Needtobreathe (stylized as NEEDTOBREATHE) is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The group first gained fame for their Christian themes, eventually reaching crossover success.[1][2] The band is composed of Bear Rinehart (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Seth Bolt (backing vocals, bass), Josh Lovelace (backing vocals, keys), Randall Harris (drums, percussion) and Tyler Burkum (guitar).[3] To date, the band has released ten studio albums: The Feature[4] (2001), Daylight (2006), The Heat (2007), The Outsiders (2009), The Reckoning (2011), Rivers in the Wasteland (2014), HARD LOVE (2016),[5] Out of Body (2020), Into the Mystery (2021), and Caves (2023); six of those albums have reached No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart.[1] The band has also charted with a number of singles, including "Washed by the Water" (2007), which reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart;[6] the Grammy-nominated "Multiplied" (2014);[7][6] "Brother" (2015), which charted on the Top 100 and reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart;[8] and "Who Am I" (2020), which reached No. 14 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart.[9]

Needtobreathe
Needtobreathe performing in 2023
Needtobreathe performing in 2023
Background information
OriginSeneca, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Years active2001–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websiteneedtobreathe.com

History

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Beginnings (1998–2006)

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Brothers William Stanley "Bear" Rinehart III and Nathaniel Bryant "Bo" Rinehart were raised in Possum Kingdom, South Carolina. The brothers started performing in Seneca after moving there.[10][11][12] The Rinehart brothers grew up attending a church camp that their father, who was a pastor, ran.[13] The brothers first performed in front of coffee house audiences at Furman University, where Bear, who was named after University of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant, was a wide receiver for the Furman Paladins football team, winning the 2002 Banks McFadden trophy for South Carolina football player of the year.[14] After graduation, Bear, Bo and Joe Stillwell joined with Seth Bolt, producing independent releases that were recorded in Bolt's Plantation Studios.[15]

NEEDTOBREATHE was formed in 1998.[16] The name of the band is based on a Greek demonstrative parable of Socrates about seeking direction in life, and Bear Rinehart indicated that it was better than other names that the band had at the time.[17]

In 2001, the band independently released their first album, The Feature.[4] In 2003, they released a three-song EP: Soulrock Review.[18] In 2004, they followed with two four-song EPs: Fire and Turnaround.[19] These brought the band to the attention of Lava Records, owned by Universal Music Group, who signed the band in 2005.[10][11]

After signing with both Atlantic Records and Sparrow Records, the band went to the UK to record their second studio album, Daylight, with producer Andy Green.[20] Its first radio single "You Are Here", previously released on the Fire EP in 2004, was released early in 2006.[20] Just prior to their debut release, the band was featured on the cover of CCM Magazine—an unprecedented new artist endorsement by the national publication.[21] Daylight was released on April 4, 2006.[22]

The Heat (2006–2008)

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Brothers Bo and Bear Rinehart in September 2007

Needtobreathe started pre-production for their second studio album The Heat in late 2006.[23] In 2007, the band started a six-month recording period at Rick Beato's Black Dog Studio and at Paul Diaz's Tree Sounds in Atlanta.[23][24] The Heat was released on August 28, 2007, through Atlantic Records and Word Entertainment.[25]

In 2008, the band was nominated for two Dove Awards at the 39th GMA Dove Awards. Their song "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)" received a nomination for "Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year", and The Heat was nominated for "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year".[26] In 2009, their song "Washed by the Water" was nominated and won the Dove Award for "Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year". Marisa Brown, writing at AllMusic and Billboard, has referenced this album in helping to "establish the band as one of Christian rock's most successful newcomers."[10][11]

The Outsiders and The Reckoning (2009–2013)

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The band's third album, The Outsiders was released on August 25, 2009,[27] peaking at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Hot Christian Albums. The first single for the album, "Lay 'Em Down", peaked at No. 4 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. The single "Something Beautiful" peaked at No. 12 on the Triple A chart and No. 6 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. "Hurricane" peaked at No. 29 on the Alternative chart, their first success at Alternative radio. The title song of the album, "The Outsiders", peaked at No. 11 on the Triple A chart.[citation needed]

The album The Reckoning was released on September 20, 2011, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.[28] "Slumber" was the album's first single and peaked at No. 26 on the Christian rock charts while "Drive All Night" is the album's second single.[citation needed] The band went on tour with Taylor Swift as a featuring opening act on her Speak Now World Tour in 2011.[29]

