Classic Christian Rock Zine No. 1 / september 2018 / THE PILGRIMS by ClassicChristianRock

EDDIE DEGARMO Rebel for God

No. 1 / September, 2018

1 Sing to the a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hornâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98:1-6

would like to welcome all CCR zine readers. Commonly many magazines begin being printed and then are taken to the web as a webzine, that was not the case with us. We have been online for seven years on social networks, and for years with our website where we have shared an enormous amount of news and articles from artists that relate directly or indirectly to the label “Classic Christian Rock”. I thought about doing this for several years, however, many things prevented us from doing this project, it was not the time yet, God has now shown us the way and has allowed us to bring you all our first edition in digital format. The time has come to present our magazine in digital PDF format, but we trust in God that later we will be able to print it and go further and further. I thought a lot about who should be on the cover of our first edition, there were many options, I was very careful and after having analyzed a lot, I knew I should put “The Pilgrims” on the cover of our first edition. You may never have heard of this group before, however, they are possibly the first Christian rock and roll band in history, and it was something that i wanted to highlight and make known openly to all our readers. I had the blessing of being able to interview Derrick Phillips, guitarist of the band, being this a privilege that I thank God for and to Derrick, without a doubt an experience that I will never be able to forget. So I do not want to bore you, I hope that everything you find here is to your liking, let us know your comments, questions or suggestions through our social networks or our email. Thank you for being here.

EDITOR Anthony Martinez

CONTRIBUTORS Shawn Lorion Scott Weldon Damaris Villegas David CrossChild Hector Sicaján

CONTACT classicchristianrock@live.com antmar_30@hotmail.com

Anthony Martinez

ISSUU #1 / SEPTEMBER 2018

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INTERVIEW WITH DAVE GRYDER FROM HEAVENS FORCE ....................................................................... 6 HOLY SOLDIER CENTRAL AMERICA TOUR 1991........................................................................................ 12 NTERVIEW WITH DERRICK PHILLIPS FROM THE PILGRIMS................................................................... 14 EDDIE DEGARMO - REBEL FOR GOD (Album Review)............................................................................. 30 DELIVERANCE - THE SUBVERSIVE KIND (ALBUM REVIEW).................................................................... 32 JOHN DEGROFF - SALT (Album Review) ................................................................................................... 33 WHITECROSS - IN THE KINGDOM ............................................................................................................... 34 CRYSTAVOX VINYL & CD REISSUES ANNOUNCED..................................................................................... 36 NEWS: IMPELLITERI, MAD AT THE WORLD, BRIDE ................................................................................. 38 PRAY FOR.......................................................................................................................................................... 40

ISSUU #1 / SEPTEMBER 2018

An extensive interview with Derrick Phillips, guitarist of the British band The pilgrims, probably the first Christian rock band in history.

EDDIE

DEGARMO

Rebel for God: Faith, Business, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Format: Hardcover (256 pages), Digital Release Date: June 26, 2018 Publisher: Salem Books Rating: A+

Interview with

Dave Gryder, Ex-Heaven’s Force Interview done on May 15, 2014, By Anthony Martinez

“An essential band in the history of metal, being the first Christian Thrash Metal band in history, long before the arrival of Vengeance Rising, Deliverance, Tempest, or Tourniquet. The historical value of Heaven’s Force is undeniable.”

eaven’sForce was a Christian Metal band from Fort Worth, Texas, with a short period from 1983 to 1984. The band was formed by Kelly Berger on bass, Christopher Richie on guitar and Dave Gryder in the Main voice in the drums. During the Short period, they did not record any professional album, only two Demos. In 1983 published “AggresiveAngel” which they contained four tracks:

And in 1984 published “Heaven’sForce” containing the following tracks:

1. Aggresive Angel 2. Slaughter the beast 2. Hell Lover 4. Don’t Tell Me

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1. In League WithPriest 2. DeliverUsfromEvil 3. Heaven’sForce 4. SecondComing

I dare say that this is the first interview with a former member of the band in over 30 years. It is an honor for me to be able to interview Dave Gryder, who was the singer and drummer of Heavens Force.

The first thing I’d like to know is how and where the band was formed. We know that the band was made up of Kelly Berger on bass, Christopher Richie on guitar and you were the drummer and vocalist of the band, how did they meet and how did they decide to form a Christian Metal band? DG: In late ‘82 or early ‘83, I can’t remember exactly, I was in a band called Mistress with Kelly. After Mistress broke up, Kelly and I decided to form a new band. Kelly had known Chris for a long time and even went to High School with him, so he asked Chris if he was interested. Fortunately he was, so we started jamming right away. Initially, it wasn’t a Christian band pese, we just wanted to play heavy rock. What were the Musical Influences? DG: In the beginning it was just hard rock. We had all grown up listening to heavy bands of the ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. Everything from Grand Funk, Deep Purple and AC/ DC to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Saxon. When Metallica’s “Kill ‘em All’” came out in ‘83, I was blown away. It was much faster and heavier than anything I had heard previously. It influenced me tremendously and I really wanted to play metal in that direction, Thrash was like a 7

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new sub genre of metal and I felt it was the future of metal. Then when Slayer’s “Show No Mercy” came out and completely destroyed “Kill ‘em All”, that’s when I really knew it was the way to go. Even though I loved “Show No Mercy” musically, I hated the lyrics. I always found the Satanic lyrics of Slayer (and other bands) extremely juvenile and pathetic. These guys were writing about how great Satan was and how they wanted to follow him. I thought, “if they ever even saw the Devil in person, they would have wet their pants and ran home crying to their mommies and daddies”. Also, a big attribute of the thrash metal scene was a very anti poser mentality. Because so many lame metal bands would dress up and wear make up and “pose” to look a certain way that was fake and disingenuous. So all these guys, writing Satanic lyrics, would put down the others for posing, when they were posers themselves. They didn’t really worship the Devil, they just wanted to act like it, to make their band and music seem heaver and more intense. They were no better than the bands that they were accusing of posing. Hypocrites! That’s why lyrically, I wanted to counter all of the idiotic and hypocritical Satanic lyrics of bands like Slayer, Possessed,

Mercyful Fate etc…. So I wrote about I what I believe is true and eternal. Chris, Kelly and myself all felt that way. You CAN be a heavy speed/thrash metal band without writing about lame, juvenile topics that you don’t really believe in. How did you come up with the name of the band? You had thought of another name before? DG: I came up with the name but I honestly don’t remember where I got it. I wanted a name that said we were heavy but not Satanic. It just seemed to fit. Tell us about your live shows. How would you describe the Shows of the band? There is something special that you remember? DG: I don’t know if there was anything special, other than the types of gigs we got. We were young and very eager to just get out and play so we would take any gig that came our way. I remember one early show, we played at an outdoor rollerskating park. It was both interesting and embarrassing. There we were, jamming away while hordes of kids just skated around us, completely oblivious to what we were doing.

Interview with Dave Gryder from Heaven’s Force

Did you ever play with other Christian bands? DG: Not that I’m aware of, it was just the local bands of the time. I do remember opening up for Pantera a few times. In 1983 you published “Aggresive Angel” with four songs, I would like to know who wrote the songs DG: I wrote “Aggressive Angel” I co wrote “Slaughter the Beast” with Chris. Chris wrote “Don’t Tell Me” and “Hell Lover” was a song from a band that Chris and Kelly were in before I met them. 1984, you published “Heaven’s Force” with four Tracks, Who wrote these songs? DG: I wrote “In League With The Priest” and “Heaven’s Force” “Deliver Us From Evil” was written by all the members and Chris wrote “Second Coming” What happened after you recorded these demos? Why didn’t Heaven’s Force record a full album? In what year and why did all you leave the project? What led you to make this decision? DG: Again, we were very young and didn’t really think too much about the future of the band or what kind of success we would have. We just wanted to play music 8

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and that was pretty much the extent of it. I remember sending the demo to a couple of labels but I didn’t get any responses. We only recorded short demos because of the expense as we obviously didn’t have financial resources from a label. Did you have the support of other people, friends or family? DG: Not financially. Sure, we had friends that came to the shows and stuff but that’s all I can remember. “Heavens Force” was doing a new sound in metal music, the Trash Metal began in those years with bands like Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax and Overkill, just to mention a few. Where did the idea of playing this style of music come from? The sound of “Heavens Force” can be compared to the Beginnings of Slayer. In some way I think, “Heavens Force” would also be one of the first Thrash Metal bands in story. What do you think about this? DG: Again, it goes back to hearing LP’s like “Kill ‘em All and “Show No Mercy”. I wanted to play thrash metal comparable to those LP’s but without the retarded lyrics. Although very few people know that existed a band called “Heavens Force”,

you would be the Pioneers of Christian Thrash Metal, because your demos are older than those of the bands Deliverance, Vengeance Rising, Tempest and Believer, What do you think about this? DG: I find it interesting but you never know what’s out there. I mean, there were so many bands back then and there could easily be demos laying around older that ours. Very few people even knew who we were until recently so it’s hard to say who was first. I would be cautious in saying we were the first. I read that Christopher Richie died in 2008. Is it true it was suicide? DG: Unfortunately, it is true. Honestly, I don’t know any of the details. By that time, Chris and I hadn’t spoken in many years. One day, I received a message from his wife, telling me that he took his own life. I was completely shocked! Back in 2000, we met for lunch and he was in very good spirits. Nothing to give any evidence that something was so wrong in his life. You just never know... How do you remember Christopher Richie? Is there anything you want to say about him?

