From Christian Rock to the Rock of Ages

Christian rock (occasionally abbreviated CR) is a form of rock music played by bands whose members are Christian and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands. Much Christian rock has ties to the Contemporary Christian music (CCM) scene; while other bands are independent. The Christian rock genre is most popular in the United States, although some Christian bands have worldwide popularity. Related subgenres of Christian music include Christian alternative rock, Christian metal, Christian industrial, Christian and Christian ska.

History

Christian response to rock music (1950s-1960s) (About Christian rock music)

Rock n roll music was not viewed favorably by most fundamentalist  Christians when it attained popularity with young people beginning in the 1950s. Although early rock music was often influenced by country and both black and white forms of gospel music, it was primarily derived from African American styles such as blues. White, religious people in many regions of the United States did not want their children exposed to what was viewed as "race music", with unruly, impassioned vocals, loud guitar riffs and jarring, hypnotic rhythms. Often the music was overtly sexual in nature, as in the case of Elvis Presley, who became controversial and massively popular partly for his suggestive stage antics. Individual Christians may have listened to or even performed rock music in many cases, but it was seen as anathema to conservative church establishments, particularly in the American South.

In the 1960s, rock n roll music matured artistically, attained worldwide popularity and became associated with the radical counterculture, firmly alienating many Christians. In 1966, British act The Beatles, regarded as one of the most popular and influential rock bands of their era, ran into trouble with many of their American fans when John Lennon jokingly offered his opinion that Christianity was dying and that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus now". The romantic, melodic rock songs of the band's early career had formerly been viewed as relatively inoffensive, but after the remark, churches nationwide organized Beatles records burnings and Lennon was forced to apologize. Subsequently the Beatles experimented with a more complex, psychedelic style of music and anti-establishment lyrics, while the Rolling Stones sang a song openly (sincerely or not) from the point of view of Satan.

As the decade continued, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Paris student riots and other events served as catalysts for youth activism and political withdrawal or protest, which became associated with rock bands, whether or not they were openly political. Moreover, many saw the music as promoting a lifestyle of promiscuous "sex, drugs and rock and roll", also reflected in the behavior of many rock stars. However, there was growing recognition of the diverse musical and ideological potential of rock. Countless new bands sprang up in the mid-to-late 1960s, as rock displaced older, smoother pop styles to become the dominant form of pop music, a position it would enjoy almost continuously until the end of the 20th century, when hip-hop finally eclipsed it in sales.

Roots of "Christian rock" (1970s-1980s) (about Christian rock music)

Main article: Jesus music

Possibly the very first documented appearance of a rock band playing in church 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. 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. A cover version of his Rapture-themed "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" appears in the Evangelical Christian feature film A Thief in the Night. Christian rock band David and the Giants were a successful Christian rock band throughout the '80s. They released a string of hit albums like Under Control, Magnificat and Strangers to the Night. Still, Christian rock was often viewed as a marginal part of the nascent Contemporay Christian music (CCM) and contemporary gospel industry in the 1970s and '80s, though Christian folk rock artists like Phil Keaggy and Bruce Cockburn had some success and Christian-identifying hard rock acts such as Stryper r gained some fame during the 1980s. U2, a band composed mostly of Christians but which existed outside the Christian rock industry, became one of the most popular bands in the world by the late 1980s.

Acceptance of the genre (1990s-present)(about Christian rock music and odd Christian rock bands)

The 1990s saw an explosion of Christian rock, heavily inspired by the success of U2, as well as by the musical style of grunge bands such as Pearl Jam andNirvana (who were not Christian bands). Many of the popular '90s Christian bands were initially identified as Christian alternative rock, including dc Talk, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, and others. Some also incorporated rap, punk or heavy metal.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the demise of Creed  and the success of Christian-inspired nu-metal, emo and goth acts like P.O.D. saw a shift in the Christian rock scene. Indy rock bands on the label Tooth & Nail also gained wider influence and critical praise despite existing outside the industry.

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