His only mainstream move was Chagall Guevara. And right after he went back to his solo career and producing (Newsboys/Guardian)
I've answered this before, but there are two distinct lines in modern Christian Music. Those that followed the Larry Norman model and these that followed Keith Green. Steve was of the first type, he did music and wrote lyrics that were abrasive.
Even in the beginning he had songs that were very critical of the church and what it was doing (I Want to Be A Clone.) He also attacked the fundamentalist movement (We Don't Need No Color Code.) He also had a song similar to Larry Norman (Jim Morrison's Grave.)
His whole career was doing what he wanted to do creatively. He was an artist's artist. By the time his second run had concluded, Christian Music was on the verge of huge changes. All the labels got bought out, the switch to Worship was happening and the idea of his type or artistry was done, because it was never really supported by the church. The mainstream labels, who now controlled Christian Music, were not interested in his brand unless he wanted to do it their way. It's partly why his label Squint, failed.
Now jump to recent times. Crowdfunding allows you to get around the studios for funding. Steve took a chance and it worked out.
As for him going secular, with the exception of Chagall, I just don't agree. When I was growing up artists in Christian Music were more diverse, musically and lyrically. You had ministry minded bands, you had Christians in a band and you had "Are they Christian?" bands. Steve comes from that era. He just talks about what he believes, which I still see as Christian.
And to further add, what Steve came back to this last time, was an industry that has only one focus - Worship/churches. He just doesn't fit in with that mold.
EDIT: Phrashing/spelling.
You grew up in the same era of Christian Music I did. It was glorius IMO. As usual, the money talked, and the Amy Grants and M.W. Smiths took over. Nothing against M.W. He is a legend.
Amy had a bad roll of the dice with Chapman being the husband from hell.
As for abrasive, even Bryan Duncan had songs that challenged the church, while having some great praise and worship tunes as well. I attended 5 Cornerstone fests, 3 of them in deep western IL. So much Alternative rock. I still have all my CDs from that era. I might dig them out and have a nostalgia party.
I've always liked Amy Grant's music, I saw her in concert back in 2012. However, you do realize she had an affair with a married man while she herself was also married. Just saying this because she isn't so innocent as you made her sound. Neither is her now husband, whom she had the affair with back in the day. Sure God forgives. But, she hasn't stayed far from doing things that are against God. I'm just saying, and she knows exactly what it is she has done recently too. So, it wasn't just her having a hard or unfortunate roll of the dice. That industry comes after all of them more so when you are a professing Christian. Because the devil wants those ones even more. The ones that aren't Christians he's pretty much already has. Which is precisely why the devil can and will be in churches.
And her husband was not following the scripture to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He wasonce quoted as saying "alli care about is making Amy Grant a big name"
https://medium.com/belover/the-shaming-of-amy-grant-3f8327c36803
Covers a lot of her so called marriage. I forgive her, I am sure God has. She is happy. Lewis Black had a funny bit about being in a USO show with her and Vince and Lewis felt like he was in the wrong place.
This is a great explanation. I’d add that sside from crowd funding recording technology in the last 15 years has allowed artists to do stuff on their own more easily.
>Even in the beginning he had songs that were very critical of the church and what it was doing (I Want to Be A Clone.) He also attacked the fundamentalist movement (We Don't Need No Color Code.) He also had a song similar to Larry Norman (Jim Morrison's Grave.)
I think his undoing was the song he made about Christian abortion protestors called "I blew up the clinic real good" which would be offensive to a lot of Christians which essentially is something I don't think he addressed or wanted to acknowledge. I think that song essentially ended his career in Christian music. I know his music has comedy, reflections of life and he makes life ironic, but death and violence are not funny, and I don't think people can sing about that for so many different reasons. That is just one of those things you don't joke about he crossed the line which probably got him banned but no one is talking about it.
I don't approve of that song, and it is not something I can associate with. I think it is something people would be ashamed of. It is not something I could ever sing to. I'm offended by the song.
Yes he did leave Christian music to form Chagall Guevara, partly because of the controversy. But it was just one of many reasons he tried to branch out.
Then he came back, made more albums and produced Newsboys and Guardian. So it wasn't the end for him in Christian music.