IIn my opinion, Chris was one of those guys that if you couldn’t get along with him,

you couldn’t get along with anyone. He was such a nice guy and so down to Earth. Also, he was an excellent guitarist and a great singer too. I’m certain a lot of people miss him, including myself. What can you tell us about Kelly Berger during your time together? DG:Also, a very cool guy and very easy to get along with. In July 2009 “Open Grave Records” released a CD with the demos of Heavens Force. How did they discover the music of Heavens Force? Why do you think they decided to release the album? I know that only 500 copies were published DG: Honestly, I have no idea. I didn’t have any role in the release, other than supplying the tapes. Some people have said the album of 2009 released by “ Open grave Records”, does not have a biography, there is not pictures inside the album, only are the lyrics of the songs, and the size of the letters are very small, What do you tell us about this ? DG: This issue is still shrouded in mystery but the main reason is that, I never had any photos of the band and I’m fairly sure Kelly didn’t either. The only person who might have

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had photos was Chris but after his suicide, I didn’t want to bother his widow with such a trivial request. She had serious issues to deal with. The 2009 album contains all the demos of the band, except the song “Dont Tell Me” from 1983, Why this song is not included on the album? DG: I know a lot of people aren’t going to like this but I omitted the song simply because I just didn’t like it. I never felt it represented what the band was all about. “Don’t Tell Me” is more of a commercial AOR love song and from my perspective, we were a heavy rock/metal band. At the time, I tolerated the song because a band is a democracy so I had no choice. What happened after finishing with “Heavens Force” in 1984?, I know you’ve had other musical projects and also Kelly Berger, What happened then with Christopher Richie?

Actually, I never had any involvement with Kelly after Heaven’s Force. We simply parted ways. In ‘85, I helped form another thrash band, Rotting Corpse. Between ‘86 and ‘90 we released 3 demos. We got a record deal from Cemetery records in France but the deal fell through.

Interview with Dave Gryder from Heaven’s Force

Have you ever thought of a meeting? DG: No, the Force of Heaven couldn’t exist without Chris. What means “Heaven’s Force” for you? What else you would have liked to have done in Heavens force? DG: Heaven’s Force was my first “real” band and I will always have fond memories. One of which, is from one of our very first gigs. As usual, we were playing at a club that did not cater to metal at all, so our response was less than receptive. People were treating us like lepers. Shortly after breaking into our second song, “Hit the Lights” by Metallica. (We use to play a lot of covers) I remember looking down from the drum

riser and there was a couple actually dancing. Yes, dancing to “Hit the Lights”! A thrash metal song with a chorus in 15/8 no less! After the other people in the club saw this, they all started checking us out and it turned out to be a pretty good gig. Insane! The only thing is that I would have liked to have released a full LP but it just wasn’t meant to be. Is there anything you’d like to say to end this interview? Thank you and everyone who has supported the band throughout the years. It’s amazing that there is still interest in Heaven’s Force after all these years! Rock On! Thank you very much for having granted us this interview, it is an honor for me, God bless you!

No problem, thank you!

Dave Gryder

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Kelly Berger

History

By Anthony Martinez

The main Guatemalan newspapers announced in August 1991 the two concerts of the North American band “Holy Soldier”, “a band of the stature of Cinderella and Aerosmith”, they arrived in Guatemala to perform two concerts. High expectations were high for hard rock fans in this country, who a few weeks ago had had the visit of Whitecross.

Guatemala City

At that time, Michael Cutting was no longer part of the band, being replaced by Scott Soderstrom, who would be on this little Holy Soldier tour of Guatemala and El Salvador. On September 1 they performed a concert in the capital of the country mentioned above, and on September 3 in the city of Quetzaltenango. Days later they traveled to Sal Salvador, El Salvador, some say that this concert was a failure because not many people arrived, perhaps because the country was in civil war. Publicity shoot for Holy Soldier’s 1991 tour in Guatemala and El Salvador

San Salvador, El Salvador

Only in Guatemala can you wear your boxers and it’s all good.... lol I remember the motel we were going to stay at in the middle of the woods .... the owner comes out to greet us in boxer shorts, combat boots with an M-16.... they were going to boil green pool water for us to bathe in....and the bus ride to El Salvador.... had a woman’s armpit in my face the whole way there and in her other arm was a chicken.... Steven Patrick I met the love of my life on that trip... Andy Robbins 12

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Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

Interview with Derrick Phillips from

ou may never have heard of Derrick Phillips and his band The Pilgrims. That could be because this band broke up long before we knew anything we could call “Christian Rock”, CCM or Jesus Music.

What very few people know is that it was in England in the early 1960s that countless Christian bands appeared, a movement predecessor to the Jesus movement in the United States, but unfortunately there was not enough media coverage for all these pioneering artists who are now unknown. The Pilgrims is possibly the first Christian Rock band in history, its historical value is invaluable, however, not everyone knows about this important band that made their best performances in the early and mid-sixties. It’s an honor for me to have interviewed Derrick Phillips, guitarist of the first Christian rock band in history, The Pilgrims.

First of all I would like to say that it is an honor for I suppose you could have been the pilgrims’ singer me to be able to conduct this interview with you. then. Thank you for accepting DP: It could have been so, and eventually it was so in part, because the second stage of The Pilgrims’ career had John DP: Thanks for your interest and kind words Hubbard and me either singing together, or alternately. Let’s talk a little bit about the times before The How did you meet the rest of the guys who would Pilgrims. How were your beginnings in music? make up The Pilgrims? I read that John and Chris DP: I tried many instruments during my school days, were not Christians during the band’s early days. but didn’t fall in love with any of them. It was after my conversion and, especially after receiving the baptism DP: 2 questions there, so I’ll answer them one at a time. of the Holy Spirit, that I wanted to learn an instrument Firstly, it was the amazing conversion of Don and Ian, to use in God’s service. Strangely, it was the banjo that plus 2 other friends, on the same night that provided the first took my fancy. But I went into a music shop to buy 1st impetus. Don’s brother, Rob Sanders, was the one a banjo - and came out with a guitar! I took to it straight who led them to Christ - and Rob was already a friend away. I loved playing, and soon began to use it as an aid of mine. It was Don and Ian who first had the idea of starting the group, but they needed more members - and to telling the Gospel story. they found me. NB I always loved singing.

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So, on to the 2nd question: You are right about John and Chris. John had been playing in a band with Don, so Don had the idea of asking him to join us. John wasn’t a Christian, but one evening, following a gig, he went home, opened his Bible at John’s Gospel and opened his heart to the Lord Chris was a different story: I don’t know who invited him in. It must have been Ian or Don. He was good looking, had the ‘right’ sort of voice to be a rock singer - and he had a Christian background. But it became clear over time that his background made it harder, rather than easier, to make a full commitment.

DP: We went through 3 main phases. At the early stage we were modelled on Cliff Richard and the Shadows (hence the desire for a non-playing lead singer). After Chris left, our music was heavily influenced by The Beatles and the other Liverpool bands. By 1965 we were already moving towards a Rhythm ‘n’ Blues style, influenced by The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and other Blues greats. We changed, because we wanted always to be relevant to our audience. There’s no point in preaching if nobody is listening.

I agree, how did people react when they heard The Pilgrims? I imagine people saying “These guys play rock and roll, but they’re also preaching?” Was there rejection, humiliation, or any kind of We’re talking about most of the band members not confrontation towards the band? being Christians, however God had a plan for all of you, I’m sure there was also a plan for Chris. DP: There was very little opposition from the secular It’s a shame Chris didn’t commit to God like the world. OK, one club manager got angry with us and rest of the boys. said “This isn’t Gospel music!”. (Did he imagine we were Mahalia Jackson or the like?). Apart from that one DP: Yes. Very sad. He enjoyed the singing and he did it incident, most of the opposition came from Christians. well. But we were about much more than the music. We were stopped several times by Christians who felt that God’s word should never be put together with rock I’m sure, I hope he has given his life to God later or pop music. We shouldn’t have been surprised. General on. Booth (Salvation Army) and D.L. Moody had experienced similar responses to the music tney used. DP: I sincerely hope so. Tell me, What were the main musical influences of the group?