On December 17, 2013, Eric Ryan Anderson released his film Prove the Poets Wrong, chronicling the band's 2013 tours and revisiting their origins, on YouTube.[30]

Rivers in the Wasteland (2014–2015)

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Rivers in the Wasteland was released on April 15, 2014,[31] debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, No. 1 Rock Album,[32] and No. 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart,[33] and selling 49,000 copies in its first week.[32] Originally set to be titled "Wasteland",[34] the album takes its name from Isaiah 43:19.[35] It is the first album since drum player Joe Stillwell left the band and the first album with Randall Harris as the drum player.[citation needed]

In 2014, longstanding conflict between Bear and Bo Rinehart escalated into a fistfight that sent one of the brothers to the hospital. Following this altercation, the brothers apologized to each other and reaffirmed that their relationship was more important than music.[36][37]

In 2015, the band toured Australia with Third Day,[38] before headlining their first North American tour across 40+ cities,[39] touring with Ben Rector (leg 1), Switchfoot (leg 2), Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, and Colony House.[40]

HARD LOVE (2016–2019)

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On April 1, 2016, the band announced their sixth studio album, HARD LOVE, and its release date of July 15, 2016. Additionally, dates for the band's 2016 tour, Tour De Compadres, were announced and the album's lead single, "Happiness", was released along with another single, "Money & Fame".[5] HARD LOVE debuted at No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart and at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 50,000 units sold, of which 46,000 were in traditional album sales, becoming the band's highest-charting album.[41]

In January 2017, they opened the NEEDTOBREATHE OneWorld Health Center in Tola, Nicaragua. The Center is located in an impoverished region. According to Forbes, the Center is completely funded by the band's "touring donations supported by ticket sales, their annual golf tournament and auction", and donations from fans.[36]

Through April 20–22, 2017, they were the opening act for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw on their Soul2Soul The World Tour 2017.[42] On August 11, the band released a deluxe edition of Hard Love featuring unreleased recordings of "Cages", "Count on Me", and "Waiting".[43]

Out of Body and Into the Mystery (2020–2022)

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It was announced, on April 21, 2020, that Bo Rinehart was leaving the band.[44]

The band formally introduced their seventh studio album, Out of Body, on June 11, 2020. Released on August 28, 2020, Out of Body is the first album without influential cofounding member Bo Rinehart, the first album with Tyler Burkum replacing Bo, and also the band's first release under Elektra Records. Prior to the release of the album, the band released five singles: "Seasons", "Hang On", "Survival" (featuring Drew & Ellie Holcomb), "Who Am I", and "Banks". Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the band pushed the tentative "Out of Body Experience Tour 2020" to 2021. As an alternative to the live tour, the band hosted "Celebrating Out of Body", a ticketed livestream concert on the day of the album's release.[45] Another version of "Who Am I" was released on October 14, 2020, featuring singer-songwriter Elle King.[46]

Following a series of cryptic hints posted to social media, the band revealed on April 26, 2021, that while they would normally have been touring Out of Body, the band had lived together and recorded studio album Into the Mystery over a period of 21 days. The band released their eighth studio album, Into the Mystery on July 30, 2021.[47] Artists featured on the album include Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Natalie Hemby, and country music superstar Carrie Underwood.[47] Into the Mystery reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, marking the band's fifth No. 1 album on this chart.[48] A film chronicling the album's recording process was released on November 3, 2021, for a one-night-only event in US theaters.[49]

Caves (2023)

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In May 2023, the band announced their upcoming tenth studio album, Caves. It was released on September 15, 2023.[50] Caves features collaborations with artists such as Carly Pearce, Judah & the Lion, Old Dominion, and Foy Vance.[51] On October 12, 2023, the band released an acoustic version of "Dreams", as well as a remix of the same song with Madism.[52] On November 16, 2023, the band released a second version of "Fall On Me" featuring Maverick City Music.[53] The following month, a new version of "Hideaway" debuted in which the band collaborated with Mokita.[54]

On December 31, 2023, NEEDTOBREATHE released the non-album single "I Don’t Wanna Worry".[55]

