Changes

'''Christian Rock''' is a genre of [[music]].  It is [[Rock music|Rock]], with Christian Lyrics.  

'''Christian Rock''' is terrible. It's a genre of [[music]].  It is [[Rock music|Rock]], with Christian Lyrics which ultimately end up sucking.

Marilyn Manson, Gorgoroth, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and even Nikki Minaj are better options! Christian Rock and it's so called "Metal" are things to be avoided for their high level of FAIL. My FAILdar went off the chart when Skillet came on! To reset your FAILdar, listen to Nymphetamine by Cradle of Filth.

The genre has come under fire from some Fundamentalist Christians who say the music is a compromise with the secular world.<ref>http://www.av1611.org/crock/crock1.html</ref>

The genre has come under fire from some Ultra bible thumpers who say the music is a compromise with the secular world.<ref>http://www.av1611.org/crock/crock1.html</ref>

==Origins==

==Origins==

==The 1980s==

==The 1980s==

The 1980s saw Christian Rock shed its counterculture hippie image at the beginning of the decade and aim for the mainstream.  The "Jesus Music" label fell out of favor and newer styles like [[new wave]] and [[heavy metal]] started finding a foothold in Christian music.  Christian pop and [[adult contemporary]] also became a major music genre during the decade, led by [[Amy Grant]] and [[Michael W. Smith]].  Some bands from the 1970s who had seen some minor success suddenly became among the top tier of Christian Rock artists after 1980, led by Petra.  The label 'Contemporary Christian Music' came into usage during this time.

The 1980s saw Christian Rock shed its cool, counterculture hippie image at the beginning of the decade and aim for the mainstream.  The "Jesus Music" label fell out of favor and newer styles like [[new wave]] and [[heavy metal]] started finding a foothold in Christian music.  Christian pop and [[adult contemporary]] also became a major music genre during the decade, led by [[Amy Grant]] and [[Michael W. Smith]].  Some bands from the 1970s who had seen some minor success suddenly became among the top tier of Christian Rock artists after 1980, led by Petra.  The label 'Contemporary Christian Music' came into usage during this time.  

One of the more controversial new bands was [[Stryper]].  Stryper was far from the first Christian band to play heavy metal, having been preceded by bands like [[Jerusalem (band)|Jerusalem]], [[Agape (band)|Agape]], and the Resurrection Band, but what made Stryper controversial was appearing on stage in 80s [[Glam Metal]] garb complete with flashy yellow and black tight-fitting [[spandex]], posing on their album covers with an arsenal of high-tech rifles, and album titles like ''To Hell With the Devil''.  Even worse to some critics, Stryper went on tour with secular metal bands like [[Motley Crue]].  Another controversial artist was [[Steve Taylor]].  Like Stryper, Taylor was not the pioneer of his genre, in this case, Christian new wave musically similar to [[Devo]] and [[Oingo Boingo]]; but he attracted controversy because his lyrics used heavy sarcasm to make a point.  He repeatedly had to endure misunderstanding in the wake of such songs as "I Want To Be a Clone" and "Lifeboat"; and his song "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good" was even more controversial as Taylor found himself on the [[Oprah Winfrey]] show defending himself and having to explain the song's meaning to angry [[feminist]]s who didn't get the irony.

One of the more controversial new bands was [[Stryper]].  Stryper was far from the first Christian band to play heavy metal, having been preceded by bands like [[Jerusalem (band)|Jerusalem]], [[Agape (band)|Agape]], and the Resurrection Band, but what made Stryper controversial was appearing on stage in 80s [[Glam Metal]] garb complete with flashy yellow and black tight-fitting [[spandex]], posing on their album covers with an arsenal of high-tech rifles, and album titles like ''To Hell With the Devil''.  Even worse to some critics, Stryper went on tour with awesome metal bands like [[Motley Crue]].  Another controversial artist was [[Steve Taylor]].  Like Stryper, Taylor was not the pioneer of his genre, in this case, Christian new wave musically similar to [[Devo]] and [[Oingo Boingo]]; but he attracted the biblethumpers because his lyrics used heavy sarcasm to make a point.  He repeatedly had to endure misunderstanding in the wake of such songs as "I Want To Be a Clone" and "Lifeboat"; and his song "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good" was even more controversial as Taylor found himself on the [[Oprah Winfrey]] show defending himself and having to explain the song's meaning to angry [[feminist]]s who didn't get the irony.

