Who is Karl Messner?

One of the co-founders of ApologetiX, Karl Messner served as the band's lead guitarist and producer from the band's inception until early September 2007, when he had to leave the band to focus on his family.

In the early days of the band, Karl shared lead guitar duties with Andy Sparks, until Andy moved to bass in the fall of 1993. After that, Karl played all lead guitars for the band, with occasional rhythm guitar by J. Jackson (from 1992-97). From 1998 on, he was band's sole guitarist until February 2004, when Bill Hubauer began touring with the band as both a keyboardist and guitarist.

Karl produced all of the band's CDs from Isn't Wasn't Ain't (1993) through Chosen Ones (2007) and also sang background vocals on many of the band's recordings, especially on the CDs Isn't Wasn't Ain't, Apol-acoustiX, ApologetiX Hits: The Road, Wordplay, and Chosen Ones. He sang lead on the song "I Saw The Answer There" on Isn't Wasn't Ain't and can be heard prominently in the duet "Scripture" on Apol-acoustiX.

A highly intelligent, multi-talented, and charismatic showman, Karl is also the brother-in-law of ApologetiX bassist Keith Haynie.