Random Hero (band)

Random Hero
Origin Parker, Colorado, U.S.
Genres Rock, Christian Rock/Metal
Years active 2005 (2005)–present
Labels Red Cord Records Current, Skies Fall Studios, Skies Fall
Website randomheromusic.com, facebook.com/randomheroband
Members Aaron Watkins
Joshua Bertrand
Rob "Los" McDonough
Patrick Madsen
Past members Kat Barnes
Nick Pearson
Robert Higdon
Josh Tarrant
Alex Salinas
Derek Arosemena
Jon Cornella

Random Hero is an American Christian rock band formed in Denver, Colorado in 2005. In June of 2013, Random Hero released their self produced full length CD "Carry Me Bury Me" featuring the single "Mercy".

The band's last EP was produced exclusively by Ben Kasica, famed former guitarist of the band Skillet. The feature single "Breakdown" spent over ten months on the Billboard BDS Christian Rock Charts peaking at No. 4 Random Hero is known for their energy charged live shows and widely appealing music.

The band has worked with MTV, the ESPN X-Games, AMA Motocross, the Go Fast Extreme Games, and is the exclusive band for the Rise Up Tour, an organization that holds assembly programs for high school and middle school students revolving around suicide and addiction education and prevention.

Band history

In the Beginning (2005–07)

Random Hero started a little over seven years ago. The original members were Joshua Bertrand, Derek Arosemena, Robert Higdon (Drums), Nick Pearson (Keyboards) and Kat Barnes (Vocalist). In the early years, the band was gaining tons of recognition, and being compared to Evanescence due to Kat Barnes' haunting vocals, alongside Nick Pearson and Josh Bertrand's orchestral- based powerhouse writing.

In April 2006, Random Hero signed a management contract with Scottie Flint and Fury Artist Management, LLC. Flint quickly constructed and implemented a full business plan in order to define the direction of the band. A few months later, Aaron Watkins replaced Kat Barnes as vocalist. Watkins was a referral from one of Flint's mutual friends, and a former member of Radial Angel, and Driven. Watkins fit in immediately, and the direction of the band as a male-fronted group began to gain velocity.

In August 2007, Random Hero entered the KBPI Best Band in Denver competition. KBPI is owned by Clear Channel, and is the fourth largest rock radio station in the United States. Hundreds of bands entered the contest. Random Hero finished the contest in the top three.

Armed Forces, MTV Reality and a New Direction (2008–09)

In March 2008, drummer Rob Higdon left the band for family reasons. After a number of auditions, the remaining members of the band were growing frustrated, Flint reassured the band that the perfect drummer was out there and the band would know immediately when the right person was found. The final audition arrived. Within the first thirty seconds of the first song, both Bertrand and Derek turned to Flint with huge smiles on their face. Random Hero knew they had found the perfect drummer. His name was Josh Tarrant.

In November 2008, Flint held a meeting with the members of Random Hero to talk about the direction of the band. The decision was made to focus more on the Christian Music Market.

For the remainder of 2008, the band continued to play to large and growing crowds, not only headlining shows, but playing in direct support of national bands.

In January 2009, Flint submitted Random Hero to MTV as potential coaches for the MTV reality show "Made". Random Hero, and more specifically Joshua Bertrand, was chosen to film an episode of Made with a 9th grade student from Estes Park, Colorado.[1] The completed Made episode aired more than fifty times in the US and an equal number over seas.

For the remainder of 2009, Random Hero played a heavy schedule of shows locally, and toured to AgapeFest, and Cornerstone in Illinois. Flint had submitted the band for a spot on the Van's Warped Tour. Out of a thousand plus band entries, Random Hero was selected to perform at the Denver stop. In addition, the band's Christian industry following began to grow rapidly, and they were asked to play at the Six Flags Elitch's "Faith Day" with Relient K.

