1 - How did dc Talk get together? 2 - How can I contact dc Talk? 3 - What awards have they won? 4 - What does the "DC" in DC Talk stand for? 5 - Why was "Jesus Freak" called "Jesus Freak?" 6 - Who is Greer, on "Free At Last?" 7 - Who sings the "Jesus Freak Reprise?" 8 - Between the tracks of "So Help Me God" and "Colored People," what is said, and by who? 9 - Whatever happened to "Free at Last: The Movie?" 10 - I heard a rumour that dc Talk is breaking up, is it true? 11 - What's the name of the bonus track at the end of the "Jesus Freak" album? 12 - How have they done in the charts? 13 - Who are they talking about in "My Friend (So Long)?" 14 - Has dc Talk recorded any remixes? 15 - Miscellaneous Facts 1 - How did dc Talk get together? The members of DC Talk met at Liberty University. Michael sang in chapel one day, and Toby introduced himself and they became friends. Then Kevin did a song in chapel, "Lord of the Harvest", and Michael introduced himself and told him about his friend Toby McKeehan and then eventually they all met and moved in together. In January 1989, they signed a record deal with ForeFront records, never finishing college - they moved to Nashville, Tenn. and DC Talk was formed. The group was founded in Washington DC, where the initials DC came from. In 1996, after ForeFront was bought by EMI, they signed up with Virgin Records (also owned by EMI). 2 - How can I contact dc Talk? Through e-mail... dctalk@dctalk.com theband@taitband.com kmax@kevinmax.com fanmail@tobymac.com 3 - What awards have they won? Although their total number of nominations received throughout the years is unknown, dc Talk has actually won 15 Dove Awards and 3 Grammy Awards. See the in-depth list below for just a few of their many accomplishments: 1990 CCM Readers Awards Favorite R&B/Rap Album (Nu Thang) 1991 Dove Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Nu Thang) CCM Readers Awards Album of the Year (Nu Thang) Favorite Rap/R&B/Dance Artist Harvest Rock Readers Awards Favorite R&B/Rap Group of the Year 1992 Dove Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (I Luv Rap Music) Long Form Music Video (Rap, Rock and Soul) CCM Readers Awards Favorite Rap/R&B/Dance Artist Favorite Long Form Video (Rap, Rock and Soul) 1993 Grammy Awards Best Rock Gospel Album (Free At Last) Dove Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (Can I Get A Witness?) Billboard Awards Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Contemporary Christian Album (Free At Last) CCM Readers Awards Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Free At Last) Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist 1994 Dove Awards Rap/Hip Hop Recorded (Socially Acceptable) Rock Recorded Song (Jesus Is Just Alright) Billboard Awards Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Contemporary Christian Album (Free At Last) American Christian Music Awards Favorite Live Concert Favorite Pop Group Favorite Pop CD (Free At Last) Favorite Short Form Video (Jesus Is Just Alright) CCM Readers Awards Favorite R&B/Rap/Gospel Album (Free At Last) Favorite R&B/Rap/Gospel Artist/Band Favorite Short Form Video (Jesus is Just Alright) 1995 Dove Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (Luv is A Verb) CCM Readers Awards Favorite R&B/Rap/Gospel Artist Favorite Long Form Video (Narrow is the Road) Favorite Live Concert Campus Life Music Survey Awards Album of the Year (Free at Last) Best Group 1996 Grammy Awards Best Rock Gospel Album (Jesus Freak) Dove Awards Artist Of The Year Rock Recorded Song (Jesus Freak) Nashville Music Awards Song of The Year (Jesus Freak) Contemporary Christian Album Of The Year (Jesus Freak) Billboard Awards Contemporary Christian Album (Jesus Freak) Contemporary Christian Video (Jesus Freak) CCM Readers Awards Favorite Alternative/Modern Rock Band Favorite Alternative/Modern Rock Album (Jesus Freak) Favorite Song (Jesus Freak) Favorite Short Form Video (Jesus Freak) Favorite Live Concert Favorite Male Vocalist (Kevin Smith) Release Magazine Reader's Awards Favorite Songwriter (Toby McKeehan) Favorite Album (Jesus Freak) Favorite Song (Jesus Freak) Favorite Album Art (Jesus Freak) Best Voice (Kevin Smith) Favorite Concert Favorite Video (Jesus Freak) 1997 Grammy Awards Best Rock Gospel Album (Welcome To The Freak Show) Dove Awards Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song (Between You and Me) Rock Recorded Song (Like It, Love It, Need It) Short Form Music Video (Jesus Freak) Billboard Awards Contemporary Christian Clip of the Year (Jesus Freak) CCM Readers Awards Favorite Alternative/Modern Rock Artist/Band Campus Life Music Awards Album Of The Year (Jesus Freak) Best Group or Band Best Christian Music Video (Jesus Freak) 1998 Dove Awards Short Form Music Video (Colored People) Release Magazine Reader's Awards Favorite Group Favorite Concert Performance Artist That Most Inspires You Favorite Long Form Video (Welcome To The Freak Show) Most Photogenic (Kevin Max) CCM Readers Awards Short Form Music Video of the Year (Colored People) 1999 Dove Awards Special Event Album (Exodus) Billboard Video Awards Best Contemporary Christian Video (Consume Me) CCM Readers Awards Favorite Short Form Video (My Friend [So Long]) Favorite Rock/Modern Album (Supernatural) 2000 Dove Awards Long Form Music Video (The Supernatural Experience) Release Magazine Reader's Awards Favorite Group Long Form Video (The Supernatural Experience) Short Form Video (Consume Me) Concert Performance Best Moment