Kutless Biography
Who is Kutless?
Kutless is a Christian alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon, known for combining bold guitar-driven rock with worshipful lyrics. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, the band has been a staple in the Christian rock music scene for over two decades, impacting millions worldwide.
How did Kutless get their name? Their name is inspired by Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NRSV). Reflecting on this verse, the band explains, "He took our cuts for us... leaving us 'Kutless.'"
Since signing with BEC Recordings (a division of Tooth & Nail Records) in late 2001, Kutless has released 12 studio albums, sold nearly 3 million records, and earned two RIAA-certified Gold albums. With twelve No. 1 radio singles, they've established a lasting presence in both Christian rock and worship music. Their music has been featured on national TV shows including Scrubs, NBC's The Biggest Loser, MTV's Tough Enough, and in Xbox promotions.
The current lineup includes Jon Micah Sumrall (lead vocals), James Mead (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Neal Cameron (bass), Nathan Parrish (lead guitar), and Matt Christopherson (drums). Former members have included Kyle Mitchell, Dave Luetkenhoelter, Nathan "Stu" Stuart, Andrew Morrison, Jeff Gilbert, Ryan Shrout, and Vince DiCarlo.
Kutless gained early attention with their debut single "Run," which became the longest-charting song in the history of the R&R Top 40 chart. In 2006, they released Live in Portland, their first live CD/DVD. Their fifth studio album, To Know That You're Alive (2008), hit No. 64 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard Christian Albums chart. In 2009, they followed with the worship album It Is Well, co-produced by Dave Lubben, which featured the No. 1 Christian single "What Faith Can Do."
Their 2012 album Believer debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, with the single "Carry Me to the Cross" reaching No. 8 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart. In 2014, they released Glory, which included the singles "You Alone," "Always," and "Never Too Late."
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Kutless released the EP TWENTY on July 20, 2022. This EP features reimagined and re-recorded versions of three fan-favorite tracks: "Your Touch," "Run," and "Tonight."
In June 2025, they followed with a six-song EP titled The Seventh Seal, which includes notable collaborations with Disciple's Kevin Young on "End of the World" and Fireflight's Dawn Michele on "Hold On." Lead singer Jon Micah Sumrall explained that the songs were written during a time marked by depression, doubt, and personal hardship. "Some of these songs are really steeped in struggle and steeped in hurts and steeped in wounds," he said. "We wanted to be transparent in that... because I feel like sometimes in Christian music everything is just happy... but life hasn’t been that way." With The Seventh Seal, Kutless hopes to remind listeners that even in suffering, God is present, and that honesty, faith, and community all have a place in the walk of a believer.
On July 30, 2025, Kutless shared heart-wrenching news that longtime guitarist James Mead had suffered a serious stroke and was hospitalized. As he begins a lengthy recovery involving rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing care, the band invited fans to pray for James, his wife Lindsay, and their son Jacob. An official GoFundMe campaign was launched to help ease the burden of medical costs; the link can be found on the band's social media pages or accessed directly at gofund.me/1717aed1.