Random Hero's drummer Josh Tarrant is an active member of the United States Air Force. An opportunity was given to the band to write a song for the US Air Force's Guardian Challenge. Bertrand and Watkins wrote the song "Guardians of Freedom" with Josh Tarrant acting as producer. The song was chosen as the theme song for the Buckley Air Force Base entry into the Guardian Challenge.[2] What followed was a number of performances for thousands of US Air Force members, including some of the nations top Air Force Generals, officers, and the Assistant Undersecretary of the Air Force.

In December 2009, Random Hero became one of the first bands in the United States to release an iPhone app.[3]

Skillet's approach, Skies Fall Studios and continued work (2010–2011)

In 2010, Random Hero released the Black EP, and the White EP to rave reviews. The band traveled to Illinois to play an AgapeFest kickoff show. Two months later, Random Hero made their main stage debut in just their second year at AgapeFest. Random Hero was overwhelmed by fans after their performance, and immediately invited back to AgapeFest by the Director Chris Emanuel for 2011.

During the remainder of the summer, Random Hero once again played Cornerstone. For the first time, the band performed at Hills Alive Festival in Rapid City, SD. In addition, the band was invited to perform at Colorado's largest Christian music festival Heaven Fest, and for the second time in as many years, the Six Flags Elitch's "Faith Day"…This time with Skillet.

At the conclusion of Random Hero's set, both John Cooper and Ben Kasica of Skillet approached the band to inquire whether or not the band was signed to a label. Over the following months, Random Hero signed an exclusive production contract with Kasica. "It is a great honor that Ben has chosen to work with Random Hero," said front man Aaron Watkins. Watkins went on to say, "not only is Ben highly respected for his producing talents, but all the members of Random Hero are huge fans of Skillet." Pre-production on a number of songs started in September 2010. On November 1, 2010, the band began recording the new songs at Kasiaca's, Skies Fall Studios, in Kenosha, WI.

In January 2011, Random Hero began to look for second guitarist to present a thicker live sound. Alex Salinas was a member of one of Random Hero's worship band projects The Noise. Salinas was a natural fit for Random Hero, and was quickly brought up to speed in order to perform his first show in early February 2011.

The "Breakdown EP" was released in May 2011, by Skies Fall Records. Also in May, Random Hero performed, once again on the main stage at AgapeFest. Ben Kasica joined the band on stage to perform the song 'Freakshow".

In June 2011, Random Hero signed a co-publishing contract with Ben Kasica and Joe Snyder's Skies Fall Media Group.[4] The band was also selected by SESAC for performing rights.

In July 2011, Random Hero once again finished in the top three in the KBPI Best Band in Denver competition. Program Director Willie B had this to say about the band "The whole EP is great, but the song Breakdown is absolutely amazing, and in my opinion is a huge hit. It could easily be playing on the radio in regular rotation right now. Bottom line, this band is fantastic, and if people would just listen to the song, they would get immediately hooked on the band.”

2012 Updates

In early 2012, Random Hero's drummer Josh Tarrant was accepted into the US Air Force's exclusive entertainment troupe "Tops in Blue". With Tarrant's forthcoming one year absence, the band began to search for a new drummer. During their search, Andrew Whiteman (Red Tide Rising) filled in for live shows already scheduled. After a lengthy search, the band chose Jon Cornella as the new drummer. Jon was found playing in the worship band at a local mega church called Southeast Christian Church.

Shortly after Tarrant's departure, long time bass player Derek Arosemena felt he was being called in a different direction that would render him unable to tour for any length of time. Derek was replaced within a few days by Rob "Los" McDonough. Though new to Random Hero as a musician, Los has been part of the Random Hero family from the very beginning of Aaron Watkins joining the band. He is not only the graphic design artist behind all of the band's images and logos, he is also Aaron's brother in law. Los fit seamlessly into the band and made his festival debut at the 2012 Agapefest.

Touring and Non-Profit Commitments

Random Hero performs on main stages or premium stages at a number of the nation's largest Christian festivals including Agapefest, Alive Festival, Lifest, Hills Alive, HeavenFest, Lifelight, Fandana Festival, and more. The band is also slated to tour Europe and the Balkans with Armed Forces Entertainment in late 2012, early 2013.

