Christian and non Christian rock, hard rock and metal and CCM and historical trends..

I figured I would mention a couple of trends of rock, hard rock and heavy metal: non christian music and CCM. 


A few years ago there was a discussion on secular and christian music and it got heated. Some thought a Christian should only listen to Christian music and I remember commenting that it depends on the band. for the most part I have little or no issues with band slike Dream Theater, Impellitteri, U2, etc. For me personally, I can't bring my self to buy a KISS, Motley Crue or AC/DC album. Also, just because a member in a traditionally non Christian band converts to Christianity like Nikko McBrain, Dave Mustaine, Blackie Lawless or Alice Cooper doesn't mean I'll buy their records either. If other Christians want to buy secular music that's up to them. When I look at music,  movies, printed material and social material or other things that unfluence me, these verses come to mind:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:1.

I  have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive 1 Corinthians 10:23.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8.

While I still hold that view, for me my music collection is 90-95% christian oriented music. My actual listening of Christian music is a little less, around 80-90% where we have classic rock radio and youtube. I prefer the term "christian oriented" as oppose to Christian rock or metal where Christian music to me is more of a spectrum. I'm moving away form the Christian rock or metal tag as labels are trivial and the only way they are useful is if the audience aren't familiar with christian music and you want them to understand a certain style. 

Many current and former bands have members that are all Christian and are evengalistic such as Petra, Rez, Jerusalem and Theocracy then you have bands that at the other end that the main member or members are Christian but the purpose of the band being in existence are for reasons along with or other than evengalistic reasons for example they may have an allegorial approach to the music or they approach music like a painter would approach a canvas and let the listener make up their mind where not all the lyrics are as straight forward. These bands can include Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Rob Rock, etc. However, the band member use the one on one approach where if they are asked about their beliefs by an interviewer or a fan they will be direct and say what they believe such as Blackie Lawless. Then you have bands that are somewhere in between. Regardless of the type of band, the one on one approach kind of resembles a large part of Christ's ministry then he was here. When he healed a person he used the one on one approach and he wanted the person to focus on Him directly as he changed lives one on one when he wasn't speaking to an audience. 

At this point I want to make a distinction: When I say contemporary christian music, or CCM, I'm not referring to the genre of muisc at large. I'm referring to the christian pop music or the current praise and worship music. When I got into Christian oriented rock and hard rock back in 1985, many of us remember the crossover success that was going on at that time with bands like Amy Grant and Petra that was signed to Christian labels. Then you have bands like Stryper that had that entrepernerial spirit that had to create their own approach and had to be as good as or better then their peers and were signed to small to medium sized upstart labels that never crossed over. They didn't have to - they were signed to non christian labels that learned how to work with the label as both the label and band had to learn. Both were on a journey together and a learning curve how to best market the band. While that served them well in the years following, before 1985 as I learned years later the CCM labels and bands had this innocence and there was not as much of an agenda to sell records. Back in the 70s and early 80s bands would plug with a PA, amps and instruments in whenever there was an audience and play the music as an acoustic, rock or pop set and then share the gospel. CCM had little or no agenda. Back in the 70s it wasn't as organized and people would gave a few dollars as an offering to help the band to get to the next gig. 

Since the early to mid 80's, record companies got more organized to protect their assets as it became more of a "business" instead of a ministry first objective. While there is nothing wrong in using a business model, many labels put themselves first and the artist second while other labels was there to help the artist as much as themselves. One wonders what master the record company is serving: business/money or ministry. As the 80s closed out and the latter 90s approached, as hit radio got more and more trival, gone are the guitars and in comes beat sequencing where producers would pay top dollar in the thousands of dollars to buy music sequencing from a few elite creators as they incorporate this in the next album to generate the next big hit on American or regional top 40 radio. CCM was paying attention to all of this so a few CCM artists starting writing worship music in the mid to late 90s that made modern christian music less original as it was a decade earlier and more bland. The artists were told what to say, what lyrics to use and what music style to use to sell praise and worship albums. It seems that like top 40 radio, adoration for the other person, whether it was a lover or Christ, was based on a feeling. It seems we have dumbed down CCM when the Bible clearly states to write and play music skillfully and loudly in praise and thanksgiving to God and to sing a new song. In other words, to the best of your ability in creativity and progression of the song. I've notice that in the mid to late 90s many churches, including the couple of Pentecostal churches I've attended in my area threw out the hymn books and incorporate these trivial CCM songs where the same chorus is repeated over and over again for 3-7 minutes which is very boring. CCM songs regurgitate the same basic song template over and over again. I like the old hymns. Regardless of the style, I like music having 2-4 versed and a chorus or some variation  of that. To me that makes the song interesting and poetic. Songs like How Great Thou Art, Nothing but the Blood and Blessed Assurance were songs I cut my teeth on. Then I would go and crank Stryper, Petra and Rez at some point during the week. 

