Christians + Lunatics: A Documentary Series By Eric Clayton

Interesting to see this one.

I will be checking this out.

Why rehash this 30 years later? Seems like a publicly stunt.

What was the big controversy?

The lyrics to Legion are, shall we say, vivid. (Those who object must not have read the Prophets…)

Aha I just read them.  I see what you're talking about.  Throwing black paint (?) on the American flag probably didn't help their cause.  I guess it's no surprise that a gothic metal band would be... dramatic though!  (I remember the Legend III:II drama too; I wonder if a "proper" version will ever be released?)

There were 4 things you could do to get in trouble with Christian bookstores:

1. Mention sex or sexual imagery in any context (just ask Charlie Peacock).

2. Be perceived as disrespecting America and/or the GOP.

3. Use profanity (just ask Brave Saint Saturn)

4. Be Steve Taylor (just ask, well, Steve Taylor).

Kerrick wrote:(I remember the Legend III:II drama too; I wonder if a "proper" version will ever be released?)

and that drama was..?

Pethead wrote:There were 4 things you could do to get in trouble with Christian bookstores:

1. Mention sex or sexual imagery in any context (just ask Charlie Peacock).

2. Be perceived as disrespecting America and/or the GOP.

3. Use profanity (just ask Brave Saint Saturn)

4. Be Steve Taylor (just ask, well, Steve Taylor).

Having a half-skeleton/bodybuilder on your cover art.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Pethead wrote:There were 4 things you could do to get in trouble with Christian bookstores:

1. Mention sex or sexual imagery in any context (just ask Charlie Peacock).

2. Be perceived as disrespecting America and/or the GOP.

3. Use profanity (just ask Brave Saint Saturn)

4. Be Steve Taylor (just ask, well, Steve Taylor).

Having a half-skeleton/bodybuilder on your cover art.

Yeah, forgot about that one!

Goth had a rep as being dark and maybe satanic, even the secular world was unsure about it back then. I'm not justifying what was done but he had to know he was treading on shaky ground.
Virgilantes of Love also know what it's like to mention sexual imagery.

I always wanted to see if I could get a song on Christian radio with lyrics from Judges 19–21 called “Chopping up the Concubine.” Really see how much Christian radio actually wanted to hear Scripture. 

Lol, try Ezekiel 23:20.

Yeah, that’s what I meant about the offended people not reading the prophets…

I'm not sure where I stand on doing songs like that. Would it be beneficial?

I think it depends on the context. In the Judges passage it’s an illustration of just how depraved Israel had become, which reinforces the book’s theme: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” If that’s the use of it in a song I think it could work. (I was being tongue in cheek about writing the song earlier, of course).

For the Ezekiel reference it’s to Israel’s spiritual harlotry—a message all of us need to hear. 


But the Christian radio stations couldn’t advertise themselves as “positive, encouraging” or “family friendly” anymore!

crucifyd wrote:

Kerrick wrote:(I remember the Legend III:II drama too; I wonder if a "proper" version will ever be released?)

and that drama was..?

To paraphrase, according to Eric's journals, the band was under contract when Eric began experiencing his health crises...namely, the pre-carcinogenic diagnosis if he continued placing additional stress on his voice.  In order to recoup their investment, the label released III:II without Eric's approval or consent.  This album contains "walk-throughs" and no bass.

^Yup.  Though I remember Rad Rockers selling it and having a pretty detailed write-up that provided insight from the label's perspective.  I don't remember all the details now, but it seemed clear that it wasn't a simple case of just a big mean label abusing their bands - there were definitely two sides of the story...

Black Rider wrote:Why rehash this 30 years later? Seems like a publicly stunt.

Weird question.  That's pretty much all this board exists for, to discuss music from 30 years ago, or bands from then who are still making music.

Documentaries are always done on things in the past.  It's history.  That's the point.  People like it.  And those who lived it like to document it and get some closure on important events in their life.  If it provides publicity, even better; bands can't exist without that.

This just seems more of a grievance though and I don't see it being a good thing.

looks pretty interesting....

I'll be checking it out for sure!

One of my favorite cds is The Human Equation by Ayreon.  Eric is one of the vocalists as the voice of Reason.  James.Labrie is the central character.  Anyone else heard of it?

StarPilot wrote:One of my favorite cds is The Human Equation by Ayreon.  Eric is one of the vocalists as the voice of Reason.  James.Labrie is the central character.  Anyone else heard of it?

Love that album!!!!!

StarPilot wrote:One of my favorite cds is The Human Equation by Ayreon.  Eric is one of the vocalists as the voice of Reason.  James.Labrie is the central character.  Anyone else heard of it?

oh yeah. TOTAL!

I have the live version and DVD too