Phil Scholling: Philadelphia

From Reign Radio.com

Interviews
Phil Scholling: Philadelphia
By Greg"BigHair"Brewster
Jul 8, 2004 - 10:39:00 AM

How are you and what are you doing these days?

Thanks for asking. I am doing well. I am currently living in Austin, TX
with my wife and two daughters. I work for a telecommunications company
located in Austin which keeps me very busy.

On the musical front, I just finished working on a CD for Calvary Chapel
of Austin. I am just starting to work on a new project with some local
musicians to incorporate the approach of improvisational jazz to
communicate the glory and majesty of God. I also have plans to do some
writing with the keyboard player that I worked with on the Calvary CD.

BHB: When did you come to know Christ, and when did you know music was
what you were supposed to do?

I began following Jesus when I was 16. I had actually already started
playing in Philadelphia prior to that. A friend and I had gone to
audition for them and I ended up getting the chance to play. I had grown
up in a church environment but the guys in the band were the first
people that really provided an example of Christianity that I connected
with. We would practice for a couple of hours and then end up talking
for at least that long afterward. One night after a rehearsal I was
driving home thinking about that evening's discussion and God really
allowed the light to shine into the darkness for me.

Music is something I have always done because it has been a part of me
for as long as I can remember. I have not always pursued it from a
professional standpoint but I have always known that music was a form of
communication that God graciously gave me. He makes us who we are and wethen have the opportunity to express His character to others in the way
we are gifted. I believe this to be true whether you are a musician, a
teacher, or a clerk in a store. God calls us to whole-heartedly honor
Him in all that we do and say. To use Paul's analogy of God being the
potter and us being the clay, God makes a plate to be a plate and a cup
to be a cup. All are made for Him and for His purpose.

3. "Tell the Truth" is in my top 10 favorite Christian metal albums.
What was it like making that record? As well as Search and Destroy?

Making "Tell the Truth" was really interesting since it was both mine
and Ronn Flowers first experience with the recording process. We really
learned that when someone utters the phrase "don't worry, we can fix it
in the mix" that you are in big trouble ;-). We recorded that over 2 or
3 weekends. We lived in Shreveport, La. and the tracks were recorded in
Jackson, Ms. We would get off of work in the afternoon on a Friday and
then drive through the night to get there and set up. The next morning
we would come in and try to do as much as we could before we had to head
back on Sunday. The drums on that record were originally done with
electronic drums. When Brian Martini (drummer) heard the tracks as it
started to get mixed he went back and redid all of the drums by playing
along with the rest of the tracks minus the original drums.

"Search and Destroy" was a bit more refined. Partly due to experience
gained recording the other record and partly because we did more on the
pre-production side to maximize our time in the studio. We were also
able to take a bit more time and I think that made it a more relaxing
process.

We had all of the material written for what would have been our third
record but we ended up parting ways before we were able to get in and
record. Two of the bonus tracks (Warlord and One Way Out) on the M8
re-issue of S & D were slated to be on that third record.

4.Did you guys ever get to tour with groups like Stryper,Barren
Cross,Saint, etc?

Not really. We did some shows with Rez when they would come down south.
We also did a couple of shows with Messiah Prophet up in PA.
Philadelphia was kind of detached from what was going on with some of
the earlier bands you listed. We started out initially as a street
ministry playing songs in order to get people to gather around so that
we would have a chance to share the Lord with them. Even as we did the
records we never really got too far away from that. We were as likely to
be playing in a prison or similar venue as we were to be out doing
concert performances.

5. Did you get to witness Gods miracles when you were out on the road?

Since we were never really much of a touring band, probably the closest
contact we had with people that had the records were letters that they
would write. Songs like The Life Inside from Tell the Truth and Judgment
Day from S & D really seemed to connect with people. It was always a
great encouragement to see how a song could make a difference in
someone's life.