1961 - Original Line-up Possibly the first photograph of the band. Perhaps the first photograph of a Christian rock band in history

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Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

It’s a shame that Christians are the ones who are most opposed to making some music different from what is normally heard in churches, but believe in me, it still happens. DP: Mind you - we also experienced tremendous support from many Christian leaders who may well not have liked our kind of music - but loved the fact that we were reaching young people for Christ.

There is everything in life I suppose, we must thank those Christians who although they do not enjoy a particular style of music, they understand that God is the creator of music and through it other people can be reached with the message of salvation.

. . .And something that will be remembered forever in history. It was very common for other groups to use animal names (Byrds, Turtles, the Animals) How did the name of the group come about?

DP: No, that tag-line was on the drums from the beginning. It may sound cheesy, but it expressed what we were aiming to do.

Believe me, I hadn’t read that motto on the band’s drums, I’m discovering something new. . . DP: We had a quite short debate By the way, where exactly were about what to call ourselves. By The Pilgrims from? the end of that first practice, we’d decided on The Pilgrims. I’m not DP: South east London. Specifically, sure which of us first proposed the John lived in Catford, Don, Ian, and name, but I very clearly remember Chris lived in Lee, I lived in Lewisham. that it was Ian who came up with the These districts are all close together. tag-line,”Telling Youth the Truth” Tony, who joined us in 1966, lived in Orpington, which is a few miles Great, I didn’t know that was his further south. slogan, I thought it was for the CD I may be a few months out with Tony’s that came out a few years ago. joining. It could have been 1965.

DP: Amen!

Get me out of this doubt. When and how were the pilgrims born? I’m still not sure if started in 1961 or 1962. DP: 1961. We had our first practice together in a little church hall in Catford, south east London. That was just Don, Ian and me. John and Chris joined soon after. We can’t remember where we played our first engagement (I asked Don a couple of weeks ago) but it was towards the end of 1961. We were young and naive. I was the oldest (18) Don, John and Chris were 17. Ian was 16. Good to know, since that was my next question lol, I’m sure it must have been interesting. It’s good to know that the joy of their youth was made for God, and something that would remain in history, The Pilgrims. DP: I have always considered it a huge privilege to have been in the band at that stage of my life. It was a foundational experience. 16

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This one was also taken in 1962 and shows the band playing in a church service (probably the first time that electric guitars and drums were played in a church)

The First Christian

Rock Band in history...

asically The Pilgrims could be the first Christian rock band in history, as there is not information of any other band before of the Pilgrims. Although The Venturers were formed in 1958, they showed a contemporary sound but far from being considered “Rock and roll”. Were you aware that you were doing something never before seen in the world by combining Rock and roll with Christianity?

DP: Yes, The Venturers were before us, but they were a folk/country style group. We had seen them. But we’ve never found another group before The Pilgrims playing rock style music. Acoustic guitars were just about acceptable in the church, but electric guitars and (perish the thought) drums was newsworthy - and, from some points of view, horrible! I think before you just Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the closest thing to being called “Christian Rock”, although she was a Gospel singer, many of her songs had a electric guitar and a rhythm that influenced artists like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and others. In fact, she is known as the Mother of Rock and Roll and this year she will be entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Did you ever hear of her when you started The Pilgrims?

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Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

DP: No. I heard about her later. But that’s just my ignorance. There’s no doubt that she was brilliant. What can be said about the origins of The Pilgrims is: We were original ( aping pop music, to be sure, but not copied from any other Christian band) We were spontaneous (it was our own idea to start - we weren’t a gimmick dreamt up by an adult promoter or evangelist) We genuinely liked the music we played (we weren’t just a accommodating a style as a means to an end) But we were in no doubt from the beginning that our aim was to preach the Gospel.

We had no model to follow, so we learnt the hard way - by making mistakes!

The Pilgrims as the 1st Christian Rock Group - it seems to be true but, even if there was an earlier band we’ve never heard about, we didn’t know about them at the time. However, being 1st is just an accident of timing, and it confers no special privileges. We were setting out on a journey without a map - which presents problems. Thankfully, we had good mentors around us. They didn’t necessarily get our music style, but they understood evangelism, and they understood teams. Thank God for those men. Principle mentors were: above all, a lawyer called Ted Hubbard. Also, several evangelists, such as Bill Bathman, Gordon Bailey, and Nigel Goodwin - and a number of other unkowns who were just a little older than us, and gave willing, often practical, support. Welcome back - I was in full flow there!

God had equipped them with the right people. It is incredible that even today there are churches that reject the use of certain styles of music simply because they do not like it. Well, anyway. . . Shortly after you formed, another group called The Crossbeats appeared, then the Envoys, Liverpool Ryders, The Joystrings, this had become a Christian beat scene, it was a huge amount of active Christian groups during the first half of the 60s, There had been a revival in Christian music in England in the early 1960s.. Were any of these groups influenced by The Pilgrims? The press and conservative groups had spoken out against the use of contemporary music to express the Christian faith? 18

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The Pilgrims ‘bandwagon’ ... left -Tony, roof - Ian, on bonnet/ hood - John (L) and Don (R), front - Derrick. The picture was taken in Cambridgeshire sometime in 1965

DP: We knew The Envoys very well, and Pete Meadows’ band, The Unfettered ( those 2 were later the driving force behind Musical Gospel Outreach, Buzz Magazine, Key Records, and the Spring Harvest annual Christian camps). We met The Joystrings and, later on, The Crossbeats. There was a rapidly growing Christian music scene throughout the 60s and, yes, some of them were expressly inspired by The Pilgrims. The most famous musician who we can claim as having been once a follower and a support band, was Graham Kendrick.

Was that when you played in the presence of Princess Margaret? DP: That’s right. It was a booking that we initially didn’t want to take, because we would just be accompanying other hymns and songs (i.e. not our own music). But the publicity from that event (supportive or condemning) was the springboard that really made our name. What year was that?

DP: It was in February 1963.

And, yes, there was a lot of It’s a really historic date. controversy in the press about what we were doing DP: Right! - especially after we played at a service with the Queen’s sister in the congregation.

When was your first recording made? DP: 1963 - a 45 rpm single with “Heaven’s the place for me” on the A side and “Think of God’s love” as the B side. It was recorded and released by Herald Recordings and did pretty well on the Christian market. There was no chance of getting through with a genuinely Christian message on the secular labels at that stage. The Joystrings did better a littel later, but really only because of the Salvation Army’s efforts. It was Parchment that eventually broke through - but that was after our time. Yeah, the Joystrings hit the popularity charts for a while. It is to my knowledge that you played in Scotland, how was that experience? DP: That was in the brief period after I left and before The Pilgrims merged into “Out of Darkness” - so I don’t have any recollection of that. I do, however, have strong memories of the time we spent in Ireland in mid-1967. An amazing week.

club along the street, The club in Dun Laoghaire was not just a disco; it featured live groups – and there was a local group playing that night. The Pilgrims got in to do an interval spot, and we even used the other band’s equipment (amplifiers etc). The other group was good, but the audience liked us even more. It went very well, and the manager even invited us to give an epilogue (!). We invited people to come to our Coffee Bar the next night - and they did - but so did a gang of ruffians who started a riot. The police broke it up, then insisted that we close the Coffee Bar for the rest of the week. Far from being a disaster, that spurred us to visit the beat clubs and discos in Dublin itself. We played at a different venue each night of that week. Our trip was completely different from what was originally planned - but more successful than we ever could have dreamed.”

Oh God, he was too young, I’m sorry he died that way when he was at one of the best times of his life. We’ll meet him soon.

DP: A great blow for us all and, if course, for his family. His mother was already a widow. John, by the way, was ‘best man’ at mine and Kath’s wedding. John had also been a prolific songwriter and a major force in propelling The Pilgrims to perform at their best.

It’s really a shame, but God knows why some things happen, even if we don’t understand, I think we should thank God for John’s life and what he did for his family, friends and the band.

It was definitely an interesting trip, I think that mutiny changed DP: Amen to that. everything. lol How was John Hubbard’s death? I Tell me, Who wrote the band’s guess it was hard for all of you. . . songs?

