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Ad Astra
During the fall of 2006, the praise band from Immanuel Anglican Church was gathered around the table for a monthly band dinner. Talk of a Christmas album filled the air along with the aroma of Greek cuisine. While a Christmas project has yet to appear, Ad Astra was birthed and Doug Bowers, Chris Flynn, Mitch Rall, Steve Spayde and Dave Hope began in earnest to create Ad Astra’s “Beyond Our Bounds” project. The band is comprised of multi-instrumentalists utilizing vintage keyboards, acoustic and electric 6 and 12 string guitars and soaring harmonies.
The name Ad Astra is inspired by a quote taken from the Launch Complex 34 at the Kennedy Space center. LC34 is where the Apollo 1 astonauts died during a mission test. A memorial plaque there that reads: “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so others could reach for the stars, Ad astra per aspera, (a rough road leads to the stars) God speed to the crew of Apollo 1.” It is our hope and desire that our music can help others reach Heaven.