Heavy metal band Megadeth's bassist is Christian, too

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Yes, it’s ok to rock to Megadeth:

Despite his membership in a band that named their debut album “Killing Is My Business … and Business Is Good,” Ellefson is a devout Christian, as is Mustaine. Ellefson grew up attending Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson and re-embraced his faith at the age of 25, after going through a 12-step recovery program. When he later settled down in Arizona, Ellefson started a contemporary worship service at a church in Scottsdale.
Source: twincities.com/2017/01/05/a-cup-of-coffee-from-megadeths-bassist-how-about-in-his-minnesota-hometown/

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Indeed! Megadeth and W.A.S.P. are two old-school metal bands whose founders have become Christian. Both bands have sworn off their worst songs from their early catalog and don’t play them live anymore.

In fact, W.A.S.P. took it another step further and recently released an explicitly Christian song (and an amazing one at that!), which was quite a surprise to their fanbase, I’m sure:

W.A.S.P. - Golgotha (Official Lyric Video)
 
Yeah, I did always like that Megadeth had not one but TWO devout Christians! They never did have the problematic lyrics that other metal bands have had, which makes them worry-free listening, with the exception of The Conjuring, which Dave has recently mulled over playing again. He’s just concerned about people taking the hex instructions in the song seriously and trying to do them.

Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P. has been Christian for over a decade or so, though he’s nondenominational or something. They still play the “dark” songs from the first album (one of the best rock albums ever BTW) with “devil” motifs, like Sleeping in the Fire and Hellion, but not Animal, which is the infamous one that helped lead to Al and Tipper Gore’s Senate witch hunt and pushes for a ratings system.

Rob Halford from Judas Priest and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister are also Christians. Tom Araya also claims to be a Catholic, and Tom’s very devout father found out what kind of band Tom was in when he went to a house to do a prayer healing on a parishioner’s “Satanist” son, and found a Slayer poster in the kid’s room! Black Sabbath has also injected Christian themes into their songs for that matter, with “After Forever” practically being the first Christian Metal song. Leave it to Sabbath.
 
Wampa said:
Indeed! Megadeth and W.A.S.P. are two old-school metal bands whose founders have become Christian. Both bands have sworn off their worst songs from their early catalog and don’t play them live anymore.

In fact, W.A.S.P. took it another step further and recently released an explicitly Christian song (and an amazing one at that!), which was quite a surprise to their fanbase, I’m sure:

W.A.S.P. - Golgotha (Official Lyric Video)
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Didn’t know that about W.A.S.P. It sort of makes me chuckle considering WASP is often used as an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. He’s living up to the band name, now. 😛
 
doomguy93 said:
Yeah, I did always like that Megadeth had not one but TWO devout Christians! They never did have the problematic lyrics that other metal bands have had, which makes them worry-free listening, with the exception of The Conjuring, which Dave has recently mulled over playing again. He’s just concerned about people taking the hex instructions in the song seriously and trying to do them.

Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P. has been Christian for over a decade or so, though he’s nondenominational or something. They still play the “dark” songs from the first album (one of the best rock albums ever BTW) with “devil” motifs, like Sleeping in the Fire and Hellion, but not Animal, which is the infamous one that helped lead to Al and Tipper Gore’s Senate witch hunt and pushes for a ratings system.

Rob Halford from Judas Priest and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister are also Christians. Tom Araya also claims to be a Catholic, and Tom’s very devout father found out what kind of band Tom was in when he went to a house to do a prayer healing on a parishioner’s “Satanist” son, and found a Slayer poster in the kid’s room! Black Sabbath has also injected Christian themes into their songs for that matter, with “After Forever” practically being the first Christian Metal song. Leave it to Sabbath.
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I dont buy it that the guy from Slayer is Christian, well, if he is, he sure is not following Gods laws. I remember listening to Slayer when I was in that young teenage rebellious stage, most all their songs are glorifying satan, violence, etc, heck one of their most popular songs has " all hail Satan" in the lyrics!

