For more than a decade now, RIAA Certified Gold-selling band Delirious? has provided the soundtrack for Sunday morning worship services worldwide. Tracks like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?” and “History Maker” have inspired congregations to lift their hands and praise God with abandon.

But when Sunday morning has come and gone, what does it actually mean to be a Christian the rest of the week? What tangible difference are believers making in a hurting, impoverished world? Do our lives actually reflect what we say is important?

These questions, not to mention the band’s first-hand experiences among the poorest of the poor in India, Cambodia, South Africa and beyond, have inspired Delirious? in unimaginable ways. Simply put, it’s been the fuel for their latest album, Kingdom of Comfort, and the driving force behind how they structure their ministry.

“Playing in places like India makes us think about how we distribute our finances and how we’re living our lives,” Smith says. “It’s imperative that we reach out and be a friend to the poor. That’s the only way that God’s light will shine upon us.”

That particularly timely theme of reaching out to those who have no hope is one that’s urgently communicated in the songs of Kingdom of Comfort, the band’s 12th album.

“Seeing children looking for scraps on the rubbish dump they call homes in Cambodia and the education and feeding projects in the slums of Mumbai really had an impact on us,” says lead guitarist Stu G. “It wasn’t possible to simply proceed with business as usual. We had to ask ourselves, ‘What am I building? A kingdom of comfort? Or a kingdom of heaven?’”

The idea behind Kingdom of Comfort came from a sermon from popular Mars Hill pastor/author Rob Bell. “Rob was talking about the contrasts in the lives of David and his son Solomon,” Smith shares. “David built a kingdom of heaven. And Solomon was more concerned about himself. All the decisions he made regarding intermarrying and wealth led to building a kingdom of comfort. Of course, hearing that makes us ask an obvious but important question: ‘Are we focusing on building our lives with eternal things?’”

Like the old saying goes, though, “actions speak louder than words,” so Smith began considering how he, along with the international Christian music community, could truly make a difference in the world together.

After 18 months of prayer, countless business meetings and careful planning, Smith’s dream came true when the first annual Compassionart conference met in Perthshire, Scotland. In what he described as a “I-can’t-stop-pinching-myself moment,” Smith, along with Stu G, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton and other internationally-respected songwriters teamed up to write songs with 100% of the proceeds from the songs and forthcoming album going to the charities of their choice.

Given everyone’s busy schedules, it would’ve been an impossible feat for many to pull off. But Smith’s passion for helping those in need couldn’t help but resonate with everyone involved.

As anyone who’s listened to a Delirious? album before knows, however, the band had a few new musical tricks up its proverbial sleeve, too. While Smith describes the project as a “step up” from the call-to-action given in 2005’s The Mission Bell thematically, Kingdom of Comfort also marks a new progressive era in the band’s sound. In fact, it’s fair to see that Delirious? has now truly become a guitar band.

Inspired by everyone from Kings of Leon to The Killers to Sigur Ros, tracks like “Give What You Got” and “Eagle Rider” have a decidedly stripped-down, raw sound that meshes well with the album’s insistent message.

With the emphasis on the bread and butter elements of rock ’n’ roll—guitar, bass and drums—rather than incorporating elaborate string arrangements and choirs in the mix, the band was able to translate the frenetic energy of the live concert experience to the studio, giving the album a grittier vibe.

“From a production standpoint, our producer Sam Gibson [Pearl Jam, Crowded House, Hillsongs United, Natalie Imbruglia] kept encouraging us to keep the energy of the live experience rather than overproducing the tracks,” Stu G says. “That deliberate focus made these songs spring to life in an entirely new way.”

While the progression in sound and social justice-minded lyrics are what immediately stand out when listening to Kingdom of Comfort, there’s also plenty of those classic Delirious? moments, replete with soaring choruses that’ll stick in your head for days. Whether it’s the penultimate piano-based track, “All God’s Children” or the gentle strains of “We Give You Praise,” it’s clear that Delirious? remains committed to its worshipful roots. But instead of providing all the answers, the band hopes that listeners will be left with plenty of thought-provoking questions.

“Kingdom of Comfort is a collection of songs inspired by our recent spiritual and physical journeys,” says bassist Jon Thatcher. “Sometimes you get so close to something you can no longer see it for what it is. This record is a journal full of observations, questions and prayers that should leave the listener inspired and inquisitive.”