Categorization

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NEEDTOBREATHE self-identifies as a rock band, but is often categorized as a Christian rock band as well. The band has been signed to mainstream labels, formerly to Atlantic Records, and releasing their latest record under the Elektra Records label. The band experiences success on contemporary hit radio stations, Christian adult contemporary stations, and at the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, despite releasing a number of songs with no direct mention of their Christian faith.[56][57] The band has also toured with artists outside of the Christian rock genre, including Train, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw.[1]

The band has resisted labels as specific as such in the past, explaining to Rolling Stone in 2016 in the following statement, "any label is limiting. That one in particular is especially limiting. To me, I think people pass over the band all the time because they read that....I hate the idea that they somehow feel like I didn't make the music for them, that we didn't play music for everyone. Christian record deals came and we said no to all of them. Waited a couple years until the right record deal came, which was Atlantic, which we've been on ever since. But we just said to them in passing when we first started, we want the records to be available to everyone."[56]

Band members

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Former members

Former touring musicians

Timeline

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Discography

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Awards and nominations

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GMA Dove Awards

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Year Award Title Result
2008 Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)" Nominated
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year The Heat Nominated
2009 Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Washed by the Water" Won
2010 Group of the Year Won
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Lay 'Em Down" Won
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year The Outsiders Won
2011 Group of the Year Won
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Something Beautiful" Won
2012 Group of the Year Won
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Slumber" Won
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year The Reckoning Won
2013 Short Form Video "Keep Your Eyes Open" Nominated
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Keep Your Eyes Open" Won
2016 Song of the Year "Brother" Nominated
2017 Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year Nominated
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Hard Love" (featuring Lauren Daigle) Won
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year Hard Love Won
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year Hard Love Nominated
2018 Artist of the Year Nominated
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Walking on Water" Won
2019 Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Forever On Your Side" (featuring Johnnyswim) Nominated
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year Acoustic Live, Vol. 1 Nominated
2021 Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Who Am I" Won
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year Out of Body Won

Grammy Awards

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Year Award Result
2015 Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song ("Multiplied") Nominated

