Flock 14 and World Theatre
Tim McAllister first appeared in the eighties as the songwriter, singer and guitarist of Flock 14 and World Theatre.
Flock 14's frantic stage shows gained them a large following in their hometown,
leading to three record offers. They signed with Blue Collar (Undercover, Adam Again, 441)
but the record company folded before recording the album.
Tim met executives from Graceland records while playing at the Cornerstone festival in Chicago,
and the Brave New World? record was released with success
scoring a Top 10 hit on the CCM rock charts with Your Eyes.
Tim started a new project he dubbed World Theatre. It was a bigger sound, moody and introspective.
He invited his friends Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine and Gary Egger of Human Condition to work on the album which included appearances
by Jimmy Abegg (Vector, Charlie Peacock) and was mixed by Gene Eugene (Adam Again).
During the final stages of the World Theatre album, Tim's sister was killed by a great white shark,
and a hemophiliac friend died from AIDs. These events prompted him to take time from the public limelight.
While not performing live, he continued to record for himself and others.
Most notably, Tim recorded and co-produced the first two Over the Rhine records
Strong Tower
A few years back, Tim recorded a collection of songs he called Strong Tower.
While he made a few copies of the album for friends, he didn't see the need to release it publicly.
In the spring of 2007 something happened. McAllister explains:
"I received an email a few months ago from a stranger telling me of his struggle through the darkest time of his life.
This guy was talking about some really dark stuff. Things I myself experienced and wrote about on the Strong Tower album.
He finished by telling me he found hope in my music and thanked me. I decided then to release the new album.
I wanted to share it with people like him".
The World Theatre album is still generating letters and emails seventeen years after it's release.
Perhaps the Strong Tower album will find it's way into people's lives, and provide that same hope when darkness comes.