Ireland? I didn’t know that, how many countries did The Pilgrims DP: Shattering. In those days people visit? were shy of talking about cancer, so none of the group knew that’s what DP: We had been booked to play at John had. He had been ill for some a Christian ‘Coffee Bar’ in Dun time, on-and-off but each time he Laoghaire (a port just outside Dublin). seemed to get better. We found out When we arrived, we noticed a disco afterwards that the hospital had

been trying so hard to save him with radio-therapy, that eventually the therapy itself speeded his death. He was aged 22.

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DP: Johnny was the most prolific songwriter. I wrote a few. Later on, it was Tony who blossomed as the major creator. Tony also re-wrote some of John’s songs, changing them from ballads or rock numbers into 12-bar blues tines.

Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

An important place for many Christian groups in England at that time was a Christian coffee bar called “The Catacombs”. Did the Pilgrims ever play there?

That must have been quite a show. Did the band appear on tv or record any video of your concerts?

DP: No TV, No video either. But video DP: I certainly didn’t, and I don’t re- would have been really surprising in call Don, Ian or Tony talking about it. those early days. Even the BBC rarely kept video of live shows because I know The Pilgrims played to the technology back then was too over 2500 people at Westminster expensive. Central Hall, When was that and how did it happen? Well, it’s a shame, it would have been great to have some video of DP: That was in 1967. It was organi- The Pilgrims sed by Musical Gospel Outreach to showcase the best of the Christian DP: I agree - but that’s just nostalgia? bands around at that time (in various musical styles). Nigel Goodwin They’d be really important was the compere and the hall was historical images, wouldn’t you packed to the rafters! Nigel intro- say? duced The Pilgrims as “not only the best, but also the LOUDEST Chris- DP: I guess so. With only 3 of us left, tian group!” and all in our 70s, it could be valuable to have those images. Interestingly, I have a man at my church here in Bristol who remem- I very much agree. Have you bers being at that event. Earlier this ever played with non-christian year he came across the original tic- artists? ket and programme for “Sound Vision” and lent it tk me so I could take No. We met a few, and even had one a scan. “Sound Vision” was the name travel with us in our van (Viv Prince, of that concert. I think) but we never shared a stage.

This is the 45rpm of 1963. When did you release their next disc? DP: Wow! I don’t even have a copy myself. There never was a second disc. We made a further recording with Herald, but it was much more bluesey and they were afraid to release it. Our subsequent recordings were privately made at studios in Northampton, Putney, and in the Elim College in Surrey. It’s those recordings that eventually made their way on to the 2004 CD. How often did they play The Pilgrims? Did they work full-time in the band? DP: The Pilgrims were almost always part-time, although there was an 18 month period when I was full time.

Original programme and ticket from Sound Vision 1967 at westminster Central Hall, London

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As group secretary I had a heavy workload. We found other ways to deal with that later on. We played most weekends, some weeknights and, from time to time would spend whole weeks working at one venue. Normally, that happened in places around London that we could get to easily - but we gave up our holidays to do some weeks e.g. at Gateshead (near Newcastle), in Ireland and on a South Coast Tour around Brighton and Eastbourne. Weekend trips were often quite distant e.g. Bristol, Gloucester, South Wales, Scarborough (north Yorkshire) We were young and fit! You can give up your vacation when you’re passionate about something, they could have written a song called “We were young, we are strong”. Maybe , , , Do you remember any interesting and important storie in the band? DP: I’m not sure what you mean. Lots! Try this one . . . 21

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“What’s this string?” Johnny’s tidy-everything mood stepped up to disdainful indignation as he held the second-hand bundle of string between fingertip and thumb, and glared at Don. “This wires box is disgusting!” Don looked hurt. “I don’t like to throw those sort of things away - you never know when they might come in handy.” “Bah!” Johnny continued tidying the box while the rest of the band scurried around packing equipment ready for the night’s gig. Three quarters of an hour later, bandwagon fully loaded, they set off on the 45-mile journey to the church hall where they were booked to play. The hall was spacious, but the platform was basic. A solid but unattractive plank construction, it jutted out into the hall leaving a passageway on each side leading to the toilets. There was no power point on the stage, so how were they going to plug the amps in? Ian’s methodical search found a socket under the gallery on the other side of the passageway to the Gents. “This’ll do”, he announced, dragging the lead from the junction box, down the Spartan steps and across the gangway. “You can’t trail a lead across that passage”, cautioned Johnny, “You’ll trip people over.” “What else can we do? There’s no other socket… What if we hitch it up so people can walk under it?” “If only we had some string”, mused Don.

Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

DP: We had fun together. And we faced some challenges - Why did you leave the band in 1967? like hire vans that broke down in put-of-the-way places. DP: I didn’t see it coming, but it was the right move at the What was your favorite song and that of the right time. From the musical point of view, my role was less needed. Amplifiers and guitars were improving, and audience at Pilgrim concerts? a competent lead guitarist no longer needed a rhythm DP: My favourite is the blues standard “Don’t you think backing to fill out the sound. I think the other guys had it’s time?” Especially Tony’s amazing harmonica solo. been discussing it, but it was Tony who raised the issue “Hey you!” always went down well, as did both versions (that’s the same Tony as I’m holidaying with right now). What they also saw was that Kath and I had a baby on of “Heaven’s the place for me” (both are on the CD) That was an example of a John Hubbard original, later the way, and our new home further out from London was placing us in a position of greater responsibility in reworked by Tony Goodman. the local church. By the way, that ‘baby’ is now 50 years old and is a senior Here’s a story: professor at an American university ! One weekend at Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, we played an early session where 2 people committed their lives to Christ. We were due to play again in a less formal session in an upstairs room. Between the sessions we met together for prayer with some of the local organisers. Someone prayed, “Lord, please give us a double portion of your Spirit”. In that later session, 4 people made commitments. We didn’t realise God would take ud that literally. (I was reminded of that story by another friend who accompanied the group that weekend)

Then we’ll say it’s a Big Baby. . . I guess it was time. Everything has its time in our lives. Did you try to be part of a new group in the following years? DP: No. I didn’t try to rejoin that music scene, but my guitar remained an important part of my ministry and my identity. I took it with me when preaching, and I used it in leading worship at various churches we were in as we moved around over the years. At my present church I was heavily involved in the music almost until I became 70. Now, I only play ocasionally.

We’ve been in Bristol for 19 years, during which a whole Wow, that’s a great story, and a true testimony of new generation of competent musicians has grown up. what God did through your band. That means there wasn’t any attempt to reshape DP: Playing in the Notre Dame club on Leicester Square, The Pilgrims either, right? London, we realised that most of our audience was Did you miss playing with your old band at any point French, so they probably didn’t understand what we were in your life? singing about. However, during a break, we went out into the square and realised that the DP: Although I didn’t anticipate leaving The Pilgrims disco music being played inside I never could be clearly heard outside regretted it. - so, our immediate audience Life continued may not have understood us, but to be exciting! everyone passing outside could Tony has filled hear everything we played. Who in a few gaps in knows how many people heard my knowledge the Gospel that evening! about the transition from Wow, these are stories The Pilgrims to that have never been heard Out Of Darkness. before, I’m glad to have them and present them for the first time.

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Buzz Magazine press release 1967

DP: I had quite long hair and sideburns. Tony’s hair was so tightly curled (naturally) that you couldn’t tell how long it was. Don’s hair was moderate (it had to be for his job), and Ian’s was middling. By the way, my baldness began to show itself early - so much for long hair! Well, it wasn’t as long as theirs: lol.

When I talked about long hair, I meant this. lol

The group struggled a bit after I left, but there was a vision to form a “supergroup” along the lines of The Cream. Apparently it was Ian who had the clearest vision on that, and he started to recruit musicians for it. Ian gave up drumming and became manager of Out Of Darkness. Tim Anderson was recruited from The Crusaders, because he seemed to be the best drummer around. Carl (sorry, I can’t remember his surname) became bass guitarist (and Don left). Carl’s cousin, Ray Powell, was recruited as lead guitarist, and Tony gave up guitar to concentrate on vocals and harmonica. I think the whole transition took about a year - though they continued playing as they went through the stages. Effectively, my departure marked the end of The Pilgrims. I think it’s Carl Grant .Anyway, I’m glad they continued to make music for God, Out Of the Darkness is something different, a great band. DP: Well researched!

I know it wasn’t very common back then, but did you and the rest of the band ever think about growing their hair?

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DP: Yeah! Nice! Glam rock was after our time.

I know , many years , , , , Do you Remember when John Lennon said The Beattles were more famous than Jesus? Millions of people were angry. What was your reaction at the time? DP: It was a classic case of needing to watch what you say when talking to the popular press. In simple, factual terms John Lennon wasn’t far out from the statistical truth. But he didn’t volunteer the statement unprompted. A reporter posed the question in such a way as to elicit a naive response, and John fell into the trap.

Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

Your answer is very interesting, since many Christians make a commotion without analyzing the situation and the context.

, with 12 original songs. It’s called “Bethany” and you can read about it on my website. For what it’s worth, I also used to run marathons, but not any longer! DP: I’ve seen similar traps set for But I still love walking. evangelicals. I especially remember Rev David Wilkerson being caught Yeah, I’ve seen a couple of online out and given an undeservedly bad videos of your musical and it’s press. really interesting. I can see That was the British press, by the that you have dedicated all the way years of your life to the service I guess you have to be very careful with the press, especially when you’re a public figure like John.

of God in one way or another. You are definitely a role model for your family and others. All information is really important.

DP: Thank you. But I still have a lot to learn. Some lessons are tough (like the tragedy we’ve been through in You’re a pastor now, right? the last few weeks). But I thank God And you’ve also written some in every trial, knowing that he will books, you’ve become a father, a always turn it to his purposes. grandfather, ¿What other things have you done in your life that I want to take this opportunity to you could share with us? offer again my condolences to DP: Quite right!

The Pilgrims meeting in 2003 Tell me about the Pilgrims’ 2003 meeting DP: That was a lovely time of celebration for The Pilgrims ‘family’. The occasion was my 60th birthday. We spent a lot of time chatting and eating together. We had one more get-together after that, when Don’s family put on a secret celebration for his and Brenda’s 40th wedding anniversary. On that ocasion, someone had organised to provide drums, amplifiers etc and we actually played together. A truly historic event. But, within 12 months of that (I think) Ian died of a brain tumour - so it can never be repeated.

you and your family, God bless DP: No, I’m not a pastor. I’m an you and give peace to your hearts. ordinary church member in a large, caring, growing church. I’m part of DP: Thank you Anthony. the pastoral care TEAM, and also the Prayer Ministry team. I’ve never been a one-man ministry leader. I have started and run a couple of churches in partnership with others. But not recently. My business career was in sales and marketing in various industries, but with a “Snakes and Ladders” progression where I would climb the corporate ladder until the next takeover brought ne down again. The last thing I did in business was to create a company called “Ordered Management Ltd”, which was meant to see me through the last 3 years of my working life, but is still going strong 13 years later (one of my sons owns and runs it now). As you say, I have writen several books, and I now consider that one The original Pilgrims last performed together in Bradford, Yorkshire at the end of August 1967. of my main areas of service - but my But it was a long time since they had all been together in one place. primary calling is to prayer. This picture was taken in February 2003 at a reunion to mark a Derrick’s 60th birthday. I also wrote a musical back in 2006,

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The Pilgrims

Telling Youth… The Truth 2004 01 Hey You! 02 Thank You Lord 03 Heaven’s The Place For Me (V2) 04 There’s Someone In Your Life 05 I Didn’t Care 06 Think It Over (V1) 07 Wait And See 08 Do You Believe In God? 09 Heard It All Before 10 Any Time Of The Day 11 Who’s Your Lord? 12 I Know I’m Going To Heaven 13 He Wants You 14 I Don’t Need You 15 What Are You Doing With Your

I’m so sorry about Ian’s death, and that way. But God really knows, on the other hand I am glad that they have continued to communicate even after so many years. How did you get your music out on CD in 2004?

to, and in discos in eastern Europe and - well it got around! Must have been great to get a call like that after all these years.

DP: He said, “Is that Derrick Phillips of The Pilgrims?” and I couldn’t DP: I received an unexpected phone believe what I was hearing! call early one morning. It was Ed Nadorozny, calling from Tacoma, Did you get married while you Washington state, asking permission were still at The Pilgrims? I want to create the CD from old tape to congratulate you on your more recordings, which I think he had than 50 years of marriage to your obtained from Don. I consulted the wife. others, and then helped Ed with the written material and background DP: 54 years this week – that’s why information. I think the recordings we’re celebrating with this holiday. were ‘remastered’ somewhere in Yes, we were married during my Florida. But Ed organised all that, time in the group. John Hubbard was and we just saw the result. We each my Best Man, and made a brilliant received a number of copies as a kind job of it. Kath’s bridesmaids were of ‘royalty’. Brenda (who subsequently married That CD was played on radio stations Don Sanders) and Heather (Brenda’s in places we never dreamed of going neighbour and best friend). Kath, 25

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Life? 17 I Praise The Lord 18 Don’t You Think It’s Time 19 Heaven’s The Place For Me (V1) 20 I Found A Special Friend 21 Think It Over (V2)

Brenda, and Heather often travelled with The Pilgrims, not just for the ride but as an essential part of the team. They didn’t have any role in the music, but they were integral to the work of evangelism. Don & Brenda also married during the time they were in the group. They’ve now been married 53 years. Ian and Angela married later during that period. Tony and Sue have their 50th anniversary this year.

Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

Tell me. What’s happened to Don Just out of curiosity. Do you think you, Don and Tony could do a and Tony’s life all these years? little Pilgrims meeting with some DP: Dons university degree was guest musicians? I would give my in electronics and he worked for a vote so that it could happen :) period in the research department of a television manufacturer. He DP: It’s unlikely. Don has played bass then went to Bible School, and relatively recently, and my guitar took up teaching for several years. also makes the occasional (but rare) Later he devoted himself to video public appearance. But Tony says his filming and production for Christian voice is ‘shot’. broadcasters and event organisers. You told me you wanted to write a book about the band. What Tony trained as a Quantity Surveyor motivated you to write a book (a skill that often proved useful in about The Pilgrims after 50 his later missionary and church years? work). He worked in that profession for a time, but then went to Bible DP: I’ve been thinking about doing it School and offered himself (along for many years, especially as friends with Sue) for mission work. They from those times keep reminding trained in Portugal, with WEC, and me of things they saw when they then went as missionaries to Guinea- travelled with the group. I was even Bissau, where they remained for 14 more encouraged to do it when Don years. On returning to the UK, Tony suddenly discovered a stack of old press had a short spell working again in cuttings and other memorabilia about Quantity Surveying, before taking thr group. However, I had a couple of on the pastorate of a church in other books that I wanted to write first. Christchurch, Dorset (part of the Now I am focussing on that fascinating Vineyard group). After retirement, and encouraging story. they moved to a village close to Salisbury, where Tony was asked to When was the first time you heard become an elder and assist in the that The Pilgrims is possibly the first Christian Rock band? work of Salisbury City Church. Tony has written numerous books on aspects of discipleship. He writes in Portuguese, for Guinea-Bissau (those are normally given away free) and in English (sales of the English versions help to fund the Portuguese ones). More recently, some of his English books have been used in English speaking African countries.

DP: We had some idea that it might be true when we came across other Christian bands and realised that their histories were shorter than ours. More recently, with the aid of the internet, I’ve tried to test that belief, and it seems to stand up. However, being ‘first’ is a qualified claim – perhaps like claiming to be the fastest person in the world to run

e had an extensive and constantly changing repertoire. The CD contains only a small selection of the total output. However, not all the songs were recorded and, of those that were, only a few recordings were of adequate quality to be put on the CD.”

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a 5 ½ kilometre race on a wet Wednesday carrying a pink rucksac! On a certain definition of originality it seems that we were the first. You know that on many websites, and in books that talk about the history of Christian rock and contemporary Christian music, they always say that Larry Norman was the progenitor, and they ignore all the British and American bands that were there before Larry Norman released his first album in 1969. What do you think of that?

DP: The written and dated evidence proves that the movement started in Britain. However, I’ve seen American television and am well aware that nothing of interest ever happens outside the USA (Is that comment too subtle?!)

try and, for some people, a source of riches. The seeds of that were sown in our time, when MGO started sponsoring multi-artiste tours and Key Records began paying royalties. That’s all legal. After all, creative people need to earn a living. But it’s also a potential snare, which every writer and performer should beware of. Some songs come along which I presume are just written for the market – and it shows. But then, even Charles Wesley wrote some hymns that are better forgotten.

You are a music legend, an exemplary Christian and human being who has served God and his family for over 70 years. What can you tell those people who still insist that Rock music (or any other kind of music) cannot be played for God because it is from the devil? “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” Never make judgements based on personal preferences or prejudice. Look at the behaviour, the sincerity, and the motivation of musicians. If you see truth and righteousness, pray for their ministry and, when they start playing gently walk away without comment and pray for them that they may reach people for Christ. Have you enjoyed the music of any particular Christian band? DP: I’ve not been one to follow particular bands though, because of personal friendship, I’m always happy to see Dave Bilbrough. What do you think of the current Christian rock scene in the world?

