Heartbeat disbanding to concentrate on other projects

BRITAIN'S leading pop gospel group, Heartbeat are to disband. The band will play their farewell at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester on September 6th. Heartbeat spokesperson Ray Goudie explained the reasons behind the breakup and outlined the future plans of band members and of New Generation Ministries - the organisation that was the power base of the band's operations. "The work of NGM continues. After ten years together as Heartbeat it felt like the right and natural thing to do for us to be concentrating on raising up new, younger bands. One, 65 DBA, is already formed. We plan to put another one into Brussels from September to be playing mainly in Europe.

"Sue Renaldi (Heartbeat's lead vocalist) will be pursuing a solo career maybe moving more into the secular music field. Opportunities are also opening up for her to do more presenting in the media. Bass player Steve Bassett has already done some work as a presenter on cable TV and is investigating working in local radio."

Ray stressed that the creative arts training scheme set by NGM would continue. Heartbeat's keyboard player Dave Bankhead will take on the scheme, which offers practical training to musicians from within the church on subjects as diverse as music theory, computers, and sequencing.

Heartbeat, best known for their Top 50 pop hit "Tears From Heaven" and their successful praise and worship series 'Songs For A New Generation' will be interviewed in issue 7 of Cross Rhythms.