Random Hero is the exclusive band for the non-profit school program "Rise Up Tour". Rise Up focuses on Suicide and Addiction education. The program is presented in a way that today's students can grasp and easily get engaged. "Rise Up" was developed by the band's manager Scottie Flint. Random Hero will participate in 15–20 Rise Up Tour stops during the 2012-13 school year, to over 30,000 students.

Random Hero has shared the stage numerous times with Skillet, Red, Relient K, Trapt, 3 Days Grace, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Fireflight, David Crowder, Family Force 5, Single File, Emery, Wavorly, Fuel, Hurt, Framing Hanley, Disciple, Hawk Nelson, Third Day and many more.

2012 Radio Exposure

in June 2012, Random Hero's radio single "Breakdown" hit the national charts (R&R and CMW) debuting at No. 28. The single continued to be added to a number of stations each week, and moved steadily up the charts. For the week of 7/22/12 Breakdown moved into the top 10 at No. 9. The band received the designations of "Most Added", "Biggest Mover", and "Rock Power Surge" by multiple national charts. During this time, Random Hero also held a stable position in the top three on the National Weekly Christian Rock 20 for five weeks in a row.

Breakdown ran all the way up the charts peaking at No. 4. The single remained in the top twenty on the national BDS Christian Rock Charts for over six months of 2012, and over half that time in the top ten.

2013 US Tours, New Full Length Release, and Repeated Radio Success

In early 2013, Random Hero completed a successful indigogo campaign due to a loyal and growing fanbase. Funds from the campaign were allocated to complete Random Hero's first full length project titled "Carry Me Bury Me", and the scheduled summer festival season tour to support the project. The self produced CD gained immediate attention from fans across the country, and quickly sold out the initial shippment. The feature single from the album titled "Mercy" was released to Rock Radio in August of 2013.

The band has spent the majority of the time on the road since May of 2013, playing festivals, churches, clubs and other venues. The band made their return to the Vans Warped Tour as well. In August and September of 2013, Random Hero completed a US tour with the band Southbound Fearing. While the band was on the road, the Christian Festival Association announced Random Hero as a top four finalist in their 2013 CFA National Talent Competition.

In November of 2013, the band's single "Mercy" hit No. 5 on the National BDS Christian Rock Charts, giving the band their second top 5 in the last year.

Red Cord Records Signing

In November of 2013, after 7 years of hard work, dedication and an unreal amount of blessings, Random Hero signed to RED CORD RECORDS (In Association with Sony). Random Hero's long time manager, Scottie Flint, had this to say, "Though we have had other offers, it was the heart behind Red Cord that ultimately solidified our decision to sign with the label. Joey and the entire staff have taken great care to build a foundation relevant to today's music industry. Red Cord Records is "eyes wide open", and it is that clear vision that we are excited to partner with". Front man Aaron Watkins added, "We are so excited to be a part of the Red Cord Records family. We believe Red Cord to be a solid relationship label poised for tremendous growth, and we are truly blessed to be a part! We cannot think of a better label to help support or efforts as musicianaries, while we support their continued success".

Band members

Current
Former

Discography

This is a list of major releases only. Additional releases including live albums, singles, compilation albums and videos may

be found at the full discography article.

Awards and recognition

National Billboard 100 National Airplay Charts

(Over 10 weeks in The top 10)

Christian Festival Association National Talent Competition
KBPI Best Band in Denver Competition
US Air Force's Guardian Challenge
National BDS Christian Rock Radio Charts

References

  1. ↑ Bertrand, Josh. "MADE, Ep. 1009, Punk Rocker". mtv.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ McNabb, Tech. Sgt. Scott. "Buckley NCO, bandmates rock Guardian Challenge video". afspc.af.mil. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  3. ↑ appmii. "Random Hero App". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  4. ↑ Flint, Scottie. "Random Hero Signs Production Agreement With Ben Kasica of Skillet!!". myspace.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Random Hero.
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