Delirious? Performs for Millions, But Service in Slums Inspires Call for Social Justice, First New Studio Album Since 2005

Nashville, TN (February 22, 2008) – The UK-based, RIAA Certified Gold-selling, globally relevant band Delirious? returns with their eleventh studio album, Kingdom of Comfort, set to release April 1, 2008 on Sparrow Records. Its first new studio album since the acclaimed 2005 release, Mission Bell, Delirious?’s Kingdom of Comfort questions everything, from cancer to consumerism, “five star” dreams to slums and poverty. It is an album that calls for sacrifice, social justice and love.

Recent tours have taken Delirious? to some of the poorest countries on earth where they’ve faced encounters with life that made poverty personal and forced hard questions to be asked by each member of the band. It sparked a newfound commitment to social justice and compassionate ministry as an outworking of their being drawn ever closer to the Kingdom of God, as opposed to the kingdom of comfort.

Taking their renewed faith, thoughts and questions about these journeys into the studio, the band emerged with an album full of songs that encompass every aspect of highs and lows they faced in their travels.

“We just can’t carry on the same way in any sphere of our lives,” says Delirious? frontman, Martin Smith. “Everywhere you go there’s a shift happening. People are evaluating what’s truly important in life, and I think our new album reflects that urgency.”

“Seeing children looking for scraps on the rubbish dump they call homes in Cambodia and the education and feeding projects in the slums of Mumbai [India] really had an impact on us,” adds lead guitarist Stu G. “It wasn’t possible to simply proceed with business as usual. We had to ask ourselves, ‘What am I building? A kingdom of comfort? Or a kingdom of heaven?’”

With the album’s first radio single, “We Give you praise,” Martin confirms that we are to walk on the road of life and not give up. “We blame the devil for a lot of our troubles, but most of my trouble comes from me, my flesh, the old man. We have been saved from ourselves. That’s the most amazing thing. Left to my own devices I would perish.”

Literature also played a big part in the writing of Kingdom of Comfort, inspiring the songs and the mission. In fact, not only did authors inspire the new album, some have also joined the band in the mission writing stories to encourage charity in conjunction with the new album. Delirious? plans to share these stories with their fans as four authors have been confirmed to participate so far: Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone and the chair of the working group who published The Mission Shaped Church; Brian McLaren, author of The Secret Message of Jesus; Craig Borlase, author of The Naked Christian: Taking Off Religion To Find True Relationship; and Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution.

“We are made to live for something bigger than ourselves -- this thing we call the Kingdom of God... God's dream for the world,” writes Claiborne. “This is the realm where the last are first and the first are last, where the poor are blessed and the peacemakers are the children of God. This whole Christian thing is not just about going up to heaven after we die, but it is about bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. This is the Gospel that should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

And Delirious? is comfortable playing in front of over a million people, like they recently did in India. It is not as natural for them to travel to the slums and serve food to the poor, but that’s exactly what they did in India. Afterwards, Delirious? arranged for a bus to bring about 40 of the women and children they served food to in the slums to the concert. As the children and their mothers, who were prostitutes, danced and sang at the concert, the band was inspired to write “All God’s Children (Sing Hallelujah),” which is featured on the new album.

Taking these experiences with him, Martin began considering how he, along with the international Christian music community, could truly make a difference in the world together. After 18 months of prayer, countless business meetings and careful planning, Smith’s dreams were realized when the first annual Compassionart conference met in Perthshire, Scotland. In what he described as a “I-can’t-stop-pinching-myself moment,” Smith, along with Stu G, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton and other internationally-respected songwriters teamed up to write songs with 100% of the proceeds from the songs and forthcoming album going to the charities of their choice.

As Compassionart stories are told by numerous media globally, from the Associated Press to the Washington Post to Worship Musician, Delirious? will continue to circumvent the globe to inspire music lovers worldwide. The band has closed for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, played for 1.2 million in India, toured with Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams and more. Receiving its second Gospel Music Association International Award last year, Delirious? traveled to at least 25 countries in 2007 alone, and will hit Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Sacramento, Winston-Salem, and many other cities in the US this year as they carry on the tradition of spiritually challenging lyrics, while pointing people to see the wonders of what God has done for them.

More information about the band can be found at the newly designed www.delirious.co.uk, with even more content available by joining the band’s “Living Room” at www.delirious.co.uk/livingroom.

A message from Stew Smith:

A little over twelve years ago Delirious? set sail on what was to be the most adventurous and exciting journey of my life. Five guys from the small town of Littlehampton – a seaside town only ever made famous by ‘The Body Shop’ - dreamt of one day filling stadiums with the ‘sound of Heaven.’

