AccuRadio Song Of The Day-REZ

Artist:REZ

Song:Lovespeak

Album:Civil Rites

Resurrection Band were pioneers in what is now called Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). When they first started in the 70s it was called Jesus Music. By the time the 1991 single Lovespeak topped the Christian Rock chart, the band name was changed to REZ and they went in an AC/DC influenced heavy metal direction. Resurrection Band were part of Chicago's Jesus People USA community led by the husband and wife team of Glenn and Wendi Kaiser. Both sing and Glenn Kaiser plays guitar. The band was called Charity when it was part of Jesus People Milwaukee in 1972. When Jesus People USA split into four groups, the Kaisers moved to Chicago and called themselves Resurrection Band. The band would play anywhere for free and gave away cassettes of their music. At this point the established church community was very skeptical of Jesus Music, especially hard rock like Resurrection Band. An $8,000 donation allowed Resurrection Band to record the 1978 album Awaiting Your Reply. They wanted to get the album into Christian bookstores. But religious record labels didn't like the music. Finally, Star Song signed Resurrection Band and the album sold well. But when Star Song didn't like the 1979 album Rainbow's End, Resurrection Band signed with Light Records for the 1980 album Colors. Resurrection Band recorded for Light and Sparrow in the 80s. But they built their own recording studio and started their own label Grrr in 1988. They also changed their name to Rez Band then REZ. This was after some of their videos were played on MTV. Their move to a more heavy metal sound helped. But CCM was more acceptable by the mid 80s with some acts having mainstream success. This included the CCM metal band Stryper. Lovespeak is from the 1991 album Civil Rites. It topped the Christian Rock charts. The band continued but by the late 90s, Kaiser was more interested in being a solo act and REZ split up. REZ has reunited occasionally but Kaiser still leads his own band. He last released an album in 2020. Here's REZ performing Lovespeak.