Apologetix (^) has been doing their Christian parody sh*t for years.

Who needs the artists' permission when you're on a mission from God?

Religion makes you stupid.

I've got a lot of respect for Christianity, but why not just write your own songs?

These original artists are not Christian. (I mean, really, Dio? The guy who used to front Black Sabbath? What a shock..) They don't want their music used for Christian propaganda. That's up to them.

If you love Jesus and you want to spread a Christian message, use your own damned ideas.

When I was living in the South, there were a lot of fundamentalist types who wore T-shirts with Christianized versions of famous logos (Lord's Gym for Gold's Gym. Good Boy Club for Bad Boy Club, etc.) What is this sh*t? Many of the great artists and musicians of the world throughout history have been Christian and used Christian themes.

Worry about making art. Then focus on your message.

One of the most ironic things in this world is that Contemporary Christian
Music is some of the most soul destroying crap ever recorded. I am positive
it is the music they will play in Hell.

I will bet that the writer of the article thinks IMAGINE is about atheism, too.

Christianity shouldn't do contemporary music aside from Gospel and Christian rock is cringeworthy. I've been to mass in beautiful churches with a grand old organ gathering dust while having to endure some earnest folk-style group leading the congregation in a sing-song with a choir that wouldn't know the meaning of harmony if they had an extremely abridged dictionary with only one definition - which was for "harmony".

For its many faults, one thing Catholicism does well is pageantry (as do the Orthodox Churches and High-Church Anglicans and I'm sure there are other denominations with similar traditions). Between vestments, architecture, holy water, statuary, stained glass, incense and all the other paraphernalia of worship you get the sense that going to church is an important, albeit somewhat gaudy, occasion. I remember having to write AMDG on the top of every page of work I did at school (Ad maiorum Dei gloriam=For the greater glory of God). I can't see anything glorious about Christian rock.

That said, I am partial to Jewtown

Maybe because it's their music and they don't want it used for other purposes? If you want to use music to put out your Christian philosophy and vision, WRITE YOUR OWN MUSIC!

Why would he need to change the lyrics to "Heaven and Hell" in the first place? They're vague enough that they could be interpreted as having a pro-Christian message as written.

CheddarPants: Why would he need to change the lyrics to "Heaven and Hell" in the first place? They're vague enough that they could be interpreted as having a pro-Christian message as written.

"Can't Find My Way Home", too, for that matter. I mean, it's just stupid. And it gives away his motive: he wants to sell records outside his demographic.

In fact, the publicity he's getting from this is probably a shiny consolation prize by comparison. I've now heard of this guy, where I hadn't before.

But if he were actually interested in spreading his message (which, y'know, yay people who want to spread a message), he would probably worry less about weird cover-band contortionism, and just play his frigging songs, like, say, almost every other frigging band with a message in the world.

shivashakti: When I was living in the South, there were a lot of fundamentalist types who wore T-shirts with Christianized versions of famous logos (Lord's Gym for Gold's Gym. Good Boy Club for Bad Boy Club, etc.)

Ever see the one that has "Megalife" and "Prayer" written like the logos for "Megadeth" and "Slayer"?

(I'd tried to link a picture but the only one I could find wouldn't link)

"I changed just enough of the lyrics to pervert the original lyrics of Ronnie James Dio to reflect Christianity."

He does use honest verbs.

Alter it by 40% and call it new.

comically enough, the song 'Heaven and Hell' is not about how awesome the life of 'sin' is, but the many falsehoods and lies of those who would wish to push their own form of religion upon others, and many of the labels these said individuals use for those not of their own ilk.

// nihilist. its tiring.

There's a fine line between stupid and clever.

He mentions Weird Al.

Weird Al also walks a fine line. Remember the flap over Amish Paradise? But at the same time Kurt Cobain said "When I first heard 'Smells like Nirvana,' I knew I'd made it."

You're not making Christianity better, you're making Rock and Roll worse.

Listen, if you want to perform the meanest and most driving cover tunes as a Christian, won't waste your time with Sabbath. Remake one of this guy's songs:



Whereas Sabbath tells you to go to hell, Blind Willie Johnson would actually condemn you to there.

...er, "don't"

VictoryCabal: You're not making Christianity better, you're making Rock and Roll worse.

+1

/One of my favorite quotes.

FTA: "Prior to the release of each CD, I chased several artists to re-record one of their originals. The first was "Heaven And Hell" by Black Sabbath. I changed just enough of the lyrics to pervert the original lyrics of Ronnie James Dio to reflect Christianity. Ignorant at the time to the fact I needed permission, we went into the manufacturing process. Not only did he refuse to release the song, the refusal was presented to me through his attorney."

So he ripped off Dio and "perverted" his lyrics (his word) all without first asking permission, then wrote a whiny article when he was rightfully told to fark off?

Wow, he's the biggest douchebag I've seen on the internet in at least ten minutes.

If it's any consolation, his version would have really sucked.

/Jesus to Baby FTW

DslainteC: Apologetix (^) has been doing their Christian parody sh*t for years.

Who needs the artists' permission when you're on a mission from God?

When I worked at Radioshack (yay) one of the guys I worked with played one of their CD's. "Story of a Squirrel" made me laugh, then when they tried "Bohemian Rhapsody" and a Zeppelin song I asked him to take it out. To me, that's sacreligious.

He told me I had something weighing on my heart. I told him I did, and I was tired of hearing the word God every 5 seconds in an AC/DC song.

/not a christian
//but not an atheist.

Skillet, Red, Pillar, Thrice, Kutless, Decyfer Down, Disciple, Thousand Foot Krutch, Head, Flyleaf...