Another trend in the 1980s was similar to that of the early 1970s, many secular rock bands discovering Jesus as subject matter for their songs.  [[U2]] and [[Kansas (band)|Kansas]] were obviously in the forefront of this, not the least because some members of U2 and Kansas really had converted to Christianity.  Other 80s artists notable either for using Christian themes or for one or more members professing a Christian faith include, [[Mr. Mister]], [[Simple Minds]], [[The Call]], [[The Alarm]], [[After the Fire]], [[Kajagoogoo]], [[T-Bone Burnett]], and much later in the decade, [[King's X]].

Another trend in the 1980s was similar to that of the early 1970s, many secular rock bands discovering Jesus as subject matter for their songs.  [[U2]] and [[Kansas (band)|Kansas]] were obviously in the forefront of this, not the least because some members of U2 and Kansas really had converted to Christianity.  Other 80s artists notable either for using Christian themes or for one or more members professing a Christian faith include, [[Mr. Mister]], [[Simple Minds]], [[The Call]], [[The Alarm]], [[After the Fire]], [[Kajagoogoo]], [[T-Bone Burnett]], and much later in the decade, [[King's X]].

== The 1990s ==

== The 1990s ==

Since 1990, Christian Rock has kept up with changing musical tastes.  [[DC Talk]], who had started as a Christian [[rap]] group in the late 80s, changed to a [[Rock Music]] and [[grunge]] style in the mid 90s and saw some crossover success on the secular rock charts.  Michael W. Smith also became a major crossover artist starting in 1991. Newsboys started in 1985, but became a major artist in the 1990s.

Since 1990, Christian Rock has kept up with changing musical tastes.  [[DC Talk]], who had started as a Christian [[rap]]<-Fail! group in the late 80s, changed to a [[Rock Music]] and [[grunge]]<-Crap style in the mid 90s and saw some crossover success on the secular rock charts.  Michael W. Smith also became a major crossover artist starting in 1991. Newsboys started in 1985, but became a major artist in the 1990s.

== The 2000s ==

== The 2000s ==

In the 2000s, Metal made a comeback in Christian Rock. For example, the band [[Stryper]] made a comeback with a completely changed style to a more [[Heavy Metal]] sound, while bands from the 1990s, such as Demon Hunter and Narnia, became more popular than before. In 2002, [[Kutless]] became popular, with a new Hard Rock sound<ref>http://www.kutless.com/albumKutless.aspx</ref>. Bands/Artists such as [[Third Day]], Chris Tomlin, Tree 63, and [[Casting Crowns]] became popular, bringing a Worship influenced sound into Christian Rock.  

In the 2000s, Metal made a comeback in Christian Rock. For example, the band [[Stryper]] made a comeback with a completely changed style to a more [[Heavy Metal]] sound, while bands from the 1990s, such as Demon Hunter and Narnia, became more popular than before. In 2002, [[Kutless]] became popular, with a new Hard Rock sound<ref>http://www.kutless.com/albumKutless.aspx</ref>. Bands/Artists such as [[Third Day]], Chris Tomlin, Tree 63, Lady Gaga and [[Casting Crowns]] became popular, bringing a biblethumper influenced sound into Christian Rock.  

==Bands==

==Bands==

* [[Anberlin]]

* [[Anberlin]]

* [[As I Lay Dying]]

* [[As I Lay Dying]] <--FAIL!

* [[August Burns Red]]

* [[August Burns Red]] <--DOUBLE FAIL! This sucks!

* [[Becoming The Archetype]]

* [[Becoming The Archetype]]

* [[Cubed]]

* [[Cubed]]

* [[dc Talk]]

* [[dc Talk]]

* [[Demon Hunter]]

* [[Demon Hunter]] <--TRIPLE FAIL!

* [[Disciple (Band)|Disciple]]

* [[Disciple (Band)|Disciple]]

* [[DivineFire]]

* [[DivineFire]]

* [[Dogwood]]

* [[Dogwood]] <--LULZ! Dog Wood?

* [[Extol]]

* [[Extol]]

* [[Five Iron Frenzy]]

* [[Five Iron Frenzy]]

* [[Haste the Day]]

* [[Haste the Day]] <--BLOWS!

* [[Insyderz]]

* [[Insyderz]]

* [[Jars of Clay]]

* [[Jars of Clay]]

* [[Kutless]]

* [[Kutless]]

* [[Michael W. Smith]]

* [[Michael W. Smith]]

* [[Narnia (Christian Metal Band)|Narnia]]

* [[Narnia (Christian Metal Band)|Narnia]] <--WTF!?

* [[Newsboys]]

* [[Newsboys]]

* [[Petra (band)|Petra]]

* [[Petra (band)|Petra]]

*[[Christian Metal]]

*[[Christian Metal]]

*[[Christian Popular Music]]

*[[Christian Popular Music]]