The Violet Burning is an independent American Christian alternative rock band based in Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1989 in Orange County, California by Michael J. Pritzl.
The band is the project of singer, songwriter and guitarist Michael J. Pritzl. Their first album was released by Vineyard Music with subsequent recording release on independent labels such as New Breed, Domo Records, Ruby Electric, Northern Records and directly to fans. They have toured North America and Europe multiple times and managed to sell over 100,000 albums.
The Violet Burning's latest release is a three-disc set titled The Story of Our Lives: TH3 FANTA5T1C MACH1N3 / Black as Death / Liebe über Alles, which debuted digitally March 6, 2011. Physical copies of the boxed set in a limited edition, numbered package with an 80-page full color booklet was released on April 4, 2011. The band toured Europe in summer 2011 and North America during October 2011.
Full-length albums and EPs
Chosen – (1989, New Breed/Vineyard Music Group/Frontline Records)
Strength – (1992, Bluestone Records)
The Violet Burning – (1996, Domo Records)
Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic – (1998, Ruby Electric; review: HM Magazine)
I Am a Stranger in This Place - An Experiment in Vibe – (2000, Sovereign Productions)
Faith and Devotions of a Satellite Heart – (2000, Sovereign Productions)
Fabulous Like You (as The Gravity Show) – (2002, Northern Records)
This Is the Moment – (2003, Northern Records)
Hollow Songs (as Michael Pritzl) – (2004, Northern Records) [EP]
Drop-Dead – (2006, Northern Records)
Mercy Songs (as Michael Pritzl) – (2010, independent) [EP]
The Story of Our Lives: TH3 FANTA5T1C MACH1N3 / Black as Death / Liebe über Alles – (2011, independent) [three-disc boxed set]
The Story of Our Lives: Pentimento I and The Story of Our Lives: Pentimento II – (2012, independent)
Dead Men Can't Swim, Heart Wide Open – (1989, independent) [cassette-only]
You Wouldn't Understand Anyways ... – (1994, independent) [cassette-only; re-released on CD with Lillian Gish with hand-painted cover]
Lillian Gish – (1995, independent) [cassette-only; re-released on CD with You Wouldn't Understand Anyways ... with hand-painted cover]
Pomegranate – (2007, independent) [The Violet Burning-era demos and singles]
Stars Go Down... When We Were Future Stars – (2007, independent) [expanded re-release of 1989's Dead Men Can't Swim, Heart Wide Open]
The Violet Underground Vol. 1: We Are Electric: Live Bootleg, Cornerstone 2000 – (2001, independent)
The Violet Underground Vol. 2: Kissing the Sky: Live in the Netherlands and on Radio 3 (as Michael Pritzl, recorded in 1993) – (2001, independent)
The Violet Burning Live: The Loudest Sound in My Heart – (2005, independent)
Sting Like Bees and Sing – (2009, independent) [live at Cornerstone 2007]
Beneath a Blinding Light – (2011, independent)
The Vault 1: Live in Kansas City, December 2006 (as Michael Pritzl) – (2013, independent) [hand-painted cover]
"Low" – (1993, Third Wave: The Reality Rock Collection, ERG-Essential) [original version]
"Low" [single version] / "Low" [long version] – (1996, CD single, Domo)
"It's All Too Much" (Beatles cover) – (1998, The Mother of All Tribute Albums, HM Records)
"All Right" / "Elaste" – (2001, A Live Tribute Recording for Gene Eugene, Northern Records)
The Violet Underground Vol. 3: Lipstick and Dynamite Wonder – (2002, independent) [re-release of 1996's The Violet Burning]
The Violet Underground Vol. 4: Distortion Is Our Friend – (2002, independent) [includes demos from You Wouldn't Understand Anyways ... and Lillian Gish]
"Sky High" (The Prayer Chain cover) – (2002, Salutations: A Tribute to the Prayer Chain, Audiolab)
The Violet Underground Vol. 5: Violet Christmas Vol. 1 – (2003, independent)
Gravity – (2007, independent) [alternate mixes and demos by The Violet Burning, Michael Pritzl, and The Gravity Show]
Divine: 10 Songs for Christmas – (2008, digital-only Christmas album, independent)
FACT0RY CRASH M 1X 1 preview – (2010, digital-only release, independent)
Divine 2.0 – (2012, independent) [expanded and remastered version of 2008's Divine - limited edition of 150 copies with hand-painted cover]
Divine 3.0 – (2013, independent) [remastered version of 2008's Divine with bonus tracks - limited edition with hand-painted cover]
"Mon Désir (All I Want Is You)" (edit) – (2013, Music Love Action: A Benefit for the Philippines - Presented by Soulfest, NoiseTrade)
Touching the Father's Heart #7: Hear Our Cry (Psalm 102) (with others) – (1990, Vineyard Ministries, International)
Touching the Father's Heart #12: Throne of Grace (with others) – (1991, Vineyard Ministries, International)
Film Show (VHS)
Live footage from Cornerstone Festival 2000 and Tom Festival 2000
13 live tracks filmed throughout America and Europe of during 2003-2005 touring
The Loudest Sound in My Heart (DVD, 2005)
Shelter Me Beneath a Blinding Light (digital-only release, 2011)
Michael J. Pritzl
Lenny Beh - drums, violin
Chris Buelow - guitar
Daryl 'Black Cherry' Dawson - bass, guitar
Kevin Buhler - guitar, bass
Paul Stebner - guitar
Michael Misiuk - guitar
Kirt Gentry - bass guitar
Lonnie Tubbs - drums
Scott Tubbs - bass guitar
Shawn Tubbs - guitar
Andrew Prickett - guitar
Jeff Schroeder - guitar
Jason Pickersgill - bass guitar
Herb Grimaud Jr. - bass guitar
Michael Kalmar - drums
Glen Pearce - guitar
Robbie Farr - guitar
David Archuletta II - guitar
Eddie Fisher - drums
James Banuelos - percussion
Melissa Barnett - backing vocals
Jamie Record (Eichler) - backing vocals
Daniel Dupuis - drums
Gabriel Wilson - guitar / effects
Sam West - drums
Douglas Heckman - guitar
Chris Buelow - guitar
Kevin Buhler - guitar, bass guitar
Jason Lord Mize - drums
Larry Salzman - drums
Ben Pasketti - guitar
Joel Zwanziger - drums
Josiah Sherman - synth, piano
Susan Costantini Green - piano, synth
Gabriel Wilson - drums, backing vocals
Chris Greeley - backing vocals
Matt Payne - drums
Eleanor Beh - cello
Danny Ponce - drums