As I sit and replay the past years I have had so many highlights - so many times when a dream has become a reality - that it seems unreal to be thinking of a different future. But I am, and as of the May 1st 2008, I will embark on a new and exciting journey. I will no longer be the drummer who has seen so many things and loved every minute of life within Delirious?. For me and my family, I am excited about starting a new career and a new future; Smeezer the Designologist will come into the world. I’m going to be taking all of the many experiences I’ve had and the skills I’ve picked up to launch a new creative agency.

I can hear you wanting to know the reasons why. Why would I want to move on? I have found the touring an increasing pressure on both me and my family. We function better as a complete unit than when we are separated for so many months of the year, and I wish to be at home, to be around and be far more local. I wish to develop myself further within the design business world allowing all of the gifting that I have been blessed with to explode out of me.

As you know I have had the chance over the last 12 years to continue developing my previous career within design as Creative Director with Delirious? and Furious? Records. I’m also really looking forward to getting stuck into Church life back home - Arun Community Church has been our home for the past 20years and I cannot wait to see what emerges within a vibrant and dynamic Church. I also feel that I need to push myself; I could so easily continue playing drums within Delirious? and I could see myself in ten years time behind the kit continuing to pull the Stew Smee faces, but feel that I need to make myself vulnerable, allowing God to get a hold of me and sharpen me once again.

I am so excited for Delirious?. A fantastic future lies ahead of them and I will continue to be very much involved, both as a friend and creatively.

Please join me at my last UK show on the 29th of March at the Indigo Club in London and celebrate a journey that I would not have missed for the world. [Stew will be touring with Delirious? in the US through May.]

Thank you to my family, Sarah, Abi and Jemimah for your incredible support and devotion. To my four amazing friends Martin [Smith], Stu G, Jon [Thatcher] and Tim [Jupp] for what can only be described as the ride of a lifetime. And all of you around the world that have not only sung the songs but are decided to a life of being true ‘History Makers.’ I am deeply proud to have been a part of this moment in history.

Love,

Stew Smith
Drummer Delirious?



Messages from the band:

• It’s a bittersweet symphony this life. Playing in a band without the legendary Smeezer is the bitter bit; watching a man define his future is the sweet bit. It's time to retune the orchestra for the next movement.
  
  Go forth and prosper.
  
  Jon Thatcher
  
  
• When Stew started talking to us about moving on, I couldn’t imagine having anyone else behind us. Not just for the amazing faces, energetic performances, blood splattered clothing, brilliant drumming and cutting edge design, but also for the stuff you don’t see; the passion, the encouragement, the stamina, the training... also he’s a right laugh!!! He has been the perfect roommate in hotels and the best coffee maker on the tour bus.
  
  I will miss Smeezer! But wholeheartedly support him and wish him every success as he, Sarah and the girls launch into the next phase of life.
  
  Stu G
  
  
• For many years my life has been one of glancing to my left to see my brother in law Stew pulling me a face and egging me to press in more. Writing this seems at least a little strange, and at most quite unbelievable. We have walked this walk and talked the talk together for so many years, and to say I will miss Stew so much would only be a gross understatement. The value he has brought to us all with his playing, his creative input and not least of all his passion for life has been something that has helped us all become who we are today.
  
  Stew, I pray that you will know God’s hand upon your life as you move into your future-with much affection -
  
  Tim Jupp
  
  
• Change is here to stay someone once said... We do it everyday; we choose to change our deodorant or our mobile telephone contract or simply the way we walk to work. But not all change is easy or enjoyable, especially when it's close to home. In this case especially when your drummer decides to leave the band.
  
  It would be somehow easier if there were a fall out, a change of vision or a sense of relief, but there isn't. In fact the opposite. We are coming to terms with the fact that our brother, friend, creative genius is leaving the band to pursue some new territory and it’s a loss. A big loss.
  
  Even though I've tried on several occasions to talk Stew out of it, somehow deep down we've both known that this is the right move for him and his family. Seasons change and it is apparent to us all that Stew is ready to fly into something new, something great and something divine.
  
  I've often wondered what it must have been like for Stew, to spend hours and hours behind the drum kit looking at my back as I rally the troops with a microphone. But that's what Stew does best; he watches my back and helps me see life in a panoramic way. In fact for 15 years he's watched my back, through tears and laughter, through the highs and lows, through top ten singles and feeding slum kids together.
  
  Life will never quite be the same without Stew on the road. I will miss looking behind me to a man killing his drums like he was at war with powers unseen or just running together on a country track trying to keep up or simply sitting in Starbucks hearing him talk about his kids.
  
