Bleach Biography
Who is Bleach?
Bleach is a Christian alternative rock band formed in 1995 at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. Originally performing under the name "Muffin," the band soon adopted the name Bleach and relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where it became part of the Christian alternative rock scene.
Inspired by the rise of grunge and alternative rock, Bleach combined melodic pop-rock with Christian lyrics. Their debut album, "Space" (1996), was released on ForeFront Records with production assistance from Barry Blair of Audio Adrenaline. The album featured "Epidermis Girl," which won the band the 1997 Dove Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year. The early lineup included lead vocalist Davy Baysinger, guitarist and vocalist Sam Barnhart, keyboardist and guitarist Brad Ford, bassist Todd Kirby, and drummer Matt Gingerich.
Bleach followed "Space" with "Static" (1998), which included "Super Good Feeling." Their self-titled third album, "Bleach," followed in 1999. During this period, the lineup changed as Ford, Kirby, and Gingerich eventually departed. Later members included guitarist Milam Byers, drummer Jared Byers, and bassist Jerry Morrison.
In 2002, Bleach signed with Tooth & Nail Records and released "Again, For the First Time." Their next album, "Astronomy," followed in 2003. In 2004, the band announced plans to disband following a farewell tour. Their final scheduled concert of the original run took place on August 29, 2004, in Nashville, Tennessee. The band released "Farewell Old Friends" on March 1, 2005, featuring new material from its final period. A compilation and DVD package, "Audio/Visual," followed in October 2005.
Despite disbanding, Bleach reunited for special performances in 2005, including a benefit concert for the Aaron Marrs Memorial Fund on March 13 and an appearance at Biola University during The O.C. Supertones' farewell event on October 7. The band returned for occasional performances in 2010, including appearances at the Cornerstone and Sonshine festivals. In 2011, Bleach launched its "Four States Tour" and began working on an EP that was never released. Later appearances included an acoustic benefit show and auction for Rock 2 Adopt on May 23, 2017, alongside MercyMe, Plumb, and Rhett Walker, and a performance at Journey Fest on July 17, 2021.
On October 4, 2025, Bleach reunited for a performance at Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2026, the band returned to touring with its Bleach:30 tour, celebrating 30 years since the release of "Space." Guitarist Pete Prevost joined the lineup in 2025.
On October 23, 2026, Bleach released "The Fox Den Sessions Vol. 1," an 11-track collection recorded together at Fox Den Studios. The album contains an introductory track followed by newly recorded and reimagined versions of ten songs from the band's catalog, including "Once Again Here We Are," "Baseline," "Super Good Feeling," "Perfect Family," "Heartbeat," "Astronomy," "Epidermis Girl," "Land of the Lost," "Good as Gold," and "Sun Stands Still." Rather than remastering the original recordings, the band performed the songs again together in the studio, revisiting its earlier material with updated performances and arrangements. Some recordings differ more noticeably from the originals, while others remain closer to the earlier versions. Frontman Davy Baysinger described the project as an opportunity to bring new life to the songs with the perspective gained over more than two decades away from regular touring.
In a May 2026 interview with CCM Magazine, Bleach indicated that new music was already in the works. In a September 2026 interview with The BlackSheep Podcast, members discussed dedicating time in 2027 to writing new material and potentially recording a second volume of The Fox Den Sessions, although they noted that no firm plans had been established.