 | Christian rock: Encyclopedia - Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by bands where the musicians are openly Christian. The extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands.
In the 1970s, Larry Norman was a popular Christian rock musician who challenged a view held by some conservative Christians (predominantly fundamentalists) that rock music was anti-Christian. One of his songs, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?", summarized his attitude and his quest to pioneer Christian rock music. Such attitudes toward new types of music have been found in many periods of history.
Christian rock - Christian rock band definitions
There are multiple definitions of what qualifies as a "Christian Rock" band. Christian rock bands that explicitly state their beliefs and use Christian imagery in their lyrics tend to be considered a part of the contemporary Christian music (CCM) industry and play for a predominantly Christian market. Other bands perform music influenced by their faith but see their audience as the general public. They may generally avoid specific mention of God or Jesus. Such bands are sometimes rejected by the CCM rock scene and may specifically reject the CCM label. Possibly the very first documented appearance of a Christian Rock band is Mind Garage in 1967, whose Electric Liturgy, finally recorded on RCA in 1970, gives them credibility as a cornerstone in the creation of the Christian Rock genre. Some bands such as Letterkills, Anberlin, Project 86, Lifehouse, 12 Stones, Creed, King's X, Thrice, Evanescence, Blessid Union of Souls, and MXPX don't claim to be "Christian bands", but include members who openly profess to be Christians. There is a tendency among some Christian rock music fans to label rock music bands as Christian where their lyrics are seen as consistent with the fans' understanding of Christian belief, but this is generally not accepted by the contemporary Christian music industry.
Related genres are Christian alternative music, Christian metal and Christian punk.
Related CCM Artists: Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, Punk/Emo, Rock, Contemporary Christian music, Christian alternative music
Christian rock - Critiques of Christian rock
Some critics of Christian rock complain that Christian music trends are derivative of rock music and pop music in that they copy these styles and trends without creating original sounds of their own. The stereotype is of some sort of derivative, sanitized-for-your-protection version of whatever is popular on the radio, the musical equivalent of low-fat cheese[1]. Others respond that all music is in some way derived from previous works. For instance, U2's lead singer Bono has said, "Every poet is a thief."
Another critique of Christian Rock is that some critics also feel that in reaching out to the main stream listeners, Christian Rock waters down the Christian message and content into amorphous love songs. Amy Grant, for example, received criticism for her song, "Baby, Baby" because it [2] wasn't clear whether she was singing to God or to a good looking man in the music video. Steve Camp, Christian music critic, complains that Christian music has become "yodels of a Christ-less, watered-down, pabulum-based, positive alternative, aura-fluff, cream of wheat, mush-kind-of-syrupy, God-as-my-girlfriend kind of thing." [3]. Others respond that expressions of unconditional love reminiscent of romantic love are consistent with God's agape love and the tradition of the biblical book, Song of Solomon.
Christian rock - Christian rock festivals
There are many Christian rock festivals held worldwide every year, including the Cornerstone Festival, Ichthus, Spirit West Coast, and Shout Fest. They range from single day events to four day festivals that provide camping and other activities. Christian rock can also be heard at other Christian festivals that are not exclusive to rock, such as the Creation Festival.
Christian rock - Musicians and bands
These are alphabetically sorted by first name.
Christian rock - Numbers
- 10 Shekel Shirt
- 12 Stones
- 2 Tim. 2,3
- 2nd Chapter of Acts
- 38th Parallel
- 4-4-1
- 4Him
- 4th Avenue Jones
- The 77s
- 88 Miles Per Hour
Christian rock - A
- A band called David
- Aaron Jeffrey
- Ace Troubleshooter
- Across The Sky
- Adam Again
- Adelaide
- After The Fire
- The Afters
- All Saved Freak Band
- Altar Boys
- Anathallo
- Anberlin
- Andrew Schwab
- Anointed
- ApologetiX
- Antestor
- As Cities Burn
- As I Lay Dying
- Audio Adrenaline
Christian rock - B
- Backyard Galaxy
- BarlowGirl
- Barnabas
- Beanbag
- Believer
- Beloved
- The Benjamin Gate
- Bethany Dillon
- Big Tent Revival
- Bleach
- Blindside
- Boxtree
- Brave Saint Saturn
- Bride
- Bruce Cockburn
- Bunch of Believers
- Building 429
- Burlap To Cashmere
- The Burning Season
- By the Tree
Christian rock - C
- Cadet
- Calibretto (13)
- Casting Crowns
- The Chariot
- Chasing Furies
- Chevelle
- Children_18:3
- The Choir
- Chris Rice
- Christafari
- Cindy Morgan
- Circleslide
- Clay Crosse
- Code of Ethics
- Comeback Kid
- Copeland
- Crashdog
- Creed
- Crimson Moonlight
- Cross Movement
- The Crucified
- Crystavox
Christian rock - D
- Daniel Band
- David Crowder Band
- Day of Fire
- dc Talk
- Dead Poetic
- Delirious?