DP: I’m way out of date, because I don’t try to keep up. It’s not that I dislike what they’re doing. It’s just that my attention is directed towards other things, (I’m a hungry reader, normally having 2 or 3 books on the go simultaneously) Did you know that there are currently many Christian bands playing rock subgenres in many countries in Europe, the United States, Latin America and some countries in Asia? Today it is something that has generated millions of dollars in profits for many artists and companies, but it has also generated millions of repentant souls who have given their hearts to God.

DP: I am aware that the Christian music scene is now an indus27

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What is your favorite verse from the Bible?

1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Pray without ceasing.”

What message would you leave to all those young people around the world who are planning to form a “Christian Rock Band”? Examine your motives, count the cost in time, loss of earnings, potential difficulties and opposition and, having decided to go ahead, find yourself several older people who will give their time to praying for you and mentoring you through the opportunities and the challenges you will face.

Interview with Derrick Phillips from The Pilgrims

What would be your final words to share with our readers? Any period of Christian service as part of a team will build foundations for your future life of faith. One day you will be old. Don’t let that be a time of regrets.

Derrick, this has been one of the best interviews I’ve ever done, I must say I’m honored to have been able to interview you. I want to thank you with all my heart for having accepted, I wish God bless your life, your family, and also the lives of Don Sanders and Tony Goodman. And finally, I want to thank you for forming The Pilgrims, you are part of the story. DP: THANK YOU, IT’S BEEN INTERESTING

This one is probably the earliest picture of the band on ‘stage’, which in this case was the back of a truck at a barbecue on a farm at a country village called Downe. The village is small, but it’s best known for having been the home of Charles Darwin (the evolutionist).

L-R Ian, Don, Derrick, John

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L-R John, Don, Derrick, Rev Jim Ritchie, Ian Gateshead - 1964

L-R John, Chris, Ian, Derrick, Don

www.derrickphillips.co.uk/Pilgrims/index

Reviews

EDDIE

DEGARMO

Rebel for God: Faith, Business, and Rock ‘n’ Roll

By Scott Weldon

Format: Hardcover (256 pages), Digital Release Date: June 26, 2018 Publisher: Salem Books Rating: A+

hen I came to Christ in the early 80s, and first started listening to Christian music, there were a handful of bands that really made an impact on me. Petra, Whiteheart, Allies, Stryper to name a few. And then there was DeGarmo & Key. When I heard the “Communication” record I was blown away; and “Commander Sozo...” made me a fan for life. Little did I know when I first heard them that they had already been around for quite some time and hand a handful of other releases under their belt.

“Little did I know” could be a theme when it comes to DeGarmo and Key, their pioneering career, and their remarkable influence on other Christian artists, and Christian music in general. But thanks to Eddie DeGarmo’s recent book, “Rebel for God: Faith, Business, and Rock ‘n’ Roll,” I now know much more than a little. And what a remarkable story. Eddie gives all the details of how he and Dana Key met in the first grade, becoming best friends for life. He tells of all their early forays into music, both the good and the not so good. From the moderate success in a couple local Memphis bands, to their conversion to Christ, and the early days of the Christian rock music scene, Eddie tells story after story to give us a solid look into the “behind the scenes” life of one 30

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of Christian music’s legendary bands. While much of the book focuses on the 30 plus year career of DeGarmo & Key, detailing amazing background on each of the band’s recordings, we also are reminded of the lasting influence DeGarmo has had on Christian music in other ways. As a producer, record label co-owner, and music industry executive, Eddie has touched the lives and careers of dozens of major artists. As the co-founder of Forefront Records, DeGarmo helped launch the careers of CCM artists like Rebecca St. James, Audio Adrenaline, Stacie Orrico, and a little band called DC Talk. To hear of that legendary trio starting out as roadies for

D&K is mind blowing. DeGarmo also had a hand in getting a guy named John Cooper on the map with his little group called Skillet. Not to mention Eddie putting together an epic stage musical with his friend Bob Farrell that became the amazing “Hero: The Rock Opera.”

To be honest, the early chapters tend to jump around a bit, back and forth in time, which can be a little confusing at times. But trying to remember all those stories from three decades of recording, touring, etc., one can understand. And some of the stories about life on the road...well, you’ll have to read them for yourself.

After retiring from touring and recording (both with D & K and as a solo artist), Eddie went into full time executive mode. The book gives a great deal of insight into the inner workings of the music industry, from recording, to producing, to marketing, all the way up to major corporate buyouts. DeGarmo ends up as the president of the largest Christian music publisher in the world.

All in all, this book is a great read. Whether you’re a fan of Christian music, or a musician who wants to learn a bit about the business, or even someone looking for insight into the music business itself; there’s something here for everyone. I highly recommend picking up a copy of “Rebel for God.” I’m so glad Eddie took the time to write this. It’s informational. It’s inspirational. And it’s a lot of fun.

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Reviews

The album was released in CD format, and 150 copies of Red Vinyl and 200 in Black Vinyl were also released, and of course, also in digital format.

Deliverance - The Subversive Kind (2018) By Anthony Martinez

Style: Thrash Metal Release date: February 23, 2018 Format: CD, Vinil, Digital Tracks: 8 Label: 3 Frogz / Roxx Records Rating: 75% 1. Brimg ‘Em Down (4:38) 2. Concept of the other (3:53) 3. Center of it All (3:42) 4. The Black Hand (3:52) 5. Epilogue (4:01) 6. Listen Closely (3:27) 7. The Subversive Kind (4:13) 8. The Fold (4:29)

Subversive Kind becomes the eleventh studio album of the band, I would love to say it sounds like a more mature and experienced band, however, the sound of this album takes us back to the beginning of the group, although with a more linear sound from beginning to end, and without the spark that Deliverance has presented us in many of his previous songs. But don’t be scared, there are things on this album that will get you hooked on it, of course, if you’re an old-school Thrash metal fanatic. I can’t imagine how tired can be to sing with the intensity that Jimmy sings from beginning to end on this album, and although it doesn’t have the same vocal range as on previous albums, you can really enjoy the energy that Jimmy sings with in the 30 minutes of Subversive Kind.

eliverance, monsters of Christian thrash metal, who together with Tourniquet, refuse to disappear, and their creativity does not stop. Subversive Kind, released in February of this year on the Roxx Records label, with the powerful voice of its leader Jimmy P. Brown, who brought former bass player of Tourniquet Victor Macias, as wel the drummer for The Crucified and Once Dead, Jim Chaffin. But the biggest surprise for Deliverance fans was the return of one of their founding members, Mr. Glenn Rogers, who had been in the band’s line-up from 1985 to 1989, having only been part of the band’s debut album in 1988.

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In “Epilogue” and “Listen Closely”, there are some interesting Guitar solos, characteristic of the band, with hooks that really catch you. I realized that in most of the songs, after 2 minutes an instrumental part begins with guitar solos, I don’t know if this was done on purpose by the members of the band, or if it was pure coincidence, I don’t know. Undoubtedly I think they hit the nail on the head ending with The Fold, as it presents a good guitar solo followed by the choir that ends the song and the album. The cover art was by Scott Waters of Ultimatum and Nolifetilmetal, quite curious and controversial when he showed two children with daggers in their hands and who have a tail and horns, who advance slowly to face an army of soldiers wearing gas masks, and their shields have the Deliverance logo. Is this controversial?

Recently DeGroff recorded and released a solo project called Salt. This project is mostly instrumental, understandably focusing on DeGroff ’s bass. Later Petra singer John Schlitt provides vocals on three tracks, though for some reason only two include the “featuring John Schlitt” title. It’s a bit odd to think of these two widely diverse eras of Petra’s history working together, but it seems to fit. Not surprising given Schlitt’s Head East days.

John DeGroff - Salt (2018) By Scott Weldon

Style: 70s Prog Rock / Jazzy Instrumental Release date: June 22, 2018 Format: Digital Tracks: 9 Label: Rottweiler Records Rating: 70% (for reasons that should become obvious!) 1. Runnin’ (Featuring John Schlitt) (2:42 ) 2. Sneeze (3:10) 3. Dave’s Living Room (3:22) 4. I’m Your Man (Featuring John Schlitt) (3:03) 5. Wish I Was A Child Again (2:09) 6. Silk And Cookies (3:05) 7. Celebrity Squat Thrust (2:44) 8. From Yes To No And Back Again (5:29) 9. Theme For a Perfect Day (1:34)

ome folks may have no idea who John DeGroff is, though he has a rich and storied history in CCM. He was part of Dove with Bob Hartman, and later joined Hartman in the formation of the now legendary band Petra. He played bass with Petra for several years and recorded the band’s first two albums. You can read a bit more of his bio here (https://www.classicchristianrockzine.com/2015/09/john-degroff.html)

As you’ll discover, I’m certainly no professional music reviewer. I can only offer my impressions and opinions as a fan. Think of what follows more as simply “informational” rather than a true “review.” The whole project has a 70s feel to it, almost making you get the impression this was a solo project released during DeGroff ’s days with Petra. If you’ve never heard the self titled debut “Petra”, then you won’t at all be ready for this record. The official description calls it “old school prog rock in the vein of King Crimson, Yes, Kansas, and early Genesis.” There is no denying DeGroff ’s skill on bass, but if you’re not a fan of the 70s, you probably won’t enjoy this.