Of course Im sure they justify this so they go continue to reap the benefits of being in such a popular and successful rock band, they go home every night to their huge mansions with 8 car garages. and enjoy lucrative deals with record companies, but all that success is due to the promotion of worshiping satan.
 
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Is0jJcna0ww

Kerry King the founder of Slayer " religion is the biggest brainwashing thing in America and probably the rest of the world. I think it’s a load of S***".

My guess; probably not Christian.
 
The band Skid Row featured two Catholics: Rob Boland and Snake Sabo. Their album Slave to the Grind is pretty good and features the song Quicksand Jesus(The video features at the end a little girl being given a rosary). Not too sure what they are up to now, hope they put together some decent songs, maybe with a Catholic overtone.

Quicksand Jesus
youtube.com/watch?v=L8fYiqKbv7g

Although I don’t understand the line in the song, “are we saved by the words of bastard saints?”
 
mikekle said:
I dont buy it that the guy from Slayer is Christian, well, if he is, he sure is not following Gods laws. I remember listening to Slayer when I was in that young teenage rebellious stage, most all their songs are glorifying satan, violence, etc, heck one of their most popular songs has " all hail Satan" in the lyrics!

Of course Im sure they justify this so they go continue to reap the benefits of being in such a popular and successful rock band, they go home every night to their huge mansions with 8 car garages. and enjoy lucrative deals with record companies, but all that success is due to the promotion of worshiping satan.
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I don’t really see why Araya would make that up, as Slayer sure isn’t trying to gain Christian listeners. But I agree, I don’t know how he sleeps at night. He’s found some way to justify it to himself, so in the end it’s between him and God. He did almost leave the band over it many years ago. Kerry King hates Christianity as ChurchSoldier said, and began including it in his lyrics not too long ago.

I too was pretty into Slayer when I was a teenager. I saw most of their stuff as just like some kind of horror movie or a fantasy novel and not a personal statement. It’s clear they love shocking people. But today, since I’m more devout, I can’t really justify listening to them at all, maybe the Divine Intervention album but that’s it.

@LittleFlower: “Are we saved by the words of bastard saints” doesn’t sound very Catholic to me. But I didn’t know that Rachel Bolan and Dave Sabo claimed to be Catholics.
 
doomguy93 said:
I don’t really see why Araya would make that up, as Slayer sure isn’t trying to gain Christian listeners. But I agree, I don’t know how he sleeps at night. He’s found some way to justify it to himself, so in the end it’s between him and God. He did almost leave the band over it many years ago. Kerry King hates Christianity as ChurchSoldier said, and began including it in his lyrics not too long ago.

I too was pretty into Slayer when I was a teenager. I saw most of their stuff as just like some kind of horror movie or a fantasy novel and not a personal statement. It’s clear they love shocking people. But today, since I’m more devout, I can’t really justify listening to them at all, maybe the Divine Intervention album but that’s it.

@LittleFlower: “Are we saved by the words of bastard saints” doesn’t sound very Catholic to me. But I didn’t know that Rachel Bolan and Dave Sabo claimed to be Catholics.
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If you notice, its the young crowd that is mostly into bands like this, rebellious teens can relate, they like to shock adults.

The music industry is pretty darn clever, they know how to appeal to whatever group they are targeting, they have become very good at pushing their agenda but disguising it as something else.
 
mikekle said:
If you notice, its the young crowd that is mostly into bands like this, rebellious teens can relate, they like to shock adults.
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Actually, I don’t notice that at all. What I do notice that a lot of heavy metal bands who are now getting up there in age – many of them are now parents (and grandparents in some cases) – and accordingly don’t get the same level of exposure as a Justin Bieber or a Lady Gaga. So, while it might be tempting to play the “it’s the young crowd” card, that’s not the most accurate thing to claim. Ergo:
  • Metallica - average age is 50’s
  • Iron Maiden - average age is 50’s-60’s
  • Black Sabbath - Tony Iommi is 68, Geezer Butler is 67, Ozzy Osbourne is 68
  • Need more examples?
**What kid is going to want to listen to guys who are older than their parents? Really? ** 🤷

I am a huge fan of Social Distortion - Mike Ness is 54, married with two kids - and you would be surprised at how many parents and grandparents take their kids with them when they go to their shows. They’re one of the most inter-generational bands out there (probably way more inter-generational than the Rolling Stones.)