- Demon Hunter
- Disciple
- Discover America
- Dismissed
- Dizmas
- Dogwood
- Dryve
Christian rock - E
- Eager Seas
- Earthsuit
- The Echoing Green
- Eisley
- Eli
- The Elms
- Emery
- Eric Champion
- The Evan Anthem
- Evergreen Terrace
- Every New Day
- Exit the Ordinary
- Extol
Christian rock - F
- Factor seven
- Falling Up
- Far-Less
- FFH
- Fireflight
- Five Iron Frenzy
- FM Static
- The Fold
- Further Seems Forever
Christian rock - G
- Gary Chapman
- Geoff Moore
- Ginny Owens
- Glowin Moses
- Grits
- Guardian
- Guerilla Rodeo
Christian rock - H
- Hammertown
- Haste the Day
- Hawk Nelson
- He Is Legend
- Hello Kelly
- Hokus Pick
- Holy Soldier
- Horde
- House of Heroes
Christian rock - I
- Imagine This
- The Innocence Mission
- The Insyderz
- Iona
Christian rock - J
- Jaci Velasquez
- Jacob's Trouble
- Jake
- Jamie Rowe
- Jars of Clay
- Jeff Deyo
- Jennifer Knapp
- Jeremy Camp
- Jerusalem
- John Michael Talbot
- Joel Weldon
- John Reuben
- John Warne
- Jonah33
- Joy Electric
- Joy Williams
- The Juliana Theory
- Justifide
Christian rock - K
- The Katinas
- Keith Green
- Kevin Max
- Kids in the Way
- King's X
- KJ-52
- The Kry
- Kutless
Christian rock - L
- LA Symphony
- Larry Norman
- Legend Seven
- Leslie Phillips
- Lifehouse
- Lightning War
- Lincoln Brewster
- The Listening
- Living Corban
- Living Sacrifice
- Love Song
- Lucerin Blue
- Luna Halo
Christian rock - M
- Mae
- Mali
- Mark Heard
- Mark Salomon
- Matthew West
- Megalithic
- MercyMe
- mewithoutYou
- Mind Garage
- Monday Morning
- Mourning September
- Mute Math
- MxPx
Christian rock - N
- Newsboys
- NewSong
- Ninety Pound Wuss
- Norma Jean
- Number One Gun
Christian rock - O
- Ocean
- One Day Less
- Oil
- Out of Eden
- Out of the Grey
- Overflow
Christian rock - P
- P.O.D.
- Paul Colman Trio
- PAX 217
- People
- Pete Stewart
- Petra
- Phaseless
- Pillar
- Philmore
- Pivitplex
- Plankeye
- Play on Words
- Plumb
- Plus One
- Poor Man's Riches
- Pray For Rain
- Prays
- Project 86
Christian rock - Q
Christian rock - R
- Rachael Lampa
- A Ragamuffin Band
- Randy Stonehill
- Ray Boltz
- Reality Check
- The Reception
- Rebecca St. James
- Red Rain
- Relient K
- Resurrection Band
- Riley Armstrong
- Roadside Monument
- Rock N Roll Worship Circus
- Rock Prophets
- The Rocket Summer
- Roper
Christian rock - S
- Saint
- Salvador
- Sanctus Real
- Sarah Masen
- Satellite Soul
- Scaterd Few
- Selah
- Semper-Fi
- Servant
- Seven Day Jesus
- Seventh Day Slumber
- Seven Places
- Showbread
- The Showdown
- Sixpence None the Richer
- Skillet
- Slingshot 57
- Slow Coming Day
- Smalltown Poets
- Something Like Silas
- Sonic Flood
- Sounds like chicken
- Spoken
- Staple
- Starfield
- Starflyer 59
- Stavesacre
- Stellar Kart
- Steve Camp
- Steve Mills
- Steve Taylor
- Still Breathing
- Still Remains
- Strange Celebrity
- Stretch Arm Strong
- Stryper
- subseven
- Supertones
- Superchick
- Switchfoot
Christian rock - T
- Tait
- Terminal
- Third Day
- Three Crosses
- Toby Mac
- Todd Agnew
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Tree63
- Twila Paris
- Twothirtyeight
Christian rock - U
- U2
- Undercover
- Underoath
- Undying Anthem
Christian rock - V
- Vector
- The Violet Burning
- Visual Cliff
- Voice
Christian rock - W
- The W's
- Waking Ashland
- The Waiting
- Wayne Kirkpatrick
- Wayne Watson
- The Wedding
- Wes King
- Whitecross
- White Heart
- Winter Solstice
Christian rock - X
Christian rock - Y
Christian rock - Z
Christian rock - Magazines and Websites
- HM Magazine
- Firestream.net
- Godcore.com Christian rock band database
- CCM Magazine
- Suite101.com's Christian Rock
See also