Nope no talent in the Christian rock realm at all.

mcgreggers99: Skillet, Red, Pillar, Thrice, Kutless, Decyfer Down, Disciple, Thousand Foot Krutch, Head, Flyleaf...

Nope no talent in the Christian rock realm at all.

You forgot Creed.

Stupid Creed, making me think you were all awesome, then BAM! In with the Christian themes...

shivashakti: When I was living in the South, there were a lot of fundamentalist types who wore T-shirts with Christianized versions of famous logos (Lord's Gym for Gold's Gym. Good Boy Club for Bad Boy Club, etc.) What is this sh*t?

Christians co-opting ideas of others? No way!

FeedTheCollapse: shivashakti: When I was living in the South, there were a lot of fundamentalist types who wore T-shirts with Christianized versions of famous logos (Lord's Gym for Gold's Gym. Good Boy Club for Bad Boy Club, etc.) What is this sh*t?

Christians co-opting ideas of others? No way!

It's been a Christian tradition since Constantine!

What about the oatmeal? I thought this was the oatmeal song...

SpaceyCat: Maybe because it's their music and they don't want it used for other purposes? If you want to use music to put out your Christian philosophy and vision, WRITE YOUR OWN MUSIC!

Being it that Dio was the lead singer of Black Sabbath, he's probably had quite enough of church-goers' vitriol over the years because of their perceived notions on the topic of his music. When it comes down to it, I'm not surprised that he refused to endorse this re-writer's work. As TFA said, he was "perverting" the message to his own end (which is very honest of him) and possibly had the idea in his head that he could negate all the bad done by the original arrangement.

VictoryCabal: You're not making Christianity better, you're making Rock and Roll worse.

HH FTW. I'll tell you, I can tell in a few seconds when I'm searching for a radio station and I land on a Christian contemporary station. Even without them saying "Jesus" or "Lord" every line, you can just tell.

/practicing Catholic
//sticks to the classics

How about writting your own stuff.

stuhayes2010: How about writting your own stuff.

Why do you hate rock n roll?

stuhayes2010: How about writting your own stuff.

Because spelling's harder than it seems.

"You're not making Christianity better; you're making Rock 'n Roll worse!"

To quote Mr. Hill, "You're not making christianity better, you're making rock n' roll worse."

/go about your day

thisispete: That said, I am partial to Jewtown

I'll see you and raise you a Taqwacore (vid, new window).

I'm not 100% sure he's even right on the law. I assume he's already determined that his reworked lyrics aren't different enough to constitute a transformative work, but I don't see why a mechanical license (which he appears to be willing to pay for) wouldn't protect him against a copyright suit even if he had changed some words here and there. Artists doing covers make small changes to the lyrics all the time -- changing male pronouns to female, changing certain lines or leaving out entire verses, etc.

The Weird Al situation is completely different. Al could record anything he wants, regardless of the copyright holder's wishes, as parody is defense to copyright infringement. Al *chooses* not to redo songs without the initial artist's permission as a matter of courtesy, but if he wanted to do them without permission, he could.

This guy is a bag of Christian douche. Dio is surely familiar with the throngs of bible thumpers who used to, and still might, hang outside of concerts and tell people they're going to hell for listening to the "Devil's Music". Good for him for having the integrity to tell this guy no.

DslainteC: Apologetix (^) has been doing their Christian parody sh*t for years.

Who needs the artists' permission when you're on a mission from God?

parody is one thing, but it looks like the guy from the article was being lazy.

madden101: stuhayes2010: How about writting your own stuff.

Because spelling's harder than it seems.

Black Sabbath's After Forever

Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?

When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
that God is the only way to love.

Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun.

I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down now you can't retrieve.

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate.
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes - I think it's too late.

I number among my favorite Christian bands Demon Hunter, Anberlin, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, Underøath, and Falling Up.

Now no one better dare deride my musical preferences, because that sort of thing just never happens on Fark.

madden101: I number among my favorite Christian bands Demon Hunter, Anberlin, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, Underøath, and Falling Up.

Now no one better dare deride my musical preferences, because that sort of thing just never happens on Fark.

get off my lawn

dietephobia, bride, and hot pink turtle were much better

lostinspace1978: /oh and these guys are pretty good

I think that's a different version of Suck, compared to Christian Rock.

Flyleaf is pretty good. Same with As I Lay Dying.

Another one I've discovered is In the Midst of Lions. Good stuff.

dstanley: I'll just leave this here.

Are Christian men supposed to look like whores?

lostinspace1978: I don't really mind christian bands, it's christian music i have a problem with. It's just terrible. Gospel music is the only form of christian music I enjoy. Something about getting preached to about jesus backed by rock music makes my stomach turn.

As with any genre of music, there's good bands and there's bad ones, and every artist has at least one fan. I don't think of Christian music as getting preached at, but rather as the artists singing about what they believe and are feeling. And there's a great deal of artists who have been on predominantly "Christian" record labels (Tooth & Nail, Solid State, Facedown) who have kind of shunned being labeled as "Christian," not because they aren't or because they want to sing about and have lots of sex and drugs, but because they feel that, by labeling themselves as "Christian," that instantly turns a lot of people off to them. Bands like Switchfoot don't have a great deal of overtly Christian music (think "Faith +1"), but nonetheless have a positive message and songs about issues that many people wrestle with.

Christian Rock is similar to Pop Country in that when I meet someone who's into it, I know I'm dealing with a tin-eared tit.

When did some one come along and think "man, i love rock music but all this anti-authority stuff is not going to sit well with my friends and parents. I KNOW I'LL MAKE IT ABOUT JESUS AND I'LL UP LIFT HEARTS AND MINDS"?

goes back to listening to 3 inches of blood-axes of evil.

Why not simply cover something from the Ozzy period? They were obsessively Christian back then.