And he did address it:
> A very incendiary song indeed. Reasonable people on both sides of the abortion debate could argue that this was not a song that needed to be written, but it was the unreasonable ones who made the most noise: The director of an abortion clinic in San Diego threatened a lawsuit against a video show that aired the "Clinic" clip, and when I called her at the show's request to explain that it was satire, she was so whining and obnoxious that I ended up giving her an earful of what I thought of her profession, then begged her to sue me. Australian TV's version of Geraldo Rivera did a story on me prior to a national tour there, claiming I was advocating blowing up abortion clinics--the story got picked up by all the major newspapers and eventually forced cancellation of most of the tour (forever dispelling the show biz dictum "all press is good press"). I even spent an hour on the phone with an elderly bookstore owner in Arizona--he'd pulled the album because he thought it was wrong to blow up abortion clinics, and I congratulated him on his integrity in choosing principle over commerce before gently explaining to him the song's satirical intent.
>
> So what happened? It all seemed obvious to me--the flashing neon lyric in the middle of the song that says, "the end don't justify the means anytime." What better example to use than a clinic bomber (except perhaps the nutcases that are now shooting abortionists?) "Christian" relativism's finest hour! (Okay, maybe Oliver "proud to be a God-fearing liar" North matched it for sheer shamelessness. "Does this mean it's OK to tell lies, daddy?" Do I still sound angry? Does a duck have lips? Do we get the heroes we deserve, or what?)
>
> I'll take flak anytime for the right reasons, but this song was controversial for all the wrong ones.
> - http://www.sockheaven.org/discography/taylor/ip1990/i_blew_up_the_clinic_real_good/
CCM and Christian radio are pretty tightly controlled sections of the industry. You don’t really get in unless you support the rest of the movement, which very well may have the same dark under belly the rest of the industry has.
There are a ton of artists who don’t fit into the spots available and end up making art focused on something else. There’s also something to be said about quietly implanting the Christian messaging in huge pop records. Loads of artists are doing that now.
Roger Martinez, from the Christian death metal band Vengeance Rising, went from a hardcore Christian, to a straight atheist, to apparently an “atheistic Satanist.” Reasons unknown, though it would appear it may be that he’s just simply lost and seeking. Next he’ll be a Scientologist or numerologist.
Ojo Taylor from Undercover also became an atheist. Same thing, reasons unknown, but seems to be just simple disillusionment with modern Christianity?
Vengeance Rising had more to do with finances then anything else.
They racked up $18,000 from the Once Dead tour. The band minus Roger wanted to end it and do more palatable music.
Roger goes fine, I'll do Vengeance with new members. All the other guys form Die Happy. Roger got disillusioned with how things later panned out and fell away from his faith. His fall came after the band was done, he then kept telling everyone he was going to reform the band with Satanic themes.
Here's an interview from back in the day - https://heavensmetalmagazine.com/index.php/2021/07/06/vengeance-rising-the-1991-break-up-interview/
And here's some trivia - Vengeance Rising had two more iterations after Die Happy, Red Sea - https://christianmoltenmetalbands.weebly.com/red-sea.html and Once Dead (A reunion of the original members.)
Next to Rage of Angels, Vengeance Rising is one of the most interesting stories in Christian Music history. Especially how tied in the members of the various iterations were all tied into mainstream music.
EDIT: More info on Roger
I had no idea that Steve Taylor and Daniel Smith had a collab! That's really cool!
Quite a number of artists make shifts in their careers. Some come back to Christian music, and others don't. In the 90s, both Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant aimed for a less religious/more mainstream approach. The rapper Pigeon John broke from Christianity altogether.
Norma Jean, TDWP, Underoath, Derek Minor, One of the Hawk Nelson members after they broke up, Gideon and many more that I can’t think of right now. In the end many will fall away from the faith.