Some rock, punk and heavy metal will NEVER be liked by teens. I don’t know anyone under 30 who even knows who Black Sabbath are/were.
 
Tom Araya from Slayer is indeed Catholic. He goes to St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Buffalo, Texas just up the freeway a bit from me. He owns a ranch and raises cattle when he’s not on the road.

Kerry King, who doesn’t have any religion to speak of, writes the lyrics.

Quick little blog article you might be interested in.

Tom Araya and Dave Lombardo Start Christian Metal Side Project
posted Apr 1 2007 at 11:09 AM by deathbringer. (34 Comments)

Sources inform us that Slayer frontman Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo have started a yet-named Christian metal side project with ex-Living Sacrifice (and more recently POD) guitarist, Jason Truby. The three have been jamming together since the end of the recent Slayer tour with Unearth and they are presently looking for a second guitarist.

Araya, who is Catholic, has commented several times in recent interviews that he and Lombardo don’t necessarily subscribe to the lyrical content of Slayer’s songs.

“We’ve been playing this kind of music with dark themes and anti-religious topics for a long time now and I feel like I need something new, something more positive in my life,” explained Araya. Chuckling, he continued, “I feel like I have to do some penance as a good Catholic, you know?”

Slayer fans need not worry though – when asked if he is disbanding Slayer, Tom reassured his fanbase: “This new project will not interfere with Slayer any more than me going to church has. It’s just a small side thing at the moment.”

When asked to comment on the project, Kerry King had only this to say: “Whatever Tom and Dave need to do to exorcise their demons and keep the Slayer machine moving is ok with me. I wish them the best on their project.”
 
randomuser said:
Actually, I don’t notice that at all. What I do notice that a lot of heavy metal bands who are now getting up there in age – many of them are now parents (and grandparents in some cases) – and accordingly don’t get the same level of exposure as a Justin Bieber or a Lady Gaga. So, while it might be tempting to play the “it’s the young crowd” card, that’s not the most accurate thing to claim. Ergo:
  • Metallica - average age is 50’s
  • Iron Maiden - average age is 50’s-60’s
  • Black Sabbath - Tony Iommi is 68, Geezer Butler is 67, Ozzy Osbourne is 68
  • Need more examples?
**What kid is going to want to listen to guys who are older than their parents? Really? ** 🤷

I am a huge fan of Social Distortion - Mike Ness is 54, married with two kids - and you would be surprised at how many parents and grandparents take their kids with them when they go to their shows. They’re one of the most inter-generational bands out there (probably way more inter-generational than the Rolling Stones.)

Some rock, punk and heavy metal will NEVER be liked by teens. I don’t know anyone under 30 who even knows who Black Sabbath are/were.
Click to expand...
You can find some people in their mid to late 20’s into Black Sabbath, but you’re mostly right. Punk and metal in general seem to have have older fanbases.

I mean, even some of the more extreme things like death and black metal and crust from the punk side tend to have older folks. Even when it comes to some of the more extreme sides of both genres, you don’t often find teenagers listening to it but people who grew up listening to music.

In general, that sort of music isn’t relevant to younger generation and hasn’t been since the 90’s.
 
randomuser said:
Actually, I don’t notice that at all. What I do notice that a lot of heavy metal bands who are now getting up there in age – many of them are now parents (and grandparents in some cases) – and accordingly don’t get the same level of exposure as a Justin Bieber or a Lady Gaga. So, while it might be tempting to play the “it’s the young crowd” card, that’s not the most accurate thing to claim. Ergo:
  • Metallica - average age is 50’s
  • Iron Maiden - average age is 50’s-60’s
  • Black Sabbath - Tony Iommi is 68, Geezer Butler is 67, Ozzy Osbourne is 68
  • Need more examples?
**What kid is going to want to listen to guys who are older than their parents? Really? ** 🤷

I am a huge fan of Social Distortion - Mike Ness is 54, married with two kids - and you would be surprised at how many parents and grandparents take their kids with them when they go to their shows. They’re one of the most inter-generational bands out there (probably way more inter-generational than the Rolling Stones.)