Of All Time In Christian Music (when dc talk was born) Most Christlike (Toby McKeehan) Most eligible bachelor (Michael Tait) Crosswalk.com Music Awards Artist of the Year Concert of the Year Music Video of the Year (Consume Me) 2001 Dove Awards Alternative/Modern Rock Recorded Song (Dive) 2002 Dove Awards Producer of the Year (Toby McKeehan) Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Momentum - tobyMac) Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (Somebody's Watching Me - tobyMac) Special Event Album (Prayer of Jabez) Grammy Awards Best Rock Gospel Album (Solo: Special Edition EP) 4 - What does the "DC" in DC Talk stand for? The group was founded in Washington DC, where the initials DC originally came from. After the group signed to ForeFront Records, the company suggested that it mean: "You see D's for decent, and you will agree". "And C's for Christian, 'cause that's what I am". "Talk is for the lyrics, they're full of spirit". Quote from "Time Ta Jam" DC Talk "D is for decent, I mean what I say, but obscene, I don't play that way." "C is for Christ with an -i-a-n. That's right 'yall, I'm born again." "Talk's my tool. My gift to you, R-a-p to spread the news of God." Quote from "When DC Talks" NU Thang 5 - Why was "Jesus Freak" called "Jesus Freak?" Jesus Freak is a 70's term used to describe those who were apart of the "Jesus Movement" in the early to mid 70's. It was meant to be derogatory ...the equivalent of calling someone a racist name. The term died and came about again for dc Talk's album and song. True enough the term is meant to be insulting when used by a non-believer, but should be taken as a compliment. As Toby explained... "Freak means an ardent enthusiast, among other things... so consider yourself an ardent enthusiast of Christ!! 6 - Who is Greer, on "Free At Last?" Greer is Todd Collins. 7 - Who sings the "Jesus Freak Reprise?" Todd Collins (one-third of the Gotee Brothers) sings the JF reprise... and it did take them a few tries to do it. It's a late night joke the guys thought up that happened to turn up on the album. 8 - Between the tracks of "So Help Me God" and "Colored People," what is said, and by who? Kevin Max says, "I just walked in to a Meat and 3, and everybody staring at me, I gotta go." A "Meat and 3" is a southern resturaunt found in Nashville, TN. As David S. Eggum puts it, "I picture him quickly opening a conference room door (for room 3), jumping inside, and suddenly realising this is the wrong room. There's a large meeting being held and, 'everybody's staring at me... I gotta go.' 9 - Whatever happened to "Free At Last: The Movie?" "Free At Last: The Movie" was scheduled to be released in the US in September 1995. But it never was released. In 1995 Toby had this to say about the movie "I think it would be a shame for [the film] not to come out, and right now it's lost in business negotiations between the film company and our record company. We've washed our hands of any business dealings. We've said we'll do whatever it takes to get it out. That's about as bold as you can get from our standpoint." © 1995 CCM Communications and NetCentral, Inc. Since then, there has been various rumours about the movie. Including a video release instead of a theatrical release. From the information I have seen, it seems that "Free At Last: The Movie" has now been shelved. Jessica Folkins has this to say about the movie's delay: "It was a money thing. It had nothing to do with the band or with Forefront. When you release a movie to the theatre you have to go through distribution and handling channels which have to deal with management and production companies. The three entities involved couldn't come to an agreement on the rights and money. It was really a shame, all the people involved in making the movie were very disappointed, as well as the many fans expecting it." Although it looks like it will never see the light of day, there is some good news about another movie. During the Freak Show tour and the European Tour there was a lot more material filmed, and that, along with the previous material, will appear in a new direct to video release. At a AOL chat, Toby was unable to attend because he was mixing the music for the video. Some of the live tracks might end up as B-sides of future singles. Information gathered from AOL/dc Talk Hookups/Toby McKeehan/Jason Halbert/CCM Magazine Update: There are now plans to release the movie on DVD in November 2002. It will be packaged with the "Free At Last" album to celebrate the album's 10-year anniversary. 10 - I heard a rumour that dc Talk is breaking up, is it true? (Answered by: Adrian Pratt - 1999) There is no truth in rumours that dc Talk have split up or are going to split up. They never have, and for the foreseeable future will remain together. But you can expect them to do side projects, in-between albums. Toby has already released one project (Erace) and also has his hands full running 2 record compaies (Gotee and 40), producing numerous albums for other artist, and just being a husband and father. Micheal is with a band he started called "Curious George" who will play, and have played, at various festivals in the US during the summer of 1997. I (Adrian Pratt) was lucky to see them at Atlanta Fest on my visit to the US. The idea for Curious George, is really for Mike to play covers of old songs, and try out a few of his own songs. Songs he played included a cover of a song by the 77's, Charlie Peacocks "In The Light" and dc Talk's very own "Jesus Freak", which was actually better than the album version, in my opinion. He also produced Pete Stewarts debut solo-album in late '98 and early '99 and even went on tour with Pete for a little while. Kevin has already released 1 book of Poetry (At The Foot Of Heaven) and is currently planning on releasing another book, as well as a solo album (both due out in 2000 sometime). He just finished up his first ever solo-tour where he visited only churches and played songs as well as read poetry. 