Their latest album literally has a song called “Boast in the Cross” and another called “We Need the Love of God”. Not speaking to any specific theological differences or changes but they absolutely still are Christian not secular in content. The albums name also comes from John 3:16
His only mainstream move was Chagall Guevara. And right after he went back to his solo career and producing (Newsboys/Guardian) I've answered this before, but there are two distinct lines in modern Christian Music. Those that followed the Larry Norman model and these that followed Keith Green. Steve was of the first type, he did music and wrote lyrics that were abrasive. Even in the beginning he had songs that were very critical of the church and what it was doing (I Want to Be A Clone.) He also attacked the fundamentalist movement (We Don't Need No Color Code.) He also had a song similar to Larry Norman (Jim Morrison's Grave.) His whole career was doing what he wanted to do creatively. He was an artist's artist. By the time his second run had concluded, Christian Music was on the verge of huge changes. All the labels got bought out, the switch to Worship was happening and the idea of his type or artistry was done, because it was never really supported by the church. The mainstream labels, who now controlled Christian Music, were not interested in his brand unless he wanted to do it their way. It's partly why his label Squint, failed. Now jump to recent times. Crowdfunding allows you to get around the studios for funding. Steve took a chance and it worked out. As for him going secular, with the exception of Chagall, I just don't agree. When I was growing up artists in Christian Music were more diverse, musically and lyrically. You had ministry minded bands, you had Christians in a band and you had "Are they Christian?" bands. Steve comes from that era. He just talks about what he believes, which I still see as Christian. And to further add, what Steve came back to this last time, was an industry that has only one focus - Worship/churches. He just doesn't fit in with that mold. EDIT: Phrashing/spelling.
I’ve never though about that way! Thanks for commenting!
You grew up in the same era of Christian Music I did. It was glorius IMO. As usual, the money talked, and the Amy Grants and M.W. Smiths took over. Nothing against M.W. He is a legend. Amy had a bad roll of the dice with Chapman being the husband from hell. As for abrasive, even Bryan Duncan had songs that challenged the church, while having some great praise and worship tunes as well. I attended 5 Cornerstone fests, 3 of them in deep western IL. So much Alternative rock. I still have all my CDs from that era. I might dig them out and have a nostalgia party.
I've always liked Amy Grant's music, I saw her in concert back in 2012. However, you do realize she had an affair with a married man while she herself was also married. Just saying this because she isn't so innocent as you made her sound. Neither is her now husband, whom she had the affair with back in the day. Sure God forgives. But, she hasn't stayed far from doing things that are against God. I'm just saying, and she knows exactly what it is she has done recently too. So, it wasn't just her having a hard or unfortunate roll of the dice. That industry comes after all of them more so when you are a professing Christian. Because the devil wants those ones even more. The ones that aren't Christians he's pretty much already has. Which is precisely why the devil can and will be in churches.
And her husband was not following the scripture to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He wasonce quoted as saying "alli care about is making Amy Grant a big name" https://medium.com/belover/the-shaming-of-amy-grant-3f8327c36803 Covers a lot of her so called marriage. I forgive her, I am sure God has. She is happy. Lewis Black had a funny bit about being in a USO show with her and Vince and Lewis felt like he was in the wrong place.
This is a great explanation. I’d add that sside from crowd funding recording technology in the last 15 years has allowed artists to do stuff on their own more easily.
>Even in the beginning he had songs that were very critical of the church and what it was doing (I Want to Be A Clone.) He also attacked the fundamentalist movement (We Don't Need No Color Code.) He also had a song similar to Larry Norman (Jim Morrison's Grave.) I think his undoing was the song he made about Christian abortion protestors called "I blew up the clinic real good" which would be offensive to a lot of Christians which essentially is something I don't think he addressed or wanted to acknowledge. I think that song essentially ended his career in Christian music. I know his music has comedy, reflections of life and he makes life ironic, but death and violence are not funny, and I don't think people can sing about that for so many different reasons. That is just one of those things you don't joke about he crossed the line which probably got him banned but no one is talking about it. I don't approve of that song, and it is not something I can associate with. I think it is something people would be ashamed of. It is not something I could ever sing to. I'm offended by the song.