- Related CCM Artists: Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, Punk/Emo, Rock
- Contemporary Christian music
- Christian alternative music
Other related archives10 Shekel Shirt, 12 Stones, 2nd Chapter of Acts, 38th Parallel, 4-4-1, 4Him, A Ragamuffin Band, A band called David, Ace Troubleshooter, Across The Sky, Adam Again, Adelaide, After The Fire, All Saved Freak Band, Altar Boys, Alternative Rock, Amy Grant, Anberlin, Andrew Schwab, Anointed, Antestor, ApologetiX, As Cities Burn, As I Lay Dying, Audio Adrenaline, Backyard Galaxy, BarlowGirl, Barnabas, Beanbag, Believer, Beloved, Bethany Dillon, Big Tent Revival, Bleach, Blessid Union of Souls, Blindside, Bono, Boxtree, Brave Saint Saturn, Bride, Bruce Cockburn, Building 429, Bunch of Believers, Burlap To Cashmere, By the Tree, Cadet, Calibretto, Casting Crowns, Chevelle, Children_18:3, Chris Rice, Christafari, Christian, Christian alternative music, Christian belief, Christian metal, Christian punk, Cindy Morgan, Code of Ethics, Comeback Kid, Contemporary Christian music, Copeland, Cornerstone Festival, Crashdog, Creation Festival, Creed, Crimson Moonlight, Cross Movement, Daniel Band, David Crowder Band, Day of Fire, Dead Poetic, Delirious?, Demon Hunter, Disciple, Discover America, Dizmas, Dogwood, Dryve, Earthsuit, Eisley, Eli, Emery, Eric Champion, Evanescence, Evergreen Terrace, Extol, FFH, FM Static, Factor seven, Falling Up, Far-Less, Five Iron Frenzy, Folk Rock, Further Seems Forever, Gary Chapman, Geoff Moore, God, Guardian, Guerilla Rodeo, Haste the Day, Hawk Nelson, He Is Legend, Hokus Pick, Horde, Ichthus, Iona, Jaci Velasquez, Jacob's Trouble, Jake, Jars of Clay, Jennifer Knapp, Jeremy Camp, Jerusalem, Jesus, John Michael Talbot, John Reuben, John Warne, Joy Electric, Joy Williams, KJ-52, Keith Green, Kevin Max, King's X, Kutless, LA Symphony, Larry Norman, Legend Seven, Leslie Phillips, Lifehouse, Lincoln Brewster, Living Corban, Living Sacrifice, Love Song, MXPX, Mae, Mali, Mark Heard, MercyMe, Mind Garage, Mute Math, MxPx, NewSong, Newsboys, Ninety Pound Wuss, Norma Jean, Number One Gun, Ocean, Oil, Out of Eden, P.O.D., PAX 217, People, Pete Stewart, Petra, Philmore, Pillar, Play on Words, Plumb, Plus One, Pray For Rain, Prays, Project 86, Punk/Emo, Quickflight, Rachael Lampa, Randy Stonehill, Ray Boltz, Reality Check, Rebecca St. James, Relient K, Resurrection Band, Riley Armstrong, Roadside Monument, Rock, Rock N Roll Worship Circus, Roper, Salvador, Sanctus Real, Sarah Masen, Scaterd Few, Selah, Servant, Seven Day Jesus, Seven Places, Seventh Day Slumber, Shout Fest, Showbread, Sixpence None the Richer, Skillet, Slingshot 57, Smalltown Poets, Something Like Silas, Song of Solomon, Sonic Flood, Sounds like chicken, Spirit West Coast, Spoken, Staple, Starflyer 59, Stavesacre, Steve Camp, Steve Taylor, Still Remains, Strange Celebrity, Stretch Arm Strong, Stryper, Superchick, Supertones, Switchfoot, Tait, The 77s, The Afters, The Benjamin Gate, The Chariot, The Choir, The Crucified, The Echoing Green, The Elms, The Fold, The Innocence Mission, The Insyderz, The Juliana Theory, The Kry, The Listening, The Reception, The Rocket Summer, The Showdown, The Violet Burning, The W's, Third Day, Thousand Foot Krutch, Thrice, Toby Mac, Tree63, Twila Paris, Twothirtyeight, U2, Undercover, Underoath, Vector, Voice, Waking Ashland, Wayne Kirkpatrick, White Heart, Whitecross, Yellow Second, Zao, agape, bands, beliefs, biblical, contemporary Christian music, dc Talk, fundamentalists, mewithoutYou, pop music, rock music, subseven
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Christian rock", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
