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| Christian Death did what Bauhaus, The Cure, and Siouxsie and The Banshees did for the UK; they created a new style of music, called Goth-Rock. Christian Death is the founding father of American Goth-Rock. Although they were significantly different from the British Goth sce |
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Christian Death did what Bauhaus, The Cure, and Siouxsie and The Banshees did for the UK; they created a new style of music, called Goth-Rock. Christian Death is the founding father of American Goth-Rock. Although they were significantly different from the British Goth scene, learning towards Heavy Metal with a sort of punk-rock style, Christian Death was often referred to as “Death Rock” rather than Goth-rock. Although they are indeed a Goth-Rock band mimicking the slow, morbid, angst-ridden sound of there British counterparts. Famous for their extreme opposition against religious establishments, Christian Death had a famous provocative and controversial style to them; making Marilyn Manson seem like a trip to Sunday School compared to these blasphemous rockers. Dealing with sex, drugs, and all the morbidity of a funeral, Christian Death is one of the most famous Goth-Rock bands. With their shock tactics, devilishly good looks, and religious opposition Christian Death, no doubt influence such major industrial/black metal artists such as Marilyn Manson, Korn, Type O Negative, Morbid Angel, Cradle of Filth, NIN and many others. Christian Death became quite an influence band, Rolling Stones Magazines calling it “One of the Top Ten Goth Band of All Time.”
Rozz Williams (born Roger Allen Painter, Roger adopted the name Rozz Williams from a tombstone in his favorite cemetery.) took the role as lead singer, Jay on guitar, James McGearty played the bass, and George Belanger on drums. The band then formed in 1979. Although Rozz Williams was the creator of the band, he would later leave the band in 1985, having left behind perhaps some of the best of the Christian Death’s work. After a short break-up in 1981 the little band living out of Rozz parents’ garage, finally scored performed in Los Angeles, during one of these performances Rozz began to eat, then regurgitated a dead cat. Also in the summer or 1981, Jay left the band and was replaced by Rikk Agnew. With some studio time, financed by McGearty, Christian Death produced “Deathwish“, and then the “Hell Comes to your House” compilation LP. As interest in C.D. grew, Lisa Fancher signed the band to Frontier Label, and their debut album, “Only Theatre of Pain” was released in March of 1982. With Ron Athey and Eva Ortiz as back-up vocals, and a cover drawn by Rozz himself, things were getting very good for Christian Death.
Soon however, Christian organizations began to take notice of the band, and during a religious special about “Satanic Influences” one of the show’s hosts broke a copy of their new record on the air. Also their performances began to improve, with Rozz singing in a wedding dress, mock communions and a re-enactment of the crucifixion. And as these wild antics continued, religious activists began burning copies of Christian Death’s music outside their performances, and in several stores their music was banned.
Near the end of 1982, both Rikk Agnew and James McGearty left the band and were replaced by previous back up vocalist Eva Ortiz, on guitar and a new coming percussionist China. After Eva left, Michael Montana replaced her. During a party Rozz discussed the possibility of a duel performance with Pompeii 99, Valor Kand and David Glass, members of Pompeii 99. However, by the end of 1982, Christian Death had disbanded due to drug related problems.
After the break up, Rozz decided to join Pompeii 99, which later adopt the name, “Christian Death” and became the new incarnation of the band. The new Christian Death consisted of Rozz as vocalist, Valor as lead guitarist, Gitane DeMone on the keyboard, (but also provided back-up vocals) David Glass as percussionist, and Constance Smith on bass. In 1984 after several performances and European tour, Constance Smith left the band and was replaced by Dave Roberts (Ex Sex Gang Children band member) after the release of the album, “Catastrophe Ballet.”