11 - What's the name of the bonus track at the end of the "Jesus Freak" album? The track is titled "Alas my Love" and it was inspired by a poem Kevin wrote for his book of poetry (At The Foot Of Heaven). The lyrics are printed inside the album linear notes. 12 - How have they done in the charts? Beginning in 1995, "Jesus Freak" held the #1 position for 37 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Christian charts. In December 1996, "Between You And Me" held the #29 position on the Billboard Top 40 radio charts for 2 consecutive weeks. (It entered the charts 5 weeks earlier at #39.) In September 1998, "Supernatural" debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 100 chart, and then took the #32 spot in the following week. 13 - Who are they talking about in "My Friend (So Long)?" To end all of the rumors and speculation over the meaning of the lyrics in "My Friend"... I sat with Toby in the dressing room after our Grand Rapids show this past Friday night and discussed the song and what inspired it. He shared with me the following facts: 1. The concept is totally fictional and has absolutely no basis on any specific artist or band. 2. It really came out of several discussions Toby, Michael and Kevin had about how they would react if someone with whom they had a close relationship (or, even if they had a fourth member) turned away from Christian music and went secular mainstream. 3. They had no person or group in mind when they had these discussions... everything was absolutly hypothetical. (you may think it odd that they would sit around and discuss things like this, with no basis in fact or actual persons... but after working and traveling with them for over 8 years, I can assure you that they have some very creative discussions). I hope this puts an end to the speculation concerning this song... and Toby does too. God bless, Denny dc Talk Tour Manager 14 - Has dc Talk recorded any remixes? Yes, several. They have released them on commercial CD singles, radio station promos, and even remix albums. In addition to these officially released mixes, AE's own Jimmy Larrick has been creating and managing many of the remixes in our multimedia section since late 2002 when his old website (dctalkremixes.com) merged with AE. The remixes created here at AE are for free promotional or personal use and we encourage you to tell others about them. Now, here's a list of the official remixes that we know of, plus acoustic versions and covers of dc Talk songs by other artist... Jesus Is Just Alright (Funky Mixes) - Jesus Is Just Alright radio disc Lean On Me (AC/CHR Mixes) - Lean On Me radio disc Jesus Is Just Alright (Techno Mix) - Free At Last Extended Play Remixes Jesus Is Just Alright (Retro Mix) - Free At Last Extended Play Remixes Luv Is A Verb (Gotee Mix) - Free At Last Extended Play Remixes The Hardway (Video Mix) - Free At Last Extended Play Remixes Jesus Freak (Gotee Brothers' Freaked-Out Remix) - Jesus Freak AVCD single Jesus Is Just Alright (Switchback Mix) - Jesus Freak Japanes release In The Light (Alternate Mix) - In The Light CD single Colored People (Organic/Groove Mix) - Single 3.75 radio disc Jesus Freak (Lounge Version) - John Jonethis' Lounge Freak Jesus Freak (Disco Version) - Disco Praise compilation Heavenbound (Bleach cover) - ForeFront X: The Birthday Album My Friend [So Long] (Acoustic Version) - Consume Me radio disc Consume Me (Acoustic Version) - Consume Me radio disc Godsend (Loop Mix) - Godsend radio disc The Hardway (KJ-52 cover) - KJ-52's 7th Avenue Say The Words (Now Mix) - Intermission: The Greatest Hits Loss For Words (Original Mix) - Extreme Days soundtrack Somebody's Watching Me (DrumApella Mix) - Somebody's Watching Me radio disc Let's Roll (Unplugged Version) - http://www.letsrollmusic.com/ The Hardway (Revisted Mix) - Free At Last: 10th Anniversary Special Edition Socially Acceptable (Remix) - Mixdown compilation Alibi (Remix) - Mixdown compilation Somebody's Watching Me (Remix) - Mixdown compilation Re:Mix Momentum - tobyMac's remix album features 14 remixes 15 - Miscellaneous Facts The weirdest gift the band ever received was a bottle of Drain-O. dc Talk has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, and The 700 Club. Dave Bunch wanted to know "On the Free at Last album, Kevin writes a line to Winona Ryder. What is his relationship with her, and what does the line mean?" Niki replied with this, "When I was reading through the fact sheet on your page I saw the question about Winona Ryder and thought it was odd that someone else had noticed that. While reading through the 'thanks' I had wondered the same thing. Well, a few weeks ago I got the chance to talk to Kevin and the question came to mind. He said that Winona was a friend of a friend and they were supposed to go out sometime, but it never came into being. He didn't go into specifics, but there's the basic idea!"

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