6. What do you think of todays scene? Is it better than the 80's or
worse?

To be honest I don't really keep up with it. Diverse styles of music
seem to be much more accepted now in Christian music than they were back
then so I think that it may be easier for bands to get out there and
have some support for what they are doing.

As far as a better or worse comparison, I suspect that for those artists
that understand that the Christian music business is exactly that, a
music business, they benefit from much better organization and a more
resources than maybe some of the earlier artists. Our experience was
probably not the best but we were probably not unique in that case
either. That's not to say that I think there is not a genuine desire on
the part of the people in the Christian music industry to please the
Lord with what they do. I just think that it is wise for people to look
past the surface and not assume that everyone is doing things for the
same reason you might be.
I think what is interesting is seeing people like Glenn Kaiser turning
out praise and worship CDs. Glenn and the rest of Rez were a big
influence on us as I am sure they were for many other bands they worked
with along the way. I think that his integrity and faith really come
across well in what he is doing.

7. Was touring back then fun for you or was it tough?

We never really did any extensive touring so when we would go out for
more than a few days it was pretty lean. I think it was fun getting to
see other parts of the country and meet different people. The best times
were when we would play Cornerstone. (1985, 1986)

8. If there was one thing that you wished Philadelphia could have done
as a band, what would it be?

I think recording the third record would have been nice. Somehow, a
third one would have seemed to have a sense of completeness.

It was fun getting together a few years ago to do a couple of new songs
for the M8 re-issue. We also did a show that same weekend back in
Shreveport when we got together to record those two tracks.

9. Fun question: Who had the better stage clothes Philadelpia,Barren
Cross, Saint, or Stryper?

Since this is a fun question, Stryper was by far the prettiest. I think
that Saint was a bit more along the line of the euro-metal bands as were
we. Somehow, it doesn't seem as embarrassing to show people pictures of
you in the past wearing leather. Spandex and makeup on the other
hand....

10. What bands if any do you listen to on the new scene?

As I mentioned earlier, I don't necessarily keep up with the current
scene. My personal taste in music leans more toward the instrumental
side. I primarily listen to jazz musicians particularly in the bebop and
fusion genres.

I do enjoy the acoustic music that Phil Keaggy has released. He has such
a wonderful expressiveness with his guitar. His music is a perfect
example of how ideas can be communicated in more than one way. His sense
of melody and thoughtfulness always makes me consider the majesty of
God.

11. Do you still talk to the guys in the band?

It has probably been about three years since I last spoke with anyone
from Philadelphia. When the band broke up at the end of 1986 I moved to
Los Angeles. The other guys stayed in Shreveport. I would see them
occasionally on return visits but not that frequently.

When we got together to work on material for the M8 re-release, it was
very comfortable working together again, which I think we were all very
happy about.

12. What would you say the biggest change is that Christ made in your
life since Philadelphia?

I think the understanding that God is much more than the little boxes
that I sometimes try to place Him in for my convenience. Ephesians
3:14-21 has been instrumental in helping me to understand that it's not
about me or the limited vision that I may be able to muster. God is holy
and infinite. No matter what perfect plan I could ever try to come up
with for my life, His vision for me is so much beyond my limited ability
to comprehend. It is sufficient for me to follow, in faith, where Heleads.

13. Any words for your fans?

Thanks for your prayers and support. You were all a big part in the
things that God accomplished through us. I wish we could have met more
of you but we will get that chance one day.

14. What advice would you give to young bands starting out today?

Don't get caught up in trying to be like everyone else. If God is
putting you together for His purpose then trust Him to lead you each
step of the way. God has created us as individuals. Let Him use you in
the special and unique way He wishes.

15. If you had the chance to do it again would you?

Certainly. Every step of the way has brought me to where I am today just
as the steps I take today lead to where He is taking me tomorrow.

Thanks Bro, If you have any questions
just email . God Bless you and your family.
Greg"BigHair"Brewster