Autumn that year the band returned to America and created their own record label entitled, “Nostradamus” and released the LP, “Ashes” featuring Randy Wilde (bass), Eric Westfall (violin, accordion synth), Sevan Kand (crying), Bill Swain (tuba), Richard Hurwitz (trumpet) and Michael Andraes (clarinet). The band performed shows in America to promote the Ashes album, climaxing with The Path of Sorrows extravaganza at Los Angeles' Roxy Theatre on 6 April 1985. This “extravaganza” featured a banquet, films and a program. Subsequently this tour spawned another album, “Decomposition of Violets”
Rozz Williams officially left the band in 1985, and although he asked Valor, who took up the role as leader of the band, to drop the name, “Christian Death” (Rozz considered the band his creation and believed he had the authority to decide whether or not the band continued even after his departure) the band still continued as Christian Death. Supposedly Kand and Williams came to a deal that the band would change its name to “Sin and Sacrifice” during the Italy tour. However, Italian fans still assumed they were watching Christian Death, after being defrauded by the tour promoter, Sin and Sacrifice was forced to release “ The Wind Kissed Pictures” to generate money. The album was then credited to, “The Sin and Sacrifice of Christian Death.” The album created enough money for the band to go to England, which became the home base for Sin and Sacrifice, while all this was going on, “The Wind Kissed Pictures” had been introduced to the English-Speaking world as another Christian Death album and fans failed to catch on too the band’s name change. After settling down in England, Christian Death added Johann Schumann to their line-up as a new bassist. They then cut a remake of “Catastrophe Ballet,” however they did not create their first Post-Rozz album until 1986 entitled, “Atrocities” the album was experimental and was based upon the effects of WWII on Europe. After Atrocities Christian Death released a collection called, “Jesus Christ proudly presents: Christian Death” the set consists of EP’s released from 1986 to early 1987. After the release of “The Scriptures” in 1987, the band’s line-up was revamped, featuring, Demone, Glass, guitarist James Beam, and bassist Kota. “The Scriptures” was an important album in Christian Death history; it marks the beginning of Valor’s use of the band as a soap box, voicing his thoughts on political corruption and organized religion (the Catholic Church in particular.) As time progressed Valor’s incarnation of Christian Death release a couple of new tracks, and began to suffer problems, and eventually collapsed in 1989.
During the above events, nothing was heard from ex-Christian Death vocalist Rozz Williams; although Rozz had release smaller unnoticed albums under several different ventures and experiments. To help put an end to wild rumors such as he was dead or being held in a mental institution Rozz William reformed Christian Death after Valor’s Christian Death broke up. Calling his Christian Death, “The Original” Rozz signed with Cleopatra records and recorded several albums including, “The Iron Mask” and “Skeleton Kiss” with himself as lead vocalist, his wife Eva Ortiz as guitarist and occasionally pitching in female vocals, and Rikk Agnew also on guitar.
However as time progressed something quite interesting happened. Valor Kund was angered by Rozz’s revival of the band and soon a court battle ensued, in which, Valor won the rights to the name Christian Death, forcing Rozz Williams’ band to change its name to, “Christian Death featuring Rozz Williams” soon after Valor created another Christian Death. This caused fans to pick sides. It is important to realize that both bands had two distinctly different styles, Valor’s being more cerebral, and Rozz’s being more anti-religious. Two different bands, one name, and one group of fans. Soon a battle ensued, a war between the bands.
In the end however, the battle ended, with the death of Rozz Williams in. His death is attributed to his addiction to heroin. Fans around the world the mourned the death of the pioneering rocker, even rival band leader Valor Kund mourned his death, producing a tribute album, “Pornographic Messiah” to Rozz.
Christian Death is a very important band that affected the history of Goth Rock as well as several genres of Metal. While perhaps left in the shadows compared to newer bands like Marilyn Manson or Slipknot, Christian Death is THE band. And anything else is only poor copies of this American Gothic legend.
Bio written by: TheVampireArmand |
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Discussion Topic
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Why No Reviews?
How come there are no reviews for Christian
Death here from iSound ppl? The only reviews
are for some of the albums, and none of them
are from iSound ppl it seems.
Being just new to Christian Death I naturally
wanted to hear what their fans thought about
their music, so I went to their reviews.
NADA. NOTHING. EMPTY.
What gives?
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GrayBeard |
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Replys
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Listener
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Yeah, I hear u Armand, but there are some
fans who post here, like you for instance, so
what about them (or you)?
Hell, if u think their music was that great
and carried a message that should be heard,
or for whatever reason u like Christian
Death, than I would think u would want to
share your understanding and respect for the
band by doing reviews.
I mean, look at the job u did on the bio.
That is one of the most comprehensive bios on
iSound. So why stop there? U obviously know
a lot of their songs, and have figured out a
lot of their lyrical meanings. So why not
use that knowledge to help others learn about
them?
I mean like instead of just criticizing other
artists, use ur knowledge of CD to expose
other artist's fans to their stuff. Hell,
it worked to get me interested in them. But
then again, I am always looking for new music
to get into. Other's might need a more
gentle persuasion, like comparing songs for
instance.