In  addition, bands had to write a song within a formula who were on major labels. Those bands that stayed on medium, small or indie labels had more freedom to express themselves and that is true today. Back in the 70s to early 80s bands like Petra and Jerusalem have in your face lyrics and were experimental. Also, in some rare cases bands were free to express themselves being signed to secular labels, example: STRYPER on Engima Records and Frontiers Records. Also, bands have been dropped from labels for not selling enough records and this is where the ugly side of the business occurs. For example, Holy Soldier were dropped from Myrrh Records around 1992 for selling enough copies of Last Train. The band toured their asses off from 1992-1994 to promote Last Train which is a very good album and won awards from the industry, which is kind of confusing - they won awards but was dropped form the label due to poor sales. Glenn Kaiser of the Rez band said it best where a lot of the Psalms and Old Testament is about lament and he reflects that in the music.  Also, you will find that many of the Christian artists that write meaningful lyrics and well crafted songs either got enough respect from their large to medium sized label to do that or they are on a small or inde label that lets the artists write what they want. CCM songs regurgitate the same basic song template over and over again.

As an added point, much of the CCM praise and worship is Bethel, Hillsong and Elevation church inspired and the theology of these chuches or movements have long been accurately critized. 

In addition, there are bands years ago and today that use the grassroots ministry approach in reaching others. Keith Green used to refuse to charge money for concerts or albums. It would be interesting to see how the record companies felt about that. When his music was carried by Christian bookstores, a second cassette was included free of charge for every cassette purchased to give away to a friend to help spread the Gospel. Degarmo and Key did the same thing in the 80s on their D&K album. I've heard stories about fans over the years who would pull up to a venue that Stryper was playing and if one of the members saw you they would stop what they were doing and took time to talk to you and at time sign some merch. One time Perry Richardson  was talking on the phone and a fan pulled up behind the venue and he finished his business on the phone and talked to the 2 fans. Robert Sweet was known to come out to where fans were lined up outside of the venue and talk to some of them. In a recent concert before covid there was a fan that was confined to a medical bed that was a Stryper fan and saw them in concert. The band gathered around the fan and prayed over him. He since passed away. In a recent interview with Glen Kaiser of the Rez Band he said around 1985/86 when he had some degree of crossover success for a brief while with their latest album Between Heaven n Hell. They were playing medium level venues, universities, etc. After they played a gig he and the band would go and get a soft drink and sit at a table and witness to the patrons. The management said you can do that you are a rock star and the band said we're doing it. Glenn met a lot of messed up people at the bars at that time.

Back to non Christian music, since the 80s it seems like many bands have been demonized especially since the PMRC while Tipper Gore and many of her associates want to make the public aware of the dangers of music especially hard rock heavy metal and many of the top 10 hit list were of that style. I'm wondering if they were ignorant of the fact that questionable lyrics are in all styles of music. Also, Tipper Gore picked this topic to raise awareness to get her husband Al Gore elected as senator which was motive driven. They choose to pock on music and ignored other media outlets like movies, porn, etc. In addition, Blackie Lawless was a target due to WASP lyrics. Since becoming a Christian, Blackie has since apologized to those representing the PMRC. I don't think he owed them an apology but that's just my opinion. It's funny that back in the 80s many thought that many of these artists were uncaring people. It turns out that many of them to care. When AC/DC gave a concert in the early 90s where a few fans were trampled to death, the band members were shook up over this. When a couple of fans committed suicide who were fans of Judas Priest, Rob Halford was genuinely concerned. Demonizing heavy metal is a false narative as well. 

There are some links to look at if anyone is interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwwhkKPEieE: A hilarious video of how a modern CCM song is made. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afEF0xutg0Y&t=5s: A informative video of the modern CCM industry part 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhR0xm4pyso&t=248s: Part 2 of the above link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Gn4zK7VUs&t=6838s: While this guy makes some valid points, I've seen other videos and I question whether much of his content is actually Biblical. Listeners discression advised as he associate CCM music as apostacy. 

Only positive comments and comments are welcomed.

Overall a very good essay.  Some missing words here and there where it sounds like the opposite of what you are trying to say but generally an interesting analysis and I learned a few things (such as, did not know Holy Soldier got dropped after "Last Train" - seriously?  That was such a great album).

However it is on the last paragraph that I might have a differing opinion.  I remember the demonizing of metal during the sensational PMRC witchhunt.  Was not a Christian at the time and was very involved in the secular metal scene.  Tipper Gore and her allies took a lot of flak and a lot of abuse during that time, and some of it was probably deserved just for the way they approached things.  But in hindsight, I believe it was a wise and very good decision to label albums for lyrical content, and to raise awareness of how secular metal (and other music) could be influencing kids and adults.  I know that at the time it was a very bad influence on me.  I did not pay attention to the warnings but wish I had, or could have.  When I finally got saved in 1987, God had to do a huge cleaning of my soul and it took many years.   There were many years where I could not even approach metal music because of the particular hold it had on fleshly parts of myself.  Those were difficult times but that is a whole other story.

