God and the Rock Star

One of the biggest surprises for me about covering bands (and in particular punk rock) is the overwhelming amount of groups that identify themselves as Christian rockers. Metal may have had Stryper in the 80's, but now there's a full blown movement, complete with weekend long festivals devoted to Christian metal, punk and hardcore.

I was talking to my editor at AMP this summer about the stacks and stacks of CDs that have been coming to house recently from Christian punk bands and she started counting off every genre and sub genre that now has its Christian component: Christian metal, Christian hardcore, Christian pop/punk, Christina emo, Christian Oi punk and, I swear to God (there you go), Christian rockabilly.

The phenomena is so big that the Vans Warped tour last year held nightly bible meetings. Seriously! The tour that made a name for itself bringing gnarled punk vets like the Buzzcocks and Pennywise to rock suburban mall rats hosted daily discussion on the temptations of booze and groupies... Isn't that why most started a band to begin with?

Is being Born Again a fad for Gen Y? Is this what rebellion has come to: Toting a bible and an unhealthy amount of guilt for simply having normal teenage urges?

It's hard not to think there are more cynical reasons for band branding themselves as Christian rockers. There is an entire audience that will snatch up your music, simply because you give a shout out to your Lord and Savior in the CD booklet, regardless of how shitty your band may be. Quick name a great Christian rock band (and no, U2 does not count). Switchfoot? Creed?

There also seems to be something very unsavory (if not out right blasphemous) about exploiting some one's religion to make money. If it's simply about "spreading the Good Word" than make your music available for free via download. Don't roll you big tour bus into town, sell tickets for $60 a seat and then gouge the true believers at the merch table ($40 for a hoodie! WWJBuy?). There is not much difference in my mind between Oral Roberts in the 80's saying God wants you to send him money and Christian rockers getting tweens to fork over their babysitting money, all in the name of God. I'm sure when Jesus was carrying the cross through the streets, he was thinking "I really hope people will be able to make some money off of my sacrifice some day. Please exploit me!"

There is also a rule in Religious Rock Star Bible stating that once you start to draw attention from mainstream press, you then have to refuse to answer any questions about religion and, in many cases, turn your backs on those kids who bought your records from the Christian bookstores (the Judas Rule?).