Founded by guitarist Anthony Armstrong and his twin bass playing brother Randy Armstrong, along with lead vocalist Michael Barnes, drummer Andrew Hendrix, and guitarist Jasen Rauch, Red started out playing covers to youth groups in their hometown. It wasn’t long however before the group became tired of the pop format and began creating their own material with a hard-rock influence. Deriving their name from the colour of the blood of Christ, Red signed with the Dove award-winning producer Rob Graves’ production company in 2005 and subsequently the Sony BMG imprint, Essential Records. Prior to the release of their debut album “End of Silence”, drummer Hendrix left the band and was replaced by Hayden Lamb.
“End of Silence”, released in June 2006 earned strong reviews from a number of periodicals and spawned the singles “Breathe Into Me”, “Let Go”, “Hide/Pieces”, and “Already Over”. Produced by Rob Graves, the album was nominated for the Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Red subsequently embarked on a national tour alongside Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Candlebox, and their single “Breathe Into Me” won the Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards.
The band’s follow-up “Innocence & Instinct” was issued by Essential Records in February 2009. Aided by the singles “Fight Inside”, “Never Be the Same”, “Death of Me”, and “Ordinary World”, the album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. With the songwriting assistance of Breaking Benjamin’s guitarist Ben Burly, the album received critical acclaim and won the Dove Award for Best Rock Album in 2010. Following an extensive tour with the likes of Saving Abel, Pop Evil, Breaking Benjamin, Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch, Red returned to the studio to focus on their third album.
“Until We Have Faces” arrived in 2011 once again earning strong reviews from the musical press. Featuring a heavier more polished sound the album produced the single “Faceless”, “Feed the Machine” and “Not Alone”, amongst others. “Until We Have Faces” was succeeded by “Release the Panic” in 2013, which peaked at No. Seven on the Billboard 200. The band’s theme of crafting highly-acclaimed albums, charting within the Top 20 continued with their album “Of Beauty and Rage”, released in 2015.
I first saw Red in 2007 with Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace, and they put on such a high energy performance that I knew I'd see them again! I've seen them in small venues and in a stadium setting, and they could easily get the crowd pumped! Having hot identical twins makes them even better! :) they get the crowd involved and make you feel like family. Mike sounds just like he does on albums!