Pillar (band)

Pillaris an AmericanChristian rockband fromTulsa,consisting of members Rob Beckley, Noah Henson,Michael "Kalel" Wittig,andLester Estelle II.The band has released nine studio albums, three EPs, and 24 singles since its formation in 1998.

Pillar
Pillar in 2024: (left to right)Estelle,Henson, Beckley,Wittig
Background information
Origin	Tulsa, Oklahoma,U.S.
Genres	Christian rock Christian metal hard rock rap rock alternative metal nu metal(early)
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Sony BMG,Essential,Flicker
Members	Rob Beckley Noah Henson Michael "Kalel" Wittig Lester Estelle
Past members	Brad Noone Travis Jenkins Dustin Adams Joey Avalos Chase Lovelace Rich Gilliland Taylor Carroll
Website	pillarmusic.com

History

Formation and independent albums (1998–2000)

Pillar started inHays,Kansasin 1998, whenFort Hays State Universityroommates Brad Noone and Rob Beckley got together with friends Travis Jenkins, Dustin Adams, andMichael Wittig,known as Kalel.In 1999, Pillar released their first album,Metamorphosis,on their own independent label, Shadrach Records. After some more touring in Kansas, they released their second independent album,Original Superman,in 2000. Around this time they relocated toTulsa,Oklahoma,to try to find a larger fan base.

Flicker Records era (2000–2006)

Soon after the release ofOriginal Superman,Pillar became noticed byFlicker Records,who signed them in mid 2000.After the signing, Pillar re-cut many of the tracks fromOriginal Supermanas well as a few new tracks for release onAbove,their first major label album.The album had medium success, selling almost 60,000 copies.The song "Open Your Eyes" won aDove Awardin 2001 for Hard Music Song of the Year.Also, the songs "Original Superman" and "Live for Him" helped in Pillar's success.

In 2002,Noah Hensontook over guitar duties and Pillar released their breakthrough album,Fireproof.It sold over 300,000 copies, and launched national tours. It also won twoDove Awards.A year later Pillar went back into the studio withFireproofand released a newer, richer-sounding version with little tweaks in songs, including a bonus DVD; this resulted in two versions ofFireproofbeing on the market.

Soon after the release ofFireproof,drummerLester Estelle, Jr.joined the band.

In 2004, Pillar released their next albumWhere Do We Go from Herecapturing No. 1 on sales in the Christian charts for weeks.The album featured multiple hits, including "Bring Me Down", and, "Frontline" which topped the charts for months, and was also one of their most popular songs. Not only did Christian shows and stations play "Bring Me Down", it was requested heavily on secular stations as well. "Bring Me Down" was also featured on the sound track forMx vs ATV: Unleashed.Thanks to its success on digital platforms, "Frontline" went on to becertified goldby theRIAAin July 2020.

Pillar released an EP calledNothing Comes for Freein June 2006. It featured three new songs (including "Everything" ) and four live tracks. The other two new songs, "Our Escape" and "Dangerous", are not available on their following album,The Reckoning.The EP was only available at live shows and at their webstore. A limited number of copies (10,000) were created.

Pillar then recorded their fourth album,The Reckoning,in late 2006.Travis Wyrick(P.O.D.,We as Human,10 Years,Disciple) produced the new album, as he produced all of their previous albums, and it was released on October 3, 2006. In support ofThe Reckoning,Pillar embarked on "The Days of the Reckoning Tour" throughout October and November 2006. Other Christian bands on the tour includedDay of Fire,the Showdown,andDecyfer Down.The Reckoningreceived aGrammy Awardnomination December 6, 2007 forBest Rock or Rap Gospel Album,a first for the band.

For the Love of the Game(2007–2009)

Pillar has played at bothCornerstone FestivalandCreation Festival.It was revealed atSoulfest2007 that the name of their next album would beFor the Love of the Game,which was eventually released on February 26, 2008. They brought back the Pillar logo from "Where Do We Go from Here" and "Fireproof" for it.ESPNused the new Pillar song, "For the Love of the Game," during montages highlighting the2007 World Serieson its programBaseball Tonight.For the Love of the Gameis the last Pillar record produced by Travis Wyrick.

