I’ve done it again. I’ve written a book.
At first, I have to admint, I wasn’t very excited. I felt obligated. But then I had to get to work compiling it, organizing it, and editing it. That meant I had to re-read some of these interviews that I hadn’t looked at in decades – sometimes three decades!
Who knew that the Dangerous Toys interview was so amazing and cool? I’ve done hundreds of interviews with mainstream artists. Some have been dull. Some have been super. I wasn’t sure how good this collection would be when I compiled them. After writing Rock Stars on God (2004, Relevant Books) and its follow-up, Rock Stars on God, Volume Two, I knew that some of the names begged to be in print. How happy I am to realize that these interviews, these conversations, were such winners.
Getting a fresh ear will do that for a creative work. Sometimes you have to step away for awhile to appreciate what you’ve got. I remember Dangerous Toys frontman Jason McMaster telling me about running into some kids that were witnessing at a Taco Bell late one night after a show while he was on tour. But I forgot how eloquent and thoughtful the man was about this discourse and about the man Jesus Christ.
Who knew that two of the world’s flashiest and melodic fast guitar players (Matthias Jabs of Scorpions and Yngwie Malmsteen) would both agree that Jesus was their hero? And how often does a rock star with a perceived penchant for evil declare how relevant the person of Jesus Christ it – so much so that we are still talking about Him 2,000 years later?
I am blown away that the lost Trans-Siberian Orchestra interview published for the first time here was so cool. I mean, I would have been happy if it was just some bonus material – more words to fill up more pages. Just to be able to boast that it was previously unpublished. But the fact that the late Paul O’Neill went higher level thinking during this part of the interview and talked about the purpose of art, bad art, good art, and great art … I’m over-the-top filled with joy to share this interview. I mean, he even gave three historical examples of how the arts not only changed the audience, but was responsible for widespread changes through entire cultures (and the entire world). I kid you not. This interview is amazing.
Talking to metal founders of their time, like Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler or Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, who have shaken countless stages with their bass guitar and double bass drums, was really fun. But it’s cool to hear them both open up about their personal beliefs in a God that cares for them and inspires them to make the world a better place as a result of His influence?
And then Foreigner, Styx, Cinderella, Def Leppard, Living Colour. These seminal and foundational artists had much to say about their art, the world around them, and the unseen world.
Yes, Jesus Christ is central to all of these interviews. Even the tough ones where the artist did not want to talk about Jesus and brought up ending or re-directing the interview if the subject matter did not change. This is why I returned to the great, iconic art of Monty Colvin for the book covers. His comic series, which ran in the pages of HM Magazine for years, covered journalism and the tightly-controlled environment some artists (or their management) wanted to have on their reputation and their image. It made sense to point to the tension that sometimes arises when it comes to conversations about faith.
The comic features an edit. Instead of the GasFist manager saying, “Ask me anything you want?” I went with a direct quote from the chapter on Prong in this book. “I’ll take the fifth.”
In other words, I did not come here to talk about Jesus. Next question, please. This tension was highlighted in the very first volume of Rock Stars on God, when Henry Rollins would say things like, “We’re not going there, pal.” It happened again in this volume with Tommy Victor. And Phil Ehart of Kansas did not want to use his interview promoting the new Kansas album to talk about personal faith.
In the words of Kermit the frog, “It ain’t easy being green.”
It’s not easy approaching the subject of Jesus Christ and His claims to be, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me,” but someone’s gotta do it. It might as well be me.
So, I’ve done it again. The book is finished. It’s been edited, laid out, and ready for print. I’m only now waiting on interested readers like yourself deciding to spend the $20 to support my Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign.
I’ve got some fun reward tiers to give you more than just a copy of the book. Check it all out (as well as my video updates) here: http://kck.st/3TmO8tE
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