Page 2

A lot of musicians say they "live to rock," and typically the phrase is little more than a silly cliché.
But in the case of Page 2 guitarist Clark Clermont, the adage couldn't be more sincere. Shortly after recording With No Map and No Direction, the quartet's first studio album in four years, he was diagnosed with TYPE cancer. The news stunned Clermont, threatening both his life and the concert tour he'd been waiting his whole life to embark upon. It suddenly became clear that the band's shared Christian faith was about to be tested.
But even if cancer might have delayed Clark and his Page 2 band mates, it couldn't stop them. The new CD's first single, The Long Ride Home, dropped in November. The full album is due in December, and Clermont will rejoin the band in early 2013 for the With No Map and No Direction tour.
"When you hear the word 'cancer,' there's a temptation to ask 'Why?'" said Page 2 front man, Matt Peters. "But I think after we all got through the initial shock of the diagnosis, we began to understand why. Our songwriting has always focused on hope and the testing of our faith rather than the glorification of sex and alcohol. Clark's battle with cancer has given all of us an opportunity to truly live out the message in our music."
Perhaps no track on the album illustrates this better than the ballad "Guide Me Through." Urging listeners to hold on to hope and faith--even in situations where it's difficult to do so--the song has become a rallying cry for both Page 2 members and friends. ("We consider supporters of our band to be friends rather than fans," Peters said. " We make a point to meet and talk to everyone who comes out to our shows.")
While Page 2--which has shared the stage with bands like Relient K, Everyday Sunday, Children 18:3 and Loftland--is best known for its famously high-energy live performances, long-time friends of the band will notice the album features a more mature sound compared with 2008's From the Cutting Room Floor. Without sacrificing any of the group's unadulterated and infectious enthusiasm, With No Map and No Direction is positively shaped by band members' personal growth and life experiences. "Our development as people has led to development in our music," said Peters.
On the brink of a breakout year, it's no surprise that Page 2 decided to record with producer Nick Radovanovic at Skies Fall Studio--where We Are Leo's hit song "Supernova Sunrise" was recorded prior to reaching number 1 on the Christian Rock charts. Radovanovic and Skies Fall Studio have helped artists like Hyland and Skillet find success. When you combine Page 2's raw talent with the Skies Fall pedigree, it appears to be only a matter of time before the band finds itself topping the charts.