Posted on 10/16/2015 7:31:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
These eight bands may not have the Christian Rock label but biblical themes and their Christian faith are at the root of much of their music.
1. Lenny Kravitz
American rock singer-songwriter, Lenny Kravitz is a devout Christian and his spirituality transcends not only in the spiritual themes of his music but also in his personal life – he committed to remain celibate for years and has a cross tattoo on his back as a reminder of his faith. Did you know Kravitz’s song “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” is about Jesus?
2. U2
From the Bono led Irish rock band’s start, U2 has been passionate about their faith to the point where it even challenged the group’s future. Many believed Christianity and rock music could not be married, bringing to the surface the question whether Christian faith could live in the secular rock world. Even through the debate, the band not only didn’t lose their religion, their music is a powerful example of spirituality meeting beautiful music.
3. Switchfoot
While the band doesn’t believe their music fall into the Christian faith genre, the members of Switchfoot are devout Christians and are often referred to as a Christian rock band, their music appears in Christian retail outlets, they play at Christian musical festivals are featured on Christian charts and appear on Christian radio.
4. Underoath
While their music isn’t primarily sold in the Christian music space, members of the band are open about their faith and aren’t afraid of sharing it in their music.
5. Kings of Leon
While their music is generally given the secular label, their background as sons of a United Pentecostal Church preacher is evident in much of their music, with many songs dealing with the topic of redemption.
6. P.O.D.
From the beginning, P.O.D. which stands for Payable on Death have been representatives of Christ and share their personal testimonies in their music and on tour. P.O.D.’s frontman also leads the Whosoevers ministry, a movement that spreads the Gospel to youth, in hopes of encouraging millions about Christ around the world.
7. Evanescence
Ben Moody, the co-founder and main songwriter of Evanescence was originally apart of the Christian rock world and many of the band’s musical themes deal with religious and Christian themes. Before the band’s mainstream success, their music was primarily found in Christian music shops.
8. Lifehouse
Jason Wade, the lead vocalist of the Los Angeles originated American rock band, Lifehouse is a Christian. In his younger years, he and another band member were involved in their church’s youth group, playing worship music at church. A number of their songs deal with the personal impact of Jesus and God’s love. A reviewer from CCM, a Christian Music Magazine said in a positive review of the band that "Lifehouse … sports more poetic sense and spiritual insight than most rock bands currently on the traditional Christian circuit."
I was at a party here in L.A. years ago and met the guy. He and Slash used to go a HS close to me on Santa Monica (now it’s choc full of illegals’ kids) and he told us that he doesn’t miss church service, and only when he’s on tour he doesn’t go to mass.
WHEN Guns N Roses go on tour next year which will be the biggest tour for 2016, Im sure he’ll be the supporting artist on one of the stops.
Sound sample/video here: "Shining Sun"
BookMarking :)
Mustaine is. I;ve met him and few times in Malibu and he signed my Gibson guitar. He went nuts when I told him on Behind the Music, the apartment bldg where he stayed as a kid with Dave was where my ex-GF stayed and that was the “unofficial” birthplace of Megadeth. Known it for years and it’s adjacent to Hollywood Blvd.
Oh I’m well aware. I simply struggle to place KoL as a “Christian” band. With Sex on Fire and Use Somebody, I’m less inclined to think they are. The others are not a surprise, especially U2 and their very Christian thematic music. Great stuff from them through Achtung Baby. Slight redemption with All That You Can’t Leave Behind.
Thanks for posting the article.
Have you ever heard Mike Farris? He’s awesome.
Martin Sexton
Yes, the wiki page on him has him saying he considers himself both Jewish and Christian, somewhere in between. But that same page says that the tattoo on his back reads, “My heart belongs to Jesus Christ.”
I don’t know too many Jews (outside the Messianic Jewish community) who would wear such a tattoo.
needtobreathe
Apparently Arcade Fire is Christian band, but I know little,about their music.
I really don’t know much about him, so you lost me there.
Mr. Cab driver? You’d have to explain that one.
It’s a song Lenny wrote about a Cab Driver who didn’t want to pick him up because he’s a black man with dreadlocks.
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And I suppose he tells the cab driver to eff off? Most of us (especially white men in the workforce) have probably been discriminated against more than once. We don’t write nasty songs about it though.
Well, if he did, not surprising. The wiki page also mentions he was detained by police in Miami because they thought he was someone they were looking for who’d robbed a bank.
Apparently, he wasn’t too forgiving of the officers, but I don’t know much about it other than that. I probably wouldn’t be too happy about it either.
Even though he’s a practising Buddhist, the themes of his songs make me inclined to add Leonard Cohen to the list.
I would also add that Bono, unlike most celebrities who speak out on political causes, actually researches the topic before opening his mouth. I can respect that even when I don’t always agree with his conclusions.
Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil, while a lefty on things like Aboriginal rights and Environmental issues, is a Christian.
Jerry Lee Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uogCc10Sw9U
Jerry Lee Lewis went to Bible college before becoming a rocker.
Little Richard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcHX1x_gD3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_0pJv0kQ0
Richard got his start as a boy with Sister Rosetta Tharpe
One group I enjoy, which are subtle in their message, is Churchill.
Alfonzo Rachel's "20 lb SLEDGE" band
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