Yes, secular metal can have an ungodly influence on people (some of it is deliberately designed to shock and create a viseral reaction).  Christian metal, or any other music can also have a bad influence, depending on where you are spiritually, emotionally, neurochemically, personality-wise, and any other aspect of your current make-up.  A wise person will work to figure out what is good for him or her and what is not at that particular time.  A wise person will approach music prayerfully and be open to correction or redirection if needed.  It will never be perfect nor does it need to be, but after awhile, as you go on you will find yourself naturally desiring less and less to listen to certain bands or songs for the feelings and thoughts they invoke, and for how they portray the Savior.

The person without the Spirit of God and without the wisdom of the Bible does not have this same discernment.  They may be sensitive to how certain music makes them feel, but they cannot filter out lyrical content or just the general "spirit of the age" that permeates most pop music.  I get angry when I enter a store or restaurant and they are playing this over-violent, over-sexualized rap music while little kids are there.  The mind of a kid is a sponge and they will soak this stuff up to the point where it becomes normal - not just the lyrics but the whole spirit of it - the glorification of self, or false manhood, of godlessness and perverse sexuality.  I go right to the manger and complain and they are usually not even thinking about any of that, which shows how numb we can become.  Music (like all media) communicates a message, and that message can become part of the landscape after awhile, no matter how ungodly that message is.

I could say a lot more, but the basic point is that for most people music has an effect on them whether they are aware of it or not.  So I am all for album labeling and anything that raises some awareness of what we would be consuming, so that a person (or a parent) can make an appropriate choice given the parameters they are comfortable with.

I agree on what you are saying Constantine as a lot of secular music is a negative influence, that's why most of what I listen to is christian oriented. Also, many of the 70s and 80s type of classic bands that I grew up listening to if they are still around are on inde labels like Frontiers, Roxx, Girder or the Boones associated labels or other labels. 

I was never really a fan of the modern CCM/praise and worship type of music although I do like the occasional Sonicflood song and many of the songs on the Petra Praise albums: Rock Cries Out (1989), We need Jesus (1997), Revival (2001) and Vertical Expressions (2007). Of these 4 albums, the Rock Cries Out is their best one. I much prefer their original praise oriented songs like Praise Ye the Lord, Without Him We Can Do Nothing, Disciple and God Pleaser. I wonder if Petra was responsible to some degree of starting this modern CCM/praise and worship trend. Although they did release some great original songs with meaningful lyrics like the ones mentioned: Praise Ye the Lord, Without Him We Can Do Nothing, Disciple and God Pleaser which is much better songs. 

I also saw a video from one of the links I said above that the modern CCM praise and worship music tend to have a U2 Joshua Tree type of melody on much of the songs sung in church as that was a top 80s selling album.

Soldier777 wrote:A few years ago there was a discussion on secular and christian music and it got heated. Some thought a Christian should only listen to Christian music and I remember commenting that it depends on the band.

I think it depends on the person more than any band.  I've encountered some "not metal" Christians that had a problem with listening to U2, but its cool you don't.  

I really like Romans 14's take on this.  Sure, most of the "for instance" in the chapter revolves around diet, some around the day of worship, but its absolutely applicable to music, which we also consume.  I like how this chapter portrays, "If you feel like its wrong, it is wrong."  "If you think its right when others don't, you're blessed for thinking its right." and perhaps most importantly, not criticizing others who feel differently.  ie: "those who feel free shouldn't condemn those who don't, and those who don't, shouldn't condemn those who do".

Constantine wrote:I could say a lot more, but the basic point is that for most people music has an effect on them whether they are aware of it or not.  So I am all for album labeling and anything that raises some awareness of what we would be consuming, so that a person (or a parent) can make an appropriate choice given the parameters they are comfortable with.

I agree with disclaimers and ratings based on content for music, movies, shows, etc.  People should know what's in their entertainment before they commit to it.  I believe the person is more of a variable as to who's effected, rather than a specific medium or content itself.  Ala, we're not who we are because of what happens to us.  We are who we are because of how we react to what happens to us. (perception is key here)

Years ago, there was a local-to-me story of a kid (younger than a teenager) who gave their younger sibling a hit in the head with a hammer.  When asked why they did it (as the younger sibling was taken to the hospital), they said they saw it on The 3 Stooges and thought when they did it too, it would be a good laugh for everyone.  I don't recall any family member even considering to blame The 3 Stooges for this.  Makes sense right?  If WATCHING The 3 Stooges MADE kids hit each other in the head with hammers, well, there would be lots of stories about this, even from our parents as kids, to the point of it being common knowledge.  ...but its just not there.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking if the same kid said they did this because of the Cannibal Corpse "Hammer Smashed Face" CD that was sitting on the stereo cabinet, there'd probably be a nationwide backlash on how death metal turns kids violent.