Christian Death: Biography

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• Sex Gang Children
• Morbid Angel
• Morbid Saint
• Scatterbrain
• Slayer
• Bathory
• Death

• Black Flag
• Minor Threat
• Bauhaus
• The Doors
• Current 93
• David Bowie
• Joy Division

• Theatre of Tragedy
• Jane's Addiction
• Sopor Aeternus
• Kommunity FK
• Type O Negative
• The EverDead
• Godhead

• Pompeii 99
• The Adolescents
• Rozz Williams
• William Faith

Formed:

Jan 1, 1979 in Los Angeles, CA

Disbanded:

Jan 1, 1995

Genres:

Rock Music, Gothic Rock Music, Industrial Rock Music, Metal Rock Music

Decades Active:

1980's|1990's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Christian Death is one of the preeminent groups on the so-called "goth-rock" scene. Their music is typified by mostly slow riffs, loud guitars, ambient horror-movie style synths, and gloomy, apocalyptic lyrics, which are often strongly critical examinations of organized religion. The group was formed by singer Rozz Williams and featured ex-Adolescents guitarist Rikk Agnew; its original lineup disbanded, and Williams recruited the members of Pompeii 99, who had been scheduled to open for Christian Death on a European tour. They included guitarist/singer Valor Kand (who took over lead vocals and songwriting in 1986), keyboardist Gitane DeMone, and drummer David Glass. Valor's songwriting took the band in a more political direction, concentrating almost exclusively on anti-religious sentiment. The group's album art is calculated for maximum shock value. DeMone left in 1989 to pursue a career singing jazz in Holland; she was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Nick the Bastard, and Christian Death continued on apace until Williams exited for a solo career in 1995. (He committed suicide three years later.) Subsequent releases include 1996's Prophecies, 1999's Pornographic Messiah, and 2001's Born Against Anti Christian.

- Steve Huey, All Music Guide