“I’m Your Man” is the next vocal track, and again both lyrically and musically seem very “dated.” I’m not trying to be overly critical with that. I like this 70s prog style. But again, both in terms of style and even quality of recording, it seems very much like a throwback. “Wish Like a Child” opens with an acoustic guitar intro and is much more laid back than some of the other tracks. It has a Phil Keaggy kind of feel to it, with a little country twist tossed in with some slide guitar riffs. “Silk and Cookies” is similar to “Dave’s Living Room” with mostly just bass and drums, though in addition to tossing some guitar parts on top, this one adds a little flute as well. “Celebrity Squat Thrust” is an interesting tune. It has more electric guitar than the other songs seem to, and many of the riffs feel very familiar. If I was more of an expert I might be able to identify some of those, given the “celebrity” title. I do know that at the end, there is the repetition of the very recognizable line from the midpoint of Yes’ Roundabout.

The uncredited Schlitt appearance is actually the best of the three vocal songs. “From Yes to No and Back Again” has a really fun bouncy pace. Again, very reThe opening song, “Runnin’”, one of the tro. The transitions within the song are three with vocals, opens with a bass and a bit rough and jerky, but again, maybe keyboard riff that brings to mind mi- the best of the three vocal tracks. ni-skirts and go-go boots. Schlitt’s vocals fit right in with the retro feel, whi- “Theme For A Perfect Day” ends the rele the lyrics themselves even seem to cord with another acoustic track. This hearken back to simpler days in CCM. one put me even more in mind of some The theme of “runnin’ around, runnin’ old Phil Keaggy projects, and includes in circles” that “gets you nowhere” is a a bit of harmonica. It’s just a short piebit sidetracked by a chorus that does ce, in fact a bit too short in my opinion. In fact, that’s the one thing about most that very thing. Still, a fun song. of the instrumentals. A bit short, and The next several tracks are instrumen- the longer ones are just repetitions of tals. “Sneeze” opens with DeGroff ’s shorter bits. I would have enjoyed heabass line, then jumps into some really ring some of this develop more. Again, fun piano work, with a little “Twili- that’s just my opinion, and I’m certainly ght Zone”-esque melodies in the mix. no expert. “Dave’s Living Room” opens with some bass lines that made me think of a pe- All in all this was a fun trip back to the riod spy movie before landing on a riff “old” days for me. This record is defithat was very “Yes” sounding (some- nitely for a niche audience, however. I thing that shows up more obviously don’t see many fans of contemporary later). It’s mostly just bass and drums rock rushing out to get this. Yet, if you are in that “niche”, it’s well worth your at times, with some other guitar parts time to enjoy DeGroff ’s journey back layered on the top. to those simpler times.

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Songs

On January 30th of this year, Whitecross guitar master Rexx Carroll shared a note about the process of creating one of the most famous songs in the history of CCM, Christian rock and the band’s most emblematic song:

IN THE KINGDOM

n 1990 Starsong Records wanted to get a hit song for Whitecross; in their eyes that meant “softening” the sound of the band to make it more palatable to CCM radio. So my friend and our A&R man Dez Dickerson calls me up and says he’s got a song we need to look at. As many of you may know, I’m hyper-protective of our songs, they are all like my children or something and my first impulse is usually somewhere along the line of, “I’m not going to be interested in YOUR song for MY band” haha. I think Dez knew this, so he actually came over to my house to play it for me. I live north of Chicago; Dez lives in Nashville. That’s about 8 hours by car. The ultimate sales job…but everybody including myself, Dez, and the record label, knew that’s what it was going to take. I think they had a secret meeting at Starsong headquarters in Nashville…. “who’s going to confront that evil villain Darth Rex? Dez, this mission has been appointed to youhere’s an extra light saber, and may the force be with you…

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ooh and don’t worry, we’ll bill the entire cost of your trip to their recoupment account”. Needless to say, Darth Rex was NOT HAPPY about the sales call err, excuse me, ahem the “A & R meeting” that took place in my kitchen. Hahaha I think I was looking for the launch codes to the death star when Dez rolled into my driveway. So I had to get out the boombox so he could play the cassette tape (ask your grandparents) of this new song he had written called “In The Kingdom”. I was actually trying to be open-minded about it, but seriously, I just couldn’t hear it. Finally in the very last minute of the song it went to a key change up and with the higher pitch, I was able to actually comprehend the song, although it still felt like a HUGE stretch for Whitecross. In fact, Scotty couldn’t even sing it where it was written, so we agreed to move the entire song up one whole step from the original key.

In the studio, I went to start tracking the acoustic guitar part. After 15 minutes, it wasn’t working. At that point our producer Simon Hanhart suggested I try a thin pick, and sure enough that did the trick. See? I learned something there so in fact, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. On previous albums, we had some keyboards here and there, but for this album, we received a recommendation on a Chicago keyboardist named Chris Cameron that none of us knew anything about. To this day I’ve never seen anything like Chris…we scheduled him for a 4 pm start, which meant that his cartage company rolled up at 2 pm, in a 20-foot truck! The guy in the truck rolls out a full sized Hammond B-3 organ, and a rack to go with it full of Marshall amps, analog equalizers, and guitar pedals. Then there’s the 6’ ginormous full-sized leslie speaker. Then he sets up 2 banks of analog synthesizers and various keyboards, with racks of outboard gear that Keith Emerson would have been proud of. (again, ask your grandad) Finally at 4 pm Chris waltzes in the door with a casual “hey guys, whassup?” And then he proceeds to blow the roof off with glorious gospel B-3 licks and amazing synthesizer tracks, Fender Rhodes electric pianos, and all kinds of keyboards. I do believe that Chris became our “5th Beatle” and heavily influenced the sound of the entire record. 35

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Eventually it was time to add the “Gospel Choir” to the chorus. Once again, nobody knew anybody so we made a blind call to the musician’s union. They gave us two names. The first girl says on the phone, “I’ll do it but I want union scale!” This threw us all into a panic because nobody knew the going rate for “union scale” wages, including the girl! It was late in the day, nobody was answering the phone at the musician’s union, so we just agreed to it. The second girl answers her phone and says “How much is the first girl getting? Oh, well if she’s getting union scale, then I want the same thing!” Haha so we’ve all agreed to a price but nobody knows what it is…. They came in around 7 pm the next day and our producer Simon starts working them. Layer after layer after layer of vocals… After about 4 or 5 hours it was sounding HUGE and PHAT so I left. Later on we added some male vocals. Besides Scotty, there was Dez Dickerson, Glen Kaiser, Steve Watkins and Ray Perra from Sacred Warrior, and possibly Michael Feighan who had just joined the band. I don’t remember if there was anybody else. So now we’re doing very un-Whitecross type things, with vocals and keyboards and acoustic guitars, very very different, on a song nobody in the band wrote! Ron Luce from Teen Mania youth missions got an advance copy of it, and he flipped for the song. In fact, he decided to use it for the next year and a half to promote Teen Mania. Also, he brought us down to Nicaragua to make a promo video for it; the video was 50% music video, and 100% Teen Mania promotion. Slightly odd, but nevertheless it worked big time and thus “In The Kingdom” became our most well-known song. One time a guy called long distance from Australia…I pick up my phone at about 11 pm, and the voice on the other end is actually shocked because somehow, he got through to my house. So then he says “what’s the chords to In The Kingdom, mate?” and I”m like, you called all the way from fricking Australia to ask me about a song that has only FOUR CHORDS? Therefore, “In The Kingdom” actually PROVES the following joke which goes: Q: What’s the difference between a rock guitar player and a jazz guitar player? A: The jazz guitar player plays 10,000 chords, to 4 people…

News

Crystavox ‘Crystavox’ will be released on a one time vinyl pressing of 500 pieces with 150 on a beautiful limited edition purple vinyl and 350 on shiny black vinyl, and all feature a beautiful glossy lyric sheet insert. The CD version is also limited to only 500 pieces and comes packaged in a jewel case with a beautiful new layout with an 8 page full color booklet with full lyrics and credits enclosed. The CD version will also contain two additional bonus tracks taken from ‘The Twenty Year Mix’. Pre orders will receive a limited edition glossy sticker of the album cover art while supplies last.

