“The founding fathers of American goth rock, Christian Death took a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that made Marilyn Manson look like Stryper. Regardless of who was leading or performing in the group, Christian Death set themselves up to shock, both in their cover art and their lyrics, which wallowed in blasphemy, morbidity, drug use, and sexual perversity. Their self-consciously controversial tactics set them apart from the British goth scene, having more to do with L.A. punk and heavy metal, and thus the band dubbed its sound “death rock” instead; however, their sensibility was ultimately similar enough that the “goth” designation stuck in the end. Their music also relied on slow, doomy, effects-laden guitar riffs and ambient horror-soundtrack synths, and their theatrical performances were strongly influenced by British glam rockers like David Bowie and Roxy Music, as well as industrial provocateurs Throbbing Gristle. The latter was especially true of the band’s first incarnation, led by vocalist and founder Rozz Williams, – When Williams left in 1985, guitarist Valor Kand took over leadership and sent the group in a more intellectual, political, and metal-oriented direction. A subsequent dispute over ownership of the Christian Death name, – lead many of their fans to take sides. – Christian Death had an enormous influence on the American goth scene, shaping the sensibility of countless goth, metal, and even industrial acts that followed. Sadly, the Kand-Williams dispute ended in tragedy in 1998, when a heroin-addicted Williams took his own life.” ~ Steve Hue VH1, ROLLING STONE
There has been a ridiculously huge revolving door of membership in the Los Angeles band known as Christian Death. In the beginning, not long after the local California release of the first album, “Only Theatre of Pain”, the band irrevocably and formally broke up. This left “Rozz”, at home with his overtly religious parents in Pomona California, to contemplate his insufferable boredom, his only relief being found on the pages of his lyrics. After being invited to the record release party for “Pompeii 99”a band already enjoying success in L.A., where Rozz met band leader, singer and guitarist “Valor”. Before long they were inseparable friends and Rozz was invited to join Pompeii 99. Together as Pompeii 99, while rehearsing for a planned European tour, the head of a French record label that Valor had been negotiating with, proposed the notion of renaming his band Christian Death. Neither Valor nor Rozz wanted to entertain this, however, the incentives proposed by the label eventually prevailed and thus Pompeii 99 was reborn as Christian Death . The second Christian Death album, “Catastrophe Ballet”, which resulted from this deal, was recorded in Wales UK, (a place where several future Christian Death albums were also to be born). A month before the release of Catastrophe Ballet, the French label head released a compilation which he called “Deathwish” comprised of previously recorded, unreleased outtakes and single tracks he had licensed.
Recording the second album was followed by the very first Christian Death tour which began in Paris and on to most European countries. The emotional stress of this first tour was hard on Rozz causing him to return to Los Angeles months before the other members that remained in Europe. Upon Valor’s return to Los Angeles, work began immediately on the third album, “Ashes”. Meanwhile, the release of a “live” album called “The Decomposition of Violets” recorded in Hollywood was also released.”
After the release of Ashes the following year, plans were underway for the second European tour when, Rozz, just weeks before the first scheduled date in Italy, announced his plans to quit the band. With no intention of cancelling the tour, Valor returned to lead vocals, the bass player became the guitarist and the guitar tech became the bass player and the tour proceeded as planned but without Rozz.
Now fronted by Valor, they left California and settled in London England which they used as a base to tour Europe relentlessly in the midst of controversy, riots, bomb threats and protests by extremist Christian groups. Many concerts were canceled as a result of direct pressure by influential religious organizations.
From England a further “nine studio albums” and four live albums were released in the territories of England, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and USA with each release in each territory having different art work, configurations and bonus tracks. Among these releases was the critically acclaimed album “Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ” which depicted Jesus shooting heroin and the single “Church Of No Return” which went to No.12 in the UK charts which landed the band numerous spots on MTV, VH1, Super Channel, BBC and countless other Euro television and radio shows. Meanwhile in the USA, Christian organizations began burning their albums in public and on Christian Television networks.
In 1994 Valor relocated Christian Death to the USA centered around himself and Maitri on bass and vocals. “He returned with 1994’s Sexy Death God, which many longtime fans greeted as his best and tightest effort in quite some time.”~ Steve Hue VH1
Once again based in the USA, for the first time, it was possible to do full North American tours, of which there were many, which also included Mexico where the live album “Amen” was recoded at the first ever show in Mexico City for Century Media. Later to be followed by the studio album: “Pornographic Messiah” which was also recorded in Mexico, then mixed in Holland.
“In 2000, they added drummer Will “Was” Sarginson (ex-Cradle of Filth and Blood Divine) and toured Europe alongside Britain’s Cradle of Filth, one of the more popular black metal bands of their time. The two groups got along well enough for several Cradle members to guest on Christian Death’s 2001 album Born Again Anti Christian, helping it become one of the most metallic records in their catalog.