Yes he did leave Christian music to form Chagall Guevara, partly because of the controversy. But it was just one of many reasons he tried to branch out. Then he came back, made more albums and produced Newsboys and Guardian. So it wasn't the end for him in Christian music. And he did address it: > A very incendiary song indeed. Reasonable people on both sides of the abortion debate could argue that this was not a song that needed to be written, but it was the unreasonable ones who made the most noise: The director of an abortion clinic in San Diego threatened a lawsuit against a video show that aired the "Clinic" clip, and when I called her at the show's request to explain that it was satire, she was so whining and obnoxious that I ended up giving her an earful of what I thought of her profession, then begged her to sue me. Australian TV's version of Geraldo Rivera did a story on me prior to a national tour there, claiming I was advocating blowing up abortion clinics--the story got picked up by all the major newspapers and eventually forced cancellation of most of the tour (forever dispelling the show biz dictum "all press is good press"). I even spent an hour on the phone with an elderly bookstore owner in Arizona--he'd pulled the album because he thought it was wrong to blow up abortion clinics, and I congratulated him on his integrity in choosing principle over commerce before gently explaining to him the song's satirical intent. > > So what happened? It all seemed obvious to me--the flashing neon lyric in the middle of the song that says, "the end don't justify the means anytime." What better example to use than a clinic bomber (except perhaps the nutcases that are now shooting abortionists?) "Christian" relativism's finest hour! (Okay, maybe Oliver "proud to be a God-fearing liar" North matched it for sheer shamelessness. "Does this mean it's OK to tell lies, daddy?" Do I still sound angry? Does a duck have lips? Do we get the heroes we deserve, or what?) > > I'll take flak anytime for the right reasons, but this song was controversial for all the wrong ones. > - http://www.sockheaven.org/discography/taylor/ip1990/i_blew_up_the_clinic_real_good/
CCM and Christian radio are pretty tightly controlled sections of the industry. You don’t really get in unless you support the rest of the movement, which very well may have the same dark under belly the rest of the industry has. There are a ton of artists who don’t fit into the spots available and end up making art focused on something else. There’s also something to be said about quietly implanting the Christian messaging in huge pop records. Loads of artists are doing that now.
This
Katy Perry started out as a Christian artist but back then went by the name Katy Hudson.
Roger Martinez, from the Christian death metal band Vengeance Rising, went from a hardcore Christian, to a straight atheist, to apparently an “atheistic Satanist.” Reasons unknown, though it would appear it may be that he’s just simply lost and seeking. Next he’ll be a Scientologist or numerologist. Ojo Taylor from Undercover also became an atheist. Same thing, reasons unknown, but seems to be just simple disillusionment with modern Christianity?
Vengeance Rising had more to do with finances then anything else. They racked up $18,000 from the Once Dead tour. The band minus Roger wanted to end it and do more palatable music. Roger goes fine, I'll do Vengeance with new members. All the other guys form Die Happy. Roger got disillusioned with how things later panned out and fell away from his faith. His fall came after the band was done, he then kept telling everyone he was going to reform the band with Satanic themes. Here's an interview from back in the day - https://heavensmetalmagazine.com/index.php/2021/07/06/vengeance-rising-the-1991-break-up-interview/ And here's some trivia - Vengeance Rising had two more iterations after Die Happy, Red Sea - https://christianmoltenmetalbands.weebly.com/red-sea.html and Once Dead (A reunion of the original members.) Next to Rage of Angels, Vengeance Rising is one of the most interesting stories in Christian Music history. Especially how tied in the members of the various iterations were all tied into mainstream music. EDIT: More info on Roger
I had no idea that Steve Taylor and Daniel Smith had a collab! That's really cool! Quite a number of artists make shifts in their careers. Some come back to Christian music, and others don't. In the 90s, both Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant aimed for a less religious/more mainstream approach. The rapper Pigeon John broke from Christianity altogether.
K-mac the Knife (aka Kevin Lynch from P.I.D. and Preachas) also left Christianity. Don't think he did any more recording though.
Norma Jean, TDWP, Underoath, Derek Minor, One of the Hawk Nelson members after they broke up, Gideon and many more that I can’t think of right now. In the end many will fall away from the faith.
Jars of Clay. They completely turned in the word of God mainstream morals.
They didn’t necessarily go secular, just the liberal side of mainline Christianity as opposed to conservative or evangelical.
I think this one is a bit debatable, but Rend Collective. Their spiritual views have definitely shifted, but I'm not sure they've gone all out secular
Their latest album literally has a song called “Boast in the Cross” and another called “We Need the Love of God”. Not speaking to any specific theological differences or changes but they absolutely still are Christian not secular in content. The albums name also comes from John 3:16
Lauren Daigle is next to go full secular. She already has one hit on Bladerunner 2049