Roxx Records is very pleased to be bringing you BOTH the debut self-titled release ‘Crystavox’ and the sophomore and final release ‘The Bottom Line’ back to life for fans to enjoy! Both albums are being released on vinyl for the very first time ever, as well as on CD, in a truly Limited Edition format. Each album has been completely remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound. Featuring brand new and updated artwork that remains true to the original artwork created by Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics.

Crystavox ‘The Bottom Line’ will be released on a one time vinyl pressing of 500 pieces with 150 on a beautiful limited edition translucent red vinyl and 350 on shiny black vinyl, and all feature a beautiful glossy lyric sheet insert. The CD version is also limited to only 500 pieces and comes packaged in a jewel case with a beautiful new layout with an 8 page full color booklet with full lyrics and credits enclosed. The CD version will also contain two additional bonus tracks taken from ‘The Twenty Year Mix’. Pre orders will receive a limited edition glossy sticker of the album cover art while supplies last.

an Diego based Christian melodic rockers Crystavox were a staple on Christian rock radio in the early 90’s with hard rock hits like ‘Sacrifice’ and ballads like ‘Home Again’ all over the airwaves. The band made their debut on Regency Records in 1990 with their self-titled album, which was followed up in 1992 with their Ocean Records sophomore release ‘The Bottom Line’. Both of these classic Christian rock albums are long out of print and have been difficult for fans to find today at a decent price, until now.

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News

The guitar solos have lots of technical shredding elements, but at the same time they are very melodic and I think fun for everyone to listen too. The riffs are also exciting for me to play as there is a lot of obvious influences that I brought to this new record.”

The Nature Of The Beast, Impelliteri’s new album will be released in October Frontiers Music Srl will release IMPELLITTERI’s brand new studio album, The Nature Of The Beast, on October 12, 2018. “The new music was written with passion and a sincere love for heavy metal,” tells Chris Impellitteri. “I think as a band we grow stronger with each new album. Our artistic abilities seem to get better with age, but at the same time we seem to sound even more energetic, crazy, and youthful with this release. You could say the music on this newest musical child is an extension of our previous record, Venom. I love the Venom record, but I am currently obsessed by The Nature Of The Beast. We are thrilled to share this new music with our FANS and friends around the world and I really hope they like it!” IMPELLITTERI recorded The Nature Of The Beast in Los Angeles, California with legendary engineer/producer Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, IN FLAMES), mix engineer Greg Reely (OVERKILL, FEAR FACTORY), and engineers Jun Murakawa and Sean Shannon. “As a guitarist, I challenge myself to conquer my human limitations,” continues Chris. “I practice for hours each day to improve my technique. I also spend a lot of time customizing my guitars, amps, and pedals to achieve this crazy guitar sound. On this new record, my guitar sound is really me trying to create a tone that sounds a bit like a chainsaw blended with a beautiful Stradivarius violin. It is Beauty and the Beast with lots of pick attack! 38

Elvis’s “If I Can Dream.” Through the Forest is the perfect balance of passion and finesse, excellent musicianship, and great lyrics. And now a great album has been made better digitally remastered to perfection by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound. Don’t miss it. Limited to just 150 Black Vinyl copies as part of the Retroactive Records From the Vaults series and also available on CD packaged in a jewel case with 6 page booklet with lyrics limited to a one-time pressing of just 300 copies. This is the first time this classic album is available on vinyl, and the remaster allows fans to hear the brilliance of this essential hard rock album even more clearly. Through the Forest is pure magic, and it’s never looked, or sounded better! Get it while you can! www. boonesoverstock.com

PRE-ORDER: MAD AT THE WORLD THROUGH THE FOREST 1992 was an epic year for Christian rock. Bride released Snakes in the Playground. Adam Again delivered the transformational art rock album Dig, Deliverance blew audiences away with the masterful Stay of Execution, Mortification released the deathly Scrolls album, Mortal industrialized white middle-class suburbia with Lusis, L.S. Underground released the concept album The Grape Prophet, and The 77s redefined world-class rock with the self-titled (aka Pray Naked) release. AND...... Mad At the World gifted us with their hardest hitting, most aggressive, and progressive album we could have imagined - Through the Forest! MATW was a short-lived but brilliant band with seven musthave releases led by brothers Roger and Randy Rose (also of Mothership and Rose - all amazing as well). They started off as a synthpop band and soon did a 180 into organic prog rock. Through the Forest finds MATW midcareer and firing on all cylinders and refining their sound. There’s something for everyone on this gem from the driving rock of the title track, to the Jim Morrison/Glen Danzig-inspired sound of “Trapped,” the sweet “Always be My Love,” and the playful cover of

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PRE-ORDER: MAD AT THE WORLD THROUGH THE FOREST Snake Eyes is the return of one of the most important Christian Hard Rock bands of all time. Dale and Troy Thompson, living in different countries and with musicians from Brazil, have made this album remotely, something that Dale Thompson knows how to do very well with all his bands like The World will Burn and Bride could not be the exception. This new album is something like the sequel to Snake Eyes, or at least that’s what they say, you’ll have to listen to it yourself to check.

Oz Fox was taken to an emergency hospital in Las Vegas after suffering a blackout while playing live with a project parallel to Stryper called Sin City Sinners. Now Oz needs a lot of everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayers as the doctors found two tumors, one in his ear and one behind his brain. At this time, the procedures that Oz needs will not be covered by insurance. Meanwhile, bills are piling up quickly and Oz cannot drive, fly, or work for three months, as he is at risk for seizures. The financial need is great and growing by the day. There is a campaign in Go Found Me in which you can help financially, but the most important is your prayers for God to help Oz and his family. www.stryper.com 40

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On August 21 it was reported that John Herrin, drummer of Resurrection band, had suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery. Glenn Kaiser reported that everything had gone well. Please pray with us that John will soon recover from surgery, pray that God will heal him from whatever diseases are in his body.

We are sorry to tell you that Rick has cancer, and it is terminal. He has done a heroic job of keeping it private, and of keeping his suffering quiet, and even of recovering from major brain surgery. Yes, miracles are needed now. Pray more. Recruit more people to pray. Today, Rick Elias and his family need our help. The insurance only goes so far. And Rick can no longer work for a living -- though he is remixing his finest work to leave all of us a legacy. Please visit the following link to donate to Rick and his family. And most importantly, pray a lot for them. https://www.gofundme.com/rick-elias-medical-expenses 41

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On August 14, Dale Thompson, the current leader of many bands but best known as Bride’s singer, experienced severe chest pain and was taken to a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, where he currently lives. According to later publications on his facebook page, Dale had undergone different medical examinations as it could be heart disease. “Blood test came back okay and the gripping tight painful feeling in my chest has subsided thanks to believers uniting. I will take the stress test next Friday however to relieve the minds of those still concerned. Blessings to you all.” Please, Pray a Lot for Dale Thompson

Nancyjo Mann, singer of Barnabas, has had many health problems in recent years. It has not been easy for her to deal with all this, she has had serious eye problems and some brain diseases, as well as problems with her immune system. She recently wrote on her facebook account:NOW I FACE MY MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION IN MY LIFE. I WILL BE WRITING A FINAL POST. TO SAY GOOD BYE, FOR QUITE A TIME. SO AS TO SHARE WHY I NEED TO. ALL MY LIVE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. ALWAYS, NJO. Please, Pray for Nancyjo. 42

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You can probably remember him because he’s Steven Patrick’s brother. (Holy Soldier). He has participated with his brother in many projects since they formed their first band in 1987 Victory. Sean constantly asks for prayer on his Facebook profile, a couple of years ago he had said he was losing his memory as he was diagnosed with Lyme in his brain. Sean would have asked for financial support through Go Found Me. Sean is very confident in God, but at the same time it is evident that he is overwhelmed by the health problems that have arisen. Please pray for Sean.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

Months ago, Wendi Kaiser, wife of Glenn Kaiser, and also a singer with her husband in Resurrection Band, had to undergo a knee replacement, after which she has been receiving different rehabilitation therapies. Wendy also suffers from muscle aches and asthma. Muscle cramps happen very often in Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, her husband Glenn Kaiser constantly asks for prayer for his wife.

Please always take Wendi in your prayers so that God may heal her of all her sicknesses, pray also for her family and her husband Glenn.

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