Pillar helped Eowyn record her albumSilent Screams,with Beckley contributing vocals to the title track and Henson and Estelle also playing on the album. Pillar toured on theSHOUTfesttour withAfter Edmundand various other artists from September to November 2007. They also had a tour forFor the Love of the Gamefrom February to April 2008, with Brooke Barrettsmith, Wavorly, and Building 429.

In the fall of 2008, Pillar embarked on theFor the Love of the Fan Tour,which enabled the fans to decide their own ticket price for the show. The tour lasted for three weeks and ended on September 26, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. Lester announced theFor the Love of the Fan Tourwould be his last tour with Pillar. Kalel was not seen playing bass for Pillar, but was being filled in forby Josh Gleave (formerly with Jeremy Riddle). Later, Kalel announced on his Myspace page his decision for leaving Pillar was due to Lester's departure from the band, and because Kalel was involved with helping independent bands such asOne Minute HaloandStars Go Dim.Making singer Rob Beckley the only original member of Pillar. Kalel also stated that he wanted to be at home with his wife and two children and not be on the road all the time.

Kalel's bass part was filled in for a short time by Josh Gleave. Richard Gilliland met Pillar while preparing for the Creation Festival tour (at the time he was playing for KJ-52); he then joined Pillar as bass player and subsequently stopped playing for KJ. Gilliland's first show with Pillar was at Creation Festival. Pillar attempted to replace Lester several times. James Holloway was hired to play drums for the Creation tour. Chase Lovelace then joined the band; however, for unknown reasons, Lovelace left the band after only being a member for a couple months.

Confessionsand unofficial hiatus (2009–2012)

Rob Beckley stated that Rob Graves, who has worked withREDand Wavorly, would produce the new album. This was the first Pillar record not produced by Travis Wyrick and the only album recorded without band co-founder/bassist Michael Kalel Wittig.Joe Rickardof RED recorded all drum tracks for this record. The next Pillar drummer, Taylor Carroll, joined around March 2009, after the recording process of the new album.

Confessionswas released on September 22, 2009. The first two singles from the album, "Secrets and Regrets" and "Fire on the Inside", were released on July 17, 2009. Pillar was touring to promote the album and supported Red on their "Nothing and Everything tour", which also featuredthe Wedding.Their cover of Collective Soul's song, "Shine",was released as the third single from the album.Their fourth single, "Whatever It Takes", reached number one on June 6, 2010.

In 2010, the album was nominated for aDove Awardfor Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year at the41st GMA Dove Awards.

In 2011, Pillar played only one show, at Solid Festival on October 29. During this show, Taylor Caroll was not playing with the band because by that time he had left to pursue a solo career.

Reunion,One Love Revolutionand recent activity (2012–present)

On February 2, 2012 it was revealed Rob Beckley was going to release his first solo record through idefi Music on March 14, 2012.The first single off the record, "Value of My Heart", was released on September 1, 2012.It is now downloadable for free on the renewed Pillar website. Beckley's solo album remains unreleased ever since.

On October 27, 2012, Pillar announced that all four members from 2001–2008 (Rob Beckley, Noah Henson, Michael Kalel Wittig and Lester Estelle) would be reuniting with plans of releasing a new album.

On December 15, 2012, Pillar released their version of the traditionalChristmas carol"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"as a free downloadable single onNoiseTrade.

A new song titled "Lion Leads the Way" was released in April of 2014. The heavy rock song was written as the soundtrack for the movieDay of War.

One Love Revolutionwas crowdfunded viaKickstarterand released independently on August 18, 2015.No touring activity happened and no official music videos were released to promote the album.

On December 24, 2019, the band released a Christmas single "Do You Hear What I Hear" as a free download.Until 2023, there were no updates on the band's activity since. Frontman Rob Beckley became a pastor; Noah Henson went on to perform as a live guitarist/backing vocalist forBrantley Gilbert;bassist Michael Wittig pursued abodybuilder/fitness trainercareer; Lester Estelle performs as a live drummer forKelly Clarkson.

In November 2023, Pillar announced a three-date reunion tour which is scheduled to take place in June and July, 2024, as well as releasingOne Love Revolutionon CD and, for the first time for the band, on a vinyl release.

