POD (Payable on Death) will be coming to the Winnipeg Arena on April 6th, for the Power to Change event, with the Undecided opening. POD have for some, crashed onto the scene last year with the help of their album "The Fundamental Elements of Southtown", (which went platinum in October 2000). For others, like the POD fans called the Warriors, POD has been around since 1992. They independently sold over 30,000 units of their "Brown" CD, and earlier released "The Warriors" EP with Tooth and Nail.

The band made up of first named guys, Sonny, Wuv, Marcos, and Traa, are a cross between rock, hip-hop, reggae, and Latin. POD has a faith that makes them stand out with tact. They aren't preachy, and they uncannily all have the same belief and faith in God. Although their music may not be blatantly Christian enough for some people, all of their music is directed to the higher power above, God. This distinct faith that they have didn't start until their late teens when Wuv's dad, who was a drug dealer, became a Christian. Not only did this change his father's life, but it brought his parents back together, and impacted Wuv's life. At the same time Wuv's dad, got Sonny's mom into reading the bible and becoming a Christian. Sonny later on became a Christian, though as a result of his mother's death to cancer.

Don't think these guys have had it easy, that suddenly they had the hit "Southtown" and here they are. It's been a long road for these guys, but a very successful one that has been full of blessings. Thanks to POD, they are reaching a new market (from the Christian perspective), that hopefully will want to be touched more. After all didn't Jesus say to go and make disciples of all nations?

Although they have signed with secular label Atlantic records in 1998, they have been at everything from Cornerstone and both Creation festivals, to Ozzfest 2000 and on soundtracks like Blair Witch 2. They also became only the third rock band to hit No. 1 on MTV's "Total Request Live", have been on the Howard Stern Show, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Also, with the help of The Warriors, POD become the #1 Rated "People of the Year" on Rollingstone.com. Although they are still dodging criticism from the others in the Christian bubble, POD outshines its criticizers and has rose above to be cool with both secular and Christian kids. What is POD's reaction to all the nervous eyebrows raised because of where they are? Sonny responded, when asked about their involvement with the Blair Witch 2 Soundtrack, "Dude, they asked us to put our song with their music. That's like the devil coming up to the church and asking if he can put one of their praise songs on his soundtrack. Why would the church say no?"

(with the help of CCM Magazine January 2001 and www.payableondeath.com)

POD Site

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