And I don't mean by saying "Your
artist's songs suck, and CD's songs are
great". | GrayBeard | Wow,some people are actually in here;last
time I checked in here the forums were
out-dated.Yeah,gray,no one likes them,well
except for the people who do post in here and
it is a good idea if it is kept that way.The
most retarded thing happened to me at
school...when I went to watch one of their
live song performances on yahoo this kid
said,"Hey,this band copied
Manson!"I could not believe the words
that came out of his mouth!I just turned to
face him and I called him a dumbass and told
him that he did not know shit,and that was
the end of it. | -s-aint347 | | hellooooooo...anybody in here??? | -s-aint347 |
Yeah, I'm here. Sorry for the long delay
in posting but I have two corneal transplants
and when my eyes go south I can't use my
webtv so I could not post.
I hear you guys about not wanting just anyone
to be exposed to CD and dilute the fan base.
But I just got "Theatre of
Pain" and there is some great messages
in those songs that ppl should hear!!
To me music is about communicating ideas and
feelings. It should move you or make you
think. CD does that. It is unfortunate that
more ppl are not exposed to them.
If you guys don't want to do reviews of
their stuff then don't. Me, I am going to.
I like their stuff, their music, their
lyrics and I want to say why I do. If others
do not like CD, well, that is their
shortsightedness.
But for those who do fall into their music, I
think having some reviews on file to let them
see other's thoughts on CD would be super.
I would have like that. | GrayBeard |
-s-aint347: That's a funny story about
someone thinking CD was a knockoff of
Manson!!!
Being the old shit that I am, I am always
getting the young ppl tellng me about the
"great" bands of the past.
They talk like they were from the 15th
century or something. When I tell
"yeah, I saw them" they like
crap their pants since they figure no one is
still alive who saw them.
Then they go to my profile, see I am 51 and
then jump all over me about being old and
posting in these forums.
But your funny story is a perfect example of
what makes music so dam kool for me: see
dude, I have been there, done that, and still
think it is great!!! I have history with
music!!! I can relate to it. I have lived
through the trends. I have seen music come
and go.
I guess I am like a vampire in the music
forums and the young ppl are like mere
mortals. I have lived through the life and
death of a lot of bands and styles. I have
absorbed more music just by the mere fact I
have been listening and playing it for so
DAMN MANY YEARS!!!!
Oh, the stories I could tell. | GrayBeard | | yep | -s-aint347 |
Vamp, the truth is you don't have a clue
what CD is all about. You most likely do not
have a clue what any music is about. That
would explain why you have absolutely nothing
constructive to contribute to any forum
discussions.
You say you know this stuff, and you want to
keep the message alive, but face it dude,
that is just what you say to cover up the
fact that you don't have a clue what is
going on with CD or any other music.
Now I will admit that you do have a rather
good clue at how to be rude and crude. But
music, no. | GrayBeard | y is there only 5 people i think posting on
this forum! | paceme |
Hey Vamp, sorry for jumping on your bones. I
guess I just wiggged out a little. You did
write a good cd bio & are a dedicated fan, so
that makes u alright with me.
| GrayBeard |
paceme, yeah there are only about 5 fans
posting here but that is actually a lot
compared to most other isound forums. Other
than the most current pop bands, most of the
other forums are void of any posts. | GrayBeard | i realized just now im a big fan of the blues
and it is propley the most importent genre of
music ever but its deserted bobdylan to its
disgusting really | paceme | i posted this around all metal forums and pop
forums maybe get there attention
y are all the amazing singers
y are all the amazing singers
forums empty
bob dylans forum empty
B.B.kings forum empty
eric claptons forum empty
albert kings forum empty
Muddy waters empty
jimi hendrix empty
its a shame no one really cares for them
anymore i can understand y kids dont like
the
blues but jimi hendrix bob dylan u guys
should check them out there much better than
manson or w/e (but mansons still gud ;)
Replys Listener
Jimmy Reed empty
elmore james empty
its unbelievable how kids wont lisnen to it
and think its uncool cus they dont shred
there guitars to pieces or sing about hate
and satan
CHUCK BERRY THE MAN WHO MADE MUSIC WAT IT IS
TODAY
EEEMMMMPPPPPPPPPPTTTTTTTYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
GET UR ASSES TO THE RECORD STORE NOW AND BUY
ONE ALBUM OF EACH OF THE SINGERS I HAVE
MENTIONED NNOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!
lol | paceme | haha thats kind of funny vamp cus im one of
those people who like metal as well as gud
music but u intruduced them to me so haha | paceme |
Paceme - real fine posts with a good message.