Pillar at VIP Meet and Greet in Broken Arrow on June 9, 2024

On June 9, 2024, Pillar reunited in Broken Arrow, OK, for their first concert in over a decade, and was filmed for an upcoming documentary.

Members

Current members

• Rob Beckley – lead vocals(1998–present),rhythm guitar(2008–present)
• Michael "Kalel" Wittig(Stars Go Dim) – bass(1998–2008, 2012–present)
• Noah Henson – lead guitar, backing vocals(2001–present)
• Lester Estelle II(Stars Go Dim,Kelly Clarkson,Black & White) – drums, backing vocals(2002–2008, 2012–present)

Current touring members

• J.R. Bareis (Love and Death,Spoken) – guitar, backing vocals(2024–present)– joined as second guitarist for the 2024 tours

Former members

• Taylor Carroll – drums(2009–2011)
• Brad Noone – drums(1998–2002)
• Travis Jenkins – guitar(1999–2001; studio 2012)
• Dustin Adams – guitar(1998–1999)
• Rich Gilliand – bass(2008–2011)

Former touring members

• Joey Avalos – guitar, backing vocals(2006–2007)– filled in as second guitarist during "The Reckoning" era
• James Holloway – drums(2008)– filled in for Lester on Creation Festival tour
• Josh Gleave – bass(2008)– filled in for Kalel on for the Love of the Fan tour
• Chase Lovelace – drums(2008–2009)– filled in for Lester for short time until Taylor joined the band; Chase then joinedSuperchick

Timeline

Rob Beckley

Robert Benjamin "Rob" Beckley (born August 20, 1975) is thelead singerandrhythm guitaristof theChristian rockband Pillar, which was voted Best Hard Rock Band inCCM Magazine's 2006 Reader's Choice Awards. He started the band in 1998 in Kansas.

Beckley has contributed guest vocals to the songs such as "Numb" byTait,"Rock On" and "Help me Change" byKJ-52,"Silent Screams" byÉowyn,and "Indestructible" byHardie Avenue.

He is married to Linda Beckley. In addition to being the band's frontman, he is also a soldier in theUnited States Army Reserves.

Discography

Main article:Pillar discography

• 1999Metamorphosis[independent album]
• 2000Original Superman[independent album](12 tracks. 11 tracks re-released onAbove.)
• 2000Above Album
• 2002Fireproof
• 2004Where Do We Go From Here
• 2006The Reckoning
• 2008For the Love of the Game
• 2009Confessions
• 2015One Love Revolution

Awards and nominations

Dove Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2001	Above	Hard Music Album of the Year	Won
2001	"Open Your Eyes"	Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year	Nominated
2002	"Live For Him"		Won
2003	Fireproof	Hard Music Album of the Year	Won
2003	"Fireproof"	Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year	Nominated
2009	"For The Love of The Game"		Nominated
2009	For The Love of The Game	Hard Music Album of the Year	Nominated

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2008	The Reckoning	Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album	Nominated	§

Related bands and side projects

• Godspeed (1992–1994): In high school,Michael Wittig(Kalel) was the founding member of the band Godspeed. They had one self-titled album that was recorded December 1993 and released in a limited edition of 200 cassettes in January 1994. It contains three tracks: "Searching", "Your Life", both written by Wittig, and "Her Tears" written by Robert Brouhard and Wittig. The band's name changed from Q: The Source (named after theQ source) to Godspeed during the recording of the EP. Band members at the time of the recording included: Wittig on guitar and bass, Brouhard on vocals, Mahlon Tobias on bass, and David Shawn Valcárcel on drums.
• Stars Go Dim(2007–) was first a side project and later a full-time band that Lester Estelle Jr., Michael Wittig were a part of. Sweet Memorial's frontman, Chris Cleveland, is the lead singer. With SGD Estelle and Wittig released a full-length album,Love Gone Mad(2009), and two EPs: self-titled (2008) andBetween Here and Now(2011).
• Éowyn's 2008 song "Silent Screams" features Rob Beckley on guest vocals. Also Lester and Noah appear on the record adding talents on drums and guitar.