, our mission ever since we started has been to deliver the gospel to teens and young adults that don’t readily accept “stereotypical Christian music.” We don’t have anything against it, but we realize that some people, when they hear Michael W. Smith or Stephen Chapman, automatically shut their ears and dismiss it as cheesy or lame. We offer a hardcore alternative way to experience the Christian message and worship the Lord.

CS: What does your groups name mean? Where did you come up with it?

C: The name Convicted is in reference to the call that God places on our hearts and the hearts of all Christians to seek His will and deliver His message to a lost and dying world.

CS: What kind of relationship do you maintain with your audiences? Do you fellowship with them? Or do you remain distant as the performer?

C: We try to associate with those fans who make an effort to contact us. In fact, we recently started the official Convicted Street Team for fans who want to help us with promotion and stuff like that. Free to join, all you have to do is sign up on the website (http://www.convictedmusic.com). There have been many times after gigs where we're signed autographs and fellowshipped with the audience for hours. Often during tear down we have our new found friends help and we chat for quite a while. Bottom line, we love meeting new people and gaining friends. They are always a blessing, we just hope they feel the same.

CS: What is the latest news on your group? Any new CD's to be released soon?

C: Actually, we’re in the process of writing and recording some new material for the “Under God” album. We’re hoping to have it recorded and produced by the end of the year when we plan to launch “the Under God” tour. We’re currently working on booking several dates nationwide and are really excited about those that we have so far.

CS: What kind of music do you guys listen to?

C: We listen virtually all kinds of music from metal to Mozart. We like to draw our influences from several different places to keep our music fresh and new.

CS: If you were stranded on an island but could only have five things; what would they be and why?

C: We would definitely make sure we have a Bible and some form of musical instrument (most likely a guitar), a life time supply of hygiene products (cuz we don’t wanna know what Red Cloud smells like when he’s not clean), our own personal McDonald’s, and fellow Christian rockers Disciple (and their instruments…and some kind of electricity thing. That’s all we need.

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

C: In the famous words of 20th Century philosophers Bill and Ted ( “Be EXCELLENT to each other.” Open your hearts to something new, great opportunities lie right in front of you and with God, it is so easy to grasp them.

CS: Favorite foods are necessary. What are yours?

C: We eat at McDonald’s a LOT…we gotsta have our all white meat nuggets!

CS: What influenced you guys to pursue music?

C: We just all felt God’s call on our lives (even before we came together as Convicted) to make music that lifts Him up. We were lucky enough to find each other at the right time to form this band.

CS: What are some of your hobbies?

C: Josh likes to build stuff for his fiance’s dad (he works for him), Nick is married with a Chihuahua other than that, we play a lot of music and video games. And Convicted would not be complete without our weekday games of Knock Out at the local basketball courts. How exciting is that?