The following year, female vocalist and bassist Maitri, by then the second most continuous member of Christian Death, issued her black metal-influenced solo album “Lover of Sin” (confusingly labeled on the cover as “Christian Death Presents…”). In 2003, Cradle of Filth guitarist Gian Pyres officially joined Christian Death for their European tour.” ~ Steve Hue VH1
In response to the post 911 period, the album “American Inquisition” recorded on Season Of Mist was the offering. The tours for this album included new territories for the band: Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador. Australia, and New Zealand. Around this time Christian Death released multitrack versions of several songs for the “Rock Band” video game series as well at that time bootleg figurines of both Rozz and Valor began to appear.
In 2012 Maitri released the album second Lover Of Sin album ”Horny Beast” the project featured members of Nile, Morbid Angel and other popular Death Metal Bands.
2013 full tour of The Americas into 2014, with a full back catalogue digital global release. Culminating the year at “Hellfest” supporting “Kiss”, “Rob Zombie” and “Limp Biscuit”.
With the 2015 Release of the album “The Root of All Evilution”, and the tour for that album which began that Autumn in Europe through into North America in 2016 and again returning to Europe and finishing in Israel.
The song “Between youth”, re-released in 2017 was featured in the Vice TV series on HBO “Balls Deep”.
Later in Autumn 2017, Christian Death completed the longest North America Tour to date. The tour included “Lords of Acid”, Combichrist, En Esch, Night Club.
Touring in 2018, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. USA West Coast mini tour, including Cloak and Dagger Festival Los Angeles
2019 European Tour – England, Scotland, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia
2021 USA Mini tour due to Covid 19
2021/2022 Scheduled re-release of all 16 studio albums on vinyl’s and cd all new Special editions.
2022 Release of the All New album “Evil Becomes Rule” on Season Of Mist
2022 World Tour
Part way through the tour the band stopped in Wales to record songs, some of which were originally intended for the next Pompeii 99 album. The fusion of which led to the unique sound of the classic “Catastrophe Ballet”. Like the first Pompeii 99 album, Catastrophe Ballet had an apocalyptic theme, however the music morphed into something not quite Pompeii 99 and nothing like the first Christian Death album. After the tour the band returned to LA to later record the 3rd Christian Death album “Ashes” which was a post apocalyptic vision of a cold and bleak future.
After confirming the 2nd tour in 85 singer Rozz quit the band. Valor returned to vocals, the band embarked on the 2nd tour. In Italy the band recorded the mini album “The Wind Kissed Pictures”, a surrealist view of a mystical past. Almost immediately work began on the 4th full length album “Atrocities” inspired by the atrocities of World War II and the connection to future shock waves. While continuously touring in 87 the band released the 5th and now classic album “The Scriptures”, the theme of which explored world religion and how the legacy of these beliefs impact our world today.
1988 Brought us the release of “Sex & Drugs & Jesus Christ”. This was turning point for the band. The cover depicted an image of Jesus shooting up heroin. This was a full frontal attack by Valor against the Church with a scathing heretical mockery of organized Christianity. The band then found themselves confronted by protesters, riots and bomb threats, These events and the bands imagery and fashion went on to influence the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, every Goth band on the planet and many others.
1989 saw the release of the double album epic “All the Love, All the Hate” interpreting the juxtaposition between life and death, day and night, man and woman, black and white.
In 1991 came the release of “Insanus, Ultio, proditio, Misericordiaque”, with its theme of an ancient dream state.
Late in 91, after being in several other bands and seven years after quitting Christian Death, Rozz was persuaded by unscrupulous profiteers to perform at a concert in Los Angels under the name Christian Death. On the same day Christian Death was in Europe performing in Paris, France.
Assuming this was a one time effort to earn extra cash, as explained to Valor by Rozz, Valor ignored the incident and carried on recording and touring, only to later learn that a live album of the show had been released using the name Christian Death followed by a hastily recorded studio album also using the name, which led to a turf war. As accusations and rumors against Valor were spread by the profiteers and financial backers of these unofficial releases, fans were left confused. Valor pushed on.
By 1994, female vocalist and bass guitarist Maitri, (the now 2nd most continuous member of Christian Death) joined the band to record “Sexy Death God” which proclaimed sexual freedom in the face of religious adversity.
In 1996 was the release of “Prophecies” with its theme based on the Apocalyptic prophecies of soothsayers throughout the ages”. Sadly in 1997, Rozz committed suicide. It is believed heroin played a role. No suicide note was found.
In 1998 Christian Death released “Pornographic Messiah” a colorful elaborate return to the sex versus religion theme.
In !999 Christian Death released “Born Again anti Christian” which featured members of Cradle of Filth and a song sung by Dani Filth. The album theme was an assault on Born Again Christians as well as having the first songs inspired by mass murderers . In 2000 the band promoted the album on tour with Cradle Of Filth. While on tour with Cradle Of Filth, former Cradle of Filth Drummer Will Was Sargenson played in Christian Death.
In 2002, Maitri released her debut album and band Lover Of Sin with songs and production collaboration by Valor. Later that year Cradle Of Filth guitarist Gian Peres joined Christian Death for the 2003 tour, Lover Of Sin was the support.
Now in 2007, Christian Death announce the forthcoming release of their 13th studio album “AMERICAN INQUISITION”.
To be continued….
“Christian Death take a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that makes Marilyn Manson look like Stryper”.- VH1
“One of the top ten goth bands of all time” – Rolling Stone Magazine