  Thank you for being on this part of the journey Stew. We have the stories to tell our grand kids and those stories have only been written because you gave your life to something extraordinary. We are proud to know you, proud to have done life with you, now go and shine and turn the world upside down.
  
  Your friend and brother
  
  Martin Smith

The much anticipated new studio album from Delirious? titled Kingdom of Comfort is slated for release April 1 of 2008. In the meantime, the band is offering an exclusive download of their song "God Is Smiling" from the new album right from their website. Visit www.delirious.co.uk/livingroom to sign up for the free download and also gain access to more exclusive content and secret tour info! Stay tuned to the website for info regarding the new upcoming album and tour dates!

For more on Delirious? click HERE

The Mission Bell was released Dec 26, and the critics have lauded the newest album from the UK’s Delirious?:

“The Mission Bell is unafraid to challenge, chide and inspire all at the same time. From cavernous rock anthems full of swagger and scope, to intimate and at times painful confessions of failure and fear, this is worship music with teeth.” –CCM Magazine

“…a soaring Brit-rock worship album and everything you’d expect from the group.” –Worship Leader Magazine

“…fuelled by the unbridled passion of singer Martin Smith…they could be massive.” –Q Magazine

“This is Delirious? doing what they do best-capturing the prophetic heart cry of a generation, setting it to music, and then playing it big and loud.” –Christianity Magazine (UK)

“…a sonic feast that rivals their best work…”–Worship Musician

“The most diverse they've ever been, with a sound recalling Radiohead one moment, straight-up rock with a gospel choir the next, all with elements of a stripped-down, singer-songwriter feel… They still do what they do best—worship.” –Christianity Today (4.5 out of 5 Star review)

“Ten years on, front man Martin Smith has a knack for writing words and melodies that end up on the lips of a million people.” –Relevant Magazine

“The Mission Bell rings out with a defiant note of faith in these troubled times. It will surely resonate in the hearts of tens of thousands.” –crossrhythms.com.uk (10 out of 10 Bars)

“Once again, Delirious? manages to set a standard…” –CMCentral.com

“There is much to enjoy in The Mission Bell that could well deliver the band a new army of worshippers.” – indieLondon

“…raw passion…we’ve been aching for more of this sort of solid worship music...” –SoulShine Magazine (5 out of 5 Star review)

“Delirious? delivers a stellar collection of rock songs on The Mission Bell… that combines exciting music with deeply religious lyrics that lift one body, mind, and soul toward our Creator.” – Group Magazine’s MinistryandMedia.com

Delirious? members traveled to South Africa early this December to celebrate band mate Tim Jupp’s birthday, raise AIDS awareness and spread hope among Durban street children. The band also played for more than 20,000 fans in five concerts in South Africa. The tour took them to Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Pretoria.

The birthday bash Dec. 1 in Durban was full of balloons, party hats, music, dance, food, friendship and ministry. Smiling faces in awe took in the splendor of the celebration, many eating for the first time in days.

“For us, and for the children this day had been just a very small oasis in what for South Africa is an overwhelming problem. The party in itself was great but I knew there was more to this day than just this,” says Tim. “It was about giving them a great time, but it was also about raising funds back home that would further help the work on an ongoing basis to help bring value to these children's lives and to help re-establish them into community. I also discovered too, that this day was about me changing, as there was no way any of us guys in the band will go home without being deeply affected by this experience.”

Money was raised for the event through gifts from Tim’s friends and fans. He sent out invitations for his birthday, informing his guests that they were not actually invited to a party, but instead were invited to give any money they would have spent on gifts and traveling expenses to go towards throwing a party for the children of Durban and the ministry established in South Africa.

Many of these precious children have been orphaned by AIDS, have been left with their wider families, abused and/or thrown out, and have then made their way into the city where they now live on the streets.

“The organization we are involved with as a band, HOPE HIV, is working with the Amos Trust in South Africa in reinstating these children into the community,” says Tim. “They put them into a stable family environment, back into education and give them hope for their future in the midst of this darkness that they live in.” For more information about the ministry team in Durban visit: www.umthombo.org.

Known as the galvanizing force that changed the face of worship and for its compelling live performances that took them into 23 countries last year alone, Delirious? speaks directly to the Church through The Mission Bell, releasing Dec. 26 on Sparrow Records. Delivering a call of action to all believers, there is a sense of urgency, a challenge to the Church to quit talking about what it believes and to take action with all it’s been given. American audiences will be witness to this sentiment as the band tours the U.S. in April.