U r right that it is a shame more ppl do not
realize the roots of most all modern music
(yes, even CD's music) lies in the blues.
Those early early blues giants like Waters
and Johnson broke ground in music areas that
open the doors for the great composer and
blues guitarists of later years like Jimmy H
and Eric C, who in turn evolved the whole
world of music forward into what we have
now.
I am glad u can see (hear) and appreciate
their contributions to music. | GrayBeard |
Dude are you right!! I just went to both the
Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson sites and
there not even ONE POSTING ON EITHER!!!
Hell, there isn't even a picture up for
Johnson!!!!
Man, I had no idea that the iSound users were
so out of touch with the roots of all their
music!!! | GrayBeard | i no ive tried posting around on nu-emo
forums and all genres like that sayin u
should try this and that
also on rnb and rap forums ive been mentionin
guys and girls like areatha franklin and ray
charles see if any of them no who they are. | paceme |
paceme, you got me thinking about how many
important bands of the past have no input on
here so I started checking some.
Ever heard of the Doobie Brothers? Foundation
band of the 70s in blues rock. No one had
been on their site here. I did an album
review and song review to hopefully get it
started. Now I got to get some stuff up for
Johnson (listening to him right now - it is
amazing how much he influenced the Doobies -
I mean u can hear it in his early recordings
and replayed in the Doobies stuff. | GrayBeard | exactimo so u need to try and get the
attention of the young ones and try and get
them to lisnen to some | paceme |
Paceme, u r so right. That is one of the
reasons I am on iSound. I take a lot of shit
for being so old and posting on these forums
with ppl ur age. U have probably seen some
of the crap ppl yell at me about.
But I do it to promote music in ppl,
especially the younger ppl. Music can be a
super important part of a person's life,
maybe even a career.
I try to get that message across to them, and
part of that is to try to get them to open
their minds to all kinds of bands and styles
of music.
That is why it is so great to see a person
like you on iSound, promoting others to
expand their musical tastes. Keep up the
good work!!!! | GrayBeard |
Hey, I did an album review on the Complete
works of Robert Johnson and one of the songs
from the album. Go check them out and let me
know what u think of them. | GrayBeard | Actually I do not know pac very well yet, but
he sounds like a super well rounded dude who
realizes the connectivity of music past and
present.
I mean there are few ppl on iSound that have
come to realize the importance of blues on
all the current music, including CD.
Pac know that and that puts him at the top of
the list for appreciating music in my book. | GrayBeard | wahoo vampys at the bottom of mine all he
appreciats is his (sorry if u like goth) goth
which is quite frankly boring and shite.The
only way he judges if someone is smart or not
is how well they post and if he can
understand everyword.Vampy U might as well go
and kill yourself no one will give a flying
fuck
Wat am i gonna get now 'i cant understand
that u idoit' or 'as if anyone would
care if u died' well who cares cus i have
atleast some socail skills unlike u vampy.
are me and u graybeard the only ones who like
blues | paceme | Oh-Ho. You do NOT know Pac very well, now do
you?
and u do through a computer u wanna no sumat
im the sort of guy who likes making people
happy unlike u im the sort of guy my freinds
can tell things and ill help work out unlike
u but like u i dont give a shit wat u say and
u propley wont take any of wat i sed in.Ull
just ignore it and carry on thinking of me as
shit. | paceme |
Hey pac, don't get too worked up about
vamp. I think he just likes to get people
pissed off at him sometimes for fun. Kind a
like a hobby for him I guess.
But he does know Christian Death, and is one
super dedicated fan. So he can't be all
that bad.
And since he likes CD so well, he must have a
liking for blues as well down deep. I mean u
can't get much bluer than deep dark
goth!!! | GrayBeard |
Joe, sometimes it does seem like maybe u and
I are the only ones who like blues, but
that's not the truth.
There are a lot of ppl on iSound who totally
love the blues, they just don't know it.
You must listen to a wide variety of music
and can therefore appreciate how it all comes
together one way or the other.
A lot of ppl, unfortunately, get
"stuck" with only one kind of
music. They never listen to other kinds of
music. And that is too bad since they are
missing so much good music. | GrayBeard | yeh deffo i cant stand people that wont try
the music like most kids into nu-emo and
rap/hip hop wont even try some music.Like one
time i was just hangin around talkin when one
comes up and graps a earphone puts in his ear
for about 2 secs and ses its crap.I was just
like yeh y dont u keep in for a minuet then
tell me its crap its ridiculas
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