Stained Cross was first formed in 1996 by drummer, Josh Maples.  It was originally formed just to play the talent show at our school.  At that time, the members were Josh Maples (drums), Michael Shoemaker (guitar), and Shaun Rolen (guitar).  Soon after playing at the talent show, Michael quit. 

       At that time, Josh and I decided that, nevertheless, we would still pursue our dream.  Our original name was Amber Light.  Amber Light was not Christian, just a regular rock band.  When Michael quit, we didn't have the intention of being a Christian band.  However, God had the intention to make us one.  Although we had never talked about being a Christian band, I had started to think that it would be a great idea, but I was reluctant to talk to Josh about it, because I wasn't sure what he might think.  However, God had been working not only me, but Josh, because, Josh had been thinking about being a Christian band too.  And finally, one day, Josh brought the idea up.  Of course I agreed to it.

       We then decided to change our name to have a new beginning as a Christian band.  One day, while on the phone, Josh and I were trying to think of names, and Josh said 'Stained Cross'.  We both thought that that was a really great name, and so we chose it.

       From that moment until about a year and a half later, we practiced.  We wanted to make sure we were good enough, that, when we went to recorded, we'd sound great.

       Then, on December 12th 1998, we went to Underground Recording Studios, and recorded our debut album, In the Daze of Christ.  At the time, it was unbelievable.  We had extremely high hopes for that album, and when we heard the finished product, we knew that we had met those hopes.

       However, our music career was cut short when I had to quit the band for a little while because of personal problems.  Our album was never released to the public, and only heard by few.  

     When I resolved my problems, I asked Josh if I could re-join Stained Cross.  He said, “sure”.  But now Josh wasn't into the band much, and a few days after we were back together, he quit to join a local alternative band, Prisoners of Sanity.  

       I knew that Josh and I were meant to be in a band together, and I tried various times to join Prisoners of Sanity, however, it wasn't until they decided to get rid of their bassist that they would give me a try.

       When I tried out for Prisoners of Sanity, it went fine.  I thought, at the time, that I would join that band.  But after the practice, I started thinking about it, and changed my mind.  I had come to the conclusion that I didn't want to play bass, I just loved the guitar too much.

       Later that night, Josh called me.  I told him my decision then.  Almost without pause, after I told him my decision, he brought up Stained Cross.  He said that he had been doing some thinking as well, and decided that he no longer wanted to be a part of Prisoners of Sanity, he wanted to be Stained Cross once again.  

       I was very relieved, and glad that that's what he wanted to do.  I told him that I would love to be Stained Cross again, and that night, thanks to the power of God, Stained Cross re-united.

       After a couple of months, we started looking for a bassist to join Stained Cross.  At the time, we didn't really know anyone, but shortly after our search began, Josh met a guy named Chad Poppelbaum in one of his classes.  Josh and Chad became friends, and started talking about music.  Josh then found out that Chad played bass, and quickly asked him if he'd be interested in joining a Christian band.  Chad said that he was in a band, but that he was unhappy with the band because they never did anything.  Since, he was unhappy with them, he said that he would give us a try, and came to our next practice.

       The practice went great.  The sound we achieved was a great, full sound.  After the practice, Josh and I asked Chad if he would like to join Stained Cross.  He said that he didn't know at the time, but that he would think about it.  

       About three days later, Josh asked him yet again if he would join Stained Cross.  He then replied that, after thinking about it, he would love to.  He then became the latest addition to Stained Cross.

       Which brings us to the present.  We are currently practicing hard, and playing at some local gigs, and we plan to record sometime in 2001.  We plan to have the best songs off of our debut album, as well as some new stuff on the next album, and it will certainly be something great.

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