Billboard Music Awards

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Year Award Result
2015 Top Christian Album ("Rivers in the Wasteland") Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Needtobreathe Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Tracy, Brianne (April 7, 2017). "Why NEEDTOBREATHE Called Shooting Their New Music Video with Andra Day the 'Most Fun' They've Ever Had on Set". People.
  3. ^ "NEEDTOBREATHE Announce Brand New Album and Single, 'Into the Mystery'" (Press release). Elektra Records. Elektra Records. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via jesusfreakhideout.com.
  4. ^ a b "The Feature — NEEDTOBREATHE". Last.fm. June 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Polanco, Luis (April 1, 2016). "NEEDTOBREATHE Announces Sixth Studio Album & U.S. Tour Dates: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Needtobreathe". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Brothers resurrect NEEDTOBREATHE after feud nearly destroyed the band". November 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Needtobreathe". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Needtobreathe". Billboard.
  10. ^ a b c Brown, Marisa. "Needtobreathe | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c "Needtobreathe – Biography". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "CBS College Sports". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2006.
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  14. ^ "FURMAN'S BEAR RINEHART NAMED SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR BY GREENVILLE TOUCHDOWN CLUB". Eweb.furman.edu. March 13, 2003.
  15. ^ "Sparrow and Atlantic Launch Needtobreathe". Prodigal Son Magazine. January 17, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
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  17. ^ Reuter, Annie (October 10, 2023). "The Socratic Meaning Behind the Band Name NEEDTOBREATHE". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Soulrock Review - EP by Needtobreathe". invubu.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
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  20. ^ a b "Gasp! Debut Act NEEDTOBREATHE Lands CCM Cover Story". Top40-Charts.com. April 3, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
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  29. ^ Duvall, Erin (December 2010). "Taylor Swift Adds NeedtoBreathe to Her Speak Now Tour". The Boot. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
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  31. ^ "Rivers in The Wasteland Available 04.15.14". PuregrainAudio.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  32. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (April 23, 2014). "'Frozen's 11th Week at No. 1 with Biggest Sales Yet". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  33. ^ "Canadian Albums : May 3, 2014". Billboard. May 3, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  34. ^ "NEEDTOBREATHE Find 'Rivers in the Wasteland' [Interview]". Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  35. ^ "Ugly Fist Fight Nearly Breaks Up Needtobreathe". Yahoo!. September 26, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  36. ^ a b Taylor, Peter Lane. "Hard Love: What America's Most Popular Band You've Never Heard Of Wants To Teach Every Entrepreneur". Forbes.
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  38. ^ "Bear Rinehart, 'We're having more fun than we've ever had before'". FDRMX. February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  39. ^ Law, Jeannie (February 3, 2015). "Needtobreathe announce details for 'Tour De Compadres'". Breathecast radio.
  40. ^ "Tour Dates". Needtobreathe.com. January 22, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  41. ^ "Drake's 'Views' No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart for 11th Week, NeedToBreathe Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  42. ^ Stefano, Angela (January 31, 2017). "Tim McGraw, Faith Hill Reveal 2017 Soul2Soul Tour Opening Acts". The Boot. Taste of Country Network. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  43. ^ "H A R D L O V E (Deluxe Edition) Collectors Edition Vinyl out August 11th - NEEDTOBREATHE Latest News". NEEDTOBREATHE Official Website. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  44. ^ a b "Bo Rinehart Exits NEEDTOBREATHE". www.thechristianbeat.org. April 21, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  45. ^ GMA (August 6, 2020). "NEEDTOBREATHE Announce "Celebrating Out of Body"". The Gospel Music Association. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  46. ^ Clarks, Jessie (October 14, 2020). "NEEDTOBREATHE Unveils "Who Am I" Featuring Elle King". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  47. ^ a b "NEEDTOBREATHE Details Inspiration Behind Each Song on 'Into the Mystery'". American Songwriter. July 30, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  48. ^ "NEEDTOBREATHE Adds Fifth Top Christian Albums No. 1 With 'Into the Mystery'". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  49. ^ "Needtobreathe Announces New 'Into The Mystery' Documentary". MusicRow.com. September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  50. ^ Patton, Alli (May 22, 2023). "Exclusive: Needtobreathe Announces New Album 'Caves': "It Feels Like a 'Joshua Tree' for Us"". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  51. ^ CAVES by NEEDTOBREATHE, September 15, 2023, retrieved November 15, 2023
  52. ^ News, C. C. M. (October 12, 2023). "NEEDTOBREATHE Releases New Multi-Track Single 'Dreams Reimagined'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved December 4, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  53. ^ Longs, Herb (November 16, 2023). "NEEDTOBREATHE Reimagines "Fall On Me" With Maverick City Music". TCB. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  54. ^ Hideaway (Mokita Remix) - Single by NEEDTOBREATHE & Mokita on Apple Music, December 14, 2023, retrieved February 6, 2024
  55. ^ I Don't Wanna Worry - Single by NEEDTOBREATHE on Apple Music, December 31, 2023, retrieved February 6, 2024
  56. ^ a b Jon Freeman, "Needtobreathe Talk Christian-Band Stigma, Experimental New LP", Rolling Stone, August 23, 2016.
  57. ^ Taylor Weatherby, "NEEDTOBREATHE Announce Deluxe Vinyl Edition of 'HARDLOVE' & New EP: Listen to Two Tracks", Billboard, July 14, 2017.
  58. ^ "2000 Furman Player Profiles" (PDF). Furman University. 2000. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  59. ^ a b "Information about William S Rinehart, Jr". FamilyTreeMaker.Genealogy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  60. ^ a b "Cornerstone Assembly of God welcomes new pastor". The Anderson Independent-Mail. August 20, 2010. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  61. ^ Bolt, Seth [@DrSethBolt] (December 22, 2015). "Look who visited the treehouse today for my birthday!! Bro-time with Chandler Bolt at the farm is… https://t.co/1a3zGpgzZ4" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2021 – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Sculley, Alan. "Brotherly feud put strain on Needtobreathe". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  63. ^ "NEEDTOBREATHE Announce Brand New Album and Single, 'Into the Mystery'" (Press release). jesusfreakhideout.com. Elektra Records. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  64. ^ "NEEDTOBREATHE.NET/Blog - From Joe". Archived from the original on August 16, 2012.
  65. ^ NEEDTOBREATHE [@NEEDTOBREATHE] (December 31, 2013). "How big is your birthday cake @little_BOTWEETS? http://t.co/kL7KBOU9mr" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2021 – via Twitter.
  66. ^ a b Davis, Kevin. "#349 - "Wake Up" by All Sons & Daughters". newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
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