Extreme

Extreme is a semi-well known band from the late 1980's most famous for the song More Than Words, a touching ballad which demonstrates a frustration in a relationship many go through.

What most people do not know, however, is that at least 3 of the 4 members of Extreme are Christian , and use Christian images in their music.

Though they personally hold Christian values, they would not be considered a "Christian Rock Band", since the majority of their songs appeal to the main stream and they are not overt about their religion, though at no time do they deny it.

Christian Oriented Songs

From their first album, Extreme is a song called Watching Waiting, a song about the death of Christ on the cross, with the line "Staring at the Son, not even knowing who you are". A second song from the same album is about abortion, Rock-a-by "If you could only hear the silent scream when you wake them up from their dream.

The song "Hole Hearted" on the second album, Pornograffitti might well be just a love song, but if you read the lyrics carefully, they more directly relate to the only love that can truly fill the cold soul. There's a hole in my heart that can only be filled by You. (also, in the official lyrics, the "You" is capped, which to me is a bit of a dead giveaway.)

The third album is a more mature relationship with Christ and God (suggesting the self-doubt, the questioning many of us have from time to time). Seven Sundays asks the question "can I have a week of Sundays, since that's the day that I spend with You". Again, could be a simple love song, but in context of the album and the authors, and that telling capped "You", I read it to be a love of God or Jesus. The song Please tell me God isn't dead is exactly what it sounds like. A plea in the face of a lost world. Where is He when I need Him? The final three songs on teh album, "The Truth" talk about self-doubt, leaving the flock, and finally, in the third song of the trilogy, the last song of the album, the return to the Kingdom. Its a masterfully crafted statement that none of us are perfect, and that we can even leave to come home to God's love.

The fourth and final album is far more cynical of the world in general. Evilangelist blasts televangelists and others who use God to sell for profit or for political position or for agenda. No government, political point of view, or nation owns God, and those who use God and His message in this way are hypocrites. Another song, "There is no God" is devoted to satirizing those who choose not to accept God and His message.

Gary Cherone

Gary Cherone, lead singer of the band went on to form another band called Tribe of Judah, an unabashedly Christian band with a philosophical, introspective message.

Cherone is pro-life, and is somewhat famous for challenging Eddie Vedder on the stance of "Abortion on Demand". Cherone does draw the line when the child is dying in the womb and the abortion would cause less impact to the mother, or if the mother herself faces serious health risks, stating that he feels this is a fair balance of the mother's rights to live vs. the baby's rights to live.

External Links

Tribe of Judah Review Cherone's Open letter to Eddie Veder, challenging Vedder's pro-choice position. (editor's note: this is a well written letter to reference. He keeps his tone civil, but focuses on the value of life and the emotions of the baby and science as a point to argue from.) http://vox-nova.com/2007/06/20/letter-to-eddie-vedder-by-gary-cherone/