Salem Hill Frequently Asked Questions

1. Some albums list four members. Some list three. One lists five. So how many band members are there?

There are currently four. Michael Dearing, Carl Groves, Patrick Henry and Kevin Thomas.

2. Where did the band name come from?

We wanted something peaceful, yet identifiable, such as a place. After much arguing we came up with Salem Hill, which means “the hill of peace.”

3. The Robbery of Murder seems to have been released in 1995 and then again in 1998. What’s with that?

A particularly creative reviewer once called “The Robbery of Murder” the “Grover Cleveland of Salem Hill’s catalogue.” Indeed, we recorded TRoM in 1995 and released it as a cassette. In 1998 we completely revised, rewrote and re-recorded it.

4. The band has been reportedly linked with the band Kansas. Is there a link?

No. We’ve met Rich Williams, and David Ragsdale performed on a couple of our albums. But we have no affiliation with them.

5. Who leads the band?

Carl formed the band and has been the principle songwriter. But all major band decisions are made by intense and democratic battle.

6. You’re consistently mentioned in the same breath with bands such as The Flower Kings, Spock’s Beard, and other “A-level,” “working” bands. Yet, you have no record label and you don’t tour. Why not?

Since our beginnings in 1991, we all agreed that any label interested in signing us must also be willing to go “all the way”—to conquer the world. We’ve gotten offers in every year we’ve been in existence. Unfortunately, no label has ever possessed the same vision we have as a band. To sign with a label possessing limited scope would be compromise. And we’re too stubborn to do that.

7. Is Salem Hill a Christian band?

No and yes. We are not a Christian band in that we don't see SH as a ministry and we don't feel that all of our music should be of a Christian nature. On the other hand, all of the current members of SH are Christians, so, as with any artist, who we are will invariably come through in our art.

8. Three of the band’s six studio albums have been conceptual. Can we expect this to be the album form of choice for Salem Hill?

No. Carl loves them. Mike and Pat don’t. If there are ideas which take an album to explore, we do. If we write a collection of unrelated songs, we do that too. We just do what we do.

9. Would you ever consider doing a completely nude show?

What kind of money are we talking?