Some rock, punk and heavy metal will NEVER be liked by teens. I don’t know anyone under 30 who even knows who Black Sabbath are/were.
Click to expand...
I see what you are saying, I listened to some Social D when I was younger. The Misfits came to mind as well, back in their hey day, when Glenn Danzig was with them, they were a very dark band, and they dressed the part, black leather, spikes, devil-lock hairstyles, etc but nowdays they are more like GWAR, more of a show than a band, their individual looks have been greatly exaggerated.

Although the side project of the Misfits, Sam hain, I used to listen to their music and alot of it was very evil and satanic.
 
mikekle said:
I see what you are saying, I listened to some Social D when I was younger. The Misfits came to mind as well, back in their hey day, when Glenn Danzig was with them, they were a very dark band, and they dressed the part, black leather, spikes, devil-lock hairstyles, etc but nowdays they are more like GWAR, more of a show than a band, their individual looks have been greatly exaggerated.

Although the side project of the Misfits, Sam hain, I used to listen to their music and alot of it was very evil and satanic.
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Weren’t The Misfits (similar to The Ramones and more specifically similar to The Cramps) a lot more campy and silly and B-movie’ish? Also, Glenn Danzig (who’s 61) is very “alt-right” in his political outlook – just like Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins – so, I’m a little surprised, to be perfectly honest, that neither Danzig nor Corgan have been asked to play the Trump inauguration.

But, yes, to my original point, when anti-rock folks claim that only kids and teenagers like rock and heavy metal and hard rock, that’s not exactly the most accurate thing to say. Of course, in the case of The Misfits – I don’t know anyone over 21 who will admit to still liking them (notwithstanding their recent reunion show) because conventional wisdom is they jumped the shark after Danzig left.
 
xNoOnex said:
You can find some people in their mid to late 20’s into Black Sabbath, but you’re mostly right. Punk and metal in general seem to have have older fanbases.

I mean, even some of the more extreme things like death and black metal and crust from the punk side tend to have older folks. Even when it comes to some of the more extreme sides of both genres, you don’t often find teenagers listening to it but people who grew up listening to music.

In general, that sort of music isn’t relevant to younger generation and hasn’t been since the 90’s.
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It’s kind of funny to me to think of the younger generation looking at heavy metal as “old people music.” 😛
 
tomarin said:
Hmm, certainly there’s the nucleus of an idea for a sitcom there.
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😃 It can be called “Heavy Metal”, which serves as a double meaning referring to the music Grandpa likes and also Grandpa’s various mobility contraptions. 😛

Tagline: In his younger years, Grandpa likes his music loud out of desire. Now, it’s out of necessity.
 
randomuser said:
. Of course, in the case of The Misfits – I don’t know anyone over 21 who will admit to still liking them (notwithstanding their recent reunion show) because conventional wisdom is they jumped the shark after Danzig left.
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I really liked the work they did with Michael Graves and I don’t find their latest record to be awful… I mean, yeah, it sort of sounds more like any generic horror punk rather than the Misfits themselves… But it really isn’t that bad. If anyone other than the Misfits recorded it, it would be a good record.

Suppose that’s an issue a lot of older bands have though.
Joe_5859 said:
It’s kind of funny to me to think of the younger generation looking at heavy metal as “old people music.” 😛
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I know, right? I’m not even that old and sometimes, it makes me feel like a geezer. Although, then, when I go to a show and see that guy whose in his 50’s and still rocking out, I feel a little bit better.
 
xNoOnex said:
I know, right? I’m not even that old and sometimes, it makes me feel like a geezer. Although, then, when I go to a show and see that guy whose in his 50’s and still rocking out, I feel a little bit better.
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Maybe we’ll see a decrease in mosh pits. Or in increase in concert related injuries among the elderly.
 
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