Sept. Bonus: Jerusalem

Arin Hancock: This is the Rock and Metal Faith Podcast. Alright, welcome back to the Rock and Metal Faith Podcast. This is our b monthly bonus episode for the month of September. For those who've been around for a while, thanks for sticking around. For those who are new to the program, welcome to the program. I am your host, Arin Hancock. My co-host there is Kris Plamondon How are you doing, Kris? Say hi.

Kris plamondon: How's it going, man?

Arin Hancock: Alright. And if you Are new to the program every month we try and do a bonus episode where we will do a quick feature on a band and then we will get into birthdays, anniversaries, and all that. And this is coming out just before our main episode for September. And I I bring that up because we're gonna talk about well, on our main episode, we're gonna talk about Leviticus and However, another Swedish band is the feature of our bonus episode. We're going to talk about Jerusalem, formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1975 by the guitarist slash vocalist Ulf Christensen. Ulf was about 15 years old when the band began. His goal wasn't just another Christian band, it was to be use the band as an evangelistic tool. And this was a pretty radical idea in Sweden, especially in the mid-70s. This was about the same time as like Rez Petra in the States were getting going. And I think you know Jerusalem was probably one of the first bands, especially over in Sweden, to do this. Their classic early lineup included Ulf Christensen, like I said, on vocals and guitar. They had Dan Tibel on keyboards. Bertel Sorensen on bass, Dan Gainsmore on drums. Some of their signature albums were Volume 1 in 78, Volume 2 in 1980, Warrior in 1981, which was a signature album with lineup changes. And one of the big albums too was also Dancing on the Head of a Serpent in nineteen eighty seven. That was actually a little controversy with the title. Kind of like Stryper had with Hell of the Devil. I'm like, you can't say that on a record cover. They've gone through different lineup changes over the years. two members of the band, Easy Gomer and Terry Ha were part of the band for a while, and then they left the band to form Jet Circus. I've got the Jet Circus album Maybe we'll cover that sometime. Their current lineup still includes Of Christensen. Also has Philip Christensen on lead vocals and guitars. So it's got two guitars and two vocalists, I guess. Andres Mossberg on bass. Michael Osgard on drums. And also includes CJ Grimark on guitars and keyboards. And you'll recognize that name as the guitarist for the band Narnia. So there's a little bit of connection there. These guys, yeah, were Kind of a transition around the time of Rez and who else was in the 70s? Can't remember now. Barnabas. And leading into the 80s that they're a little bit. So that's about it for Jerusalem. I've heard a few of their stuff over the last few years. Not bad, worth definitely worth checking out. Especially if you do the classic Christian metal. Alright, let's get into birthdays for September. September third. We have Petra founding member and bass player John D. Groff, born nineteen fifty three. And the original lineup of Petra without Bob Hartman has actually gotten back together. I think it was I can't remember what the where they go under now. For the FGH good or something. September 3rd, we have another bass player. King's X Doug Pinnick Born in 1950. And so we just talked about him. Bass player for Leviticus and Jet Circus, Easy Gomer, born in 1962. And Jason Campbell, who did rhythm guitars for Mortification, was with him in 1995. He's also from Canada, so Canadian, who playing guitars with Mortification. Jason was born in nineteen seventy. These are all birthdays for September third. Big day. Wow. You realize some people just listen to us and don't watch us, so they can't hear you nod your head, Kris.

Kris plamondon: I know, I know.

Arin Hancock: All right. September fourth. Tim Watts, who is the drummer for Demon Hunter, has been with the band since two thousand four. He was born nineteen seventy seven. September fourth, we also have Blackie Lawless, born nineteen fifty-six. For those who don't know, Blackie Lawless is the frontman of the band Wasp. Well Wasp is not known as a Christian band. Blackie himself is a Christian. also the same day, Doug Theme, who has played guitar for Vengeance Rising and Die Happy. It was born in 1966. And the same day we have an album anniversary, Even the Devil Believes from Stryper. Came out in 2020. September ninth, we have Jonathan Samuelson, who did bass with Narnia, born nineteen seventy four. Any thoughts on Narnia?

Kris plamondon: Nardia, yeah, they're a good band.

Arin Hancock: Alright, and also September ninth, hey our friend Mark Q Speck from Sweet Crystal has a birthday then. so how you doing Mark? like said keyboard spokeless for sweet crystal. September thirtieth, Stryper's When We Were Kings came out in twenty twenty four. Well, two years already. And the next one's due out this real soon this year, actually. this month the end of this month. So hey, old music, new music from Stryper September seventeenth, another birthday from King's X, Ty Tabor, who does guitars and does vocals with the the band. you're not much of a King's X fan, you haven't heard too of those of them, have you? Alright, September twentieth. Bruce Swift, who did guitars with Sacred Warrior, has a birthday then. Have you heard any Sacred W Warrior? No? Okay. I've heard a little bit of this stuff. they're alright. Their vocalist Ray Para man went really high. I think in the 80s he sang all completely falsetto But he is now with the band Worldview. Definitely worth checking out that band. Alright, September 22nd. Another co founding member of Petra, Greg Haugh who did guitar back in on the first record. maybe the first two records it was it was Greg Haugh and Bob Hartman trading off vocals and guitars until they decided they wanted just a regular vocalist and then they bring in Greg Voltz.

Kris plamondon: Have you seen any of their early day concerts, Arin? Online? Wow. Are

Arin Hancock: No, have you? Yeah, no, have you? Yeah.

Kris plamondon: they wow. But we I think when we were kids, I mean, their concerts are just they're they're epic back in you know, s eighty one, eighty two.

Arin Hancock: Well that's not early day. Remember they got started in seventy-three. Alright. So that's not even an early

Kris plamondon: That's right. That's right.

Arin Hancock: day. that I did see a clip from Beat the System, I think it was, with Greg Voltz on vocals. And so I did see a clip of that. I think it was on TikTok or or someplace. yeah, definitely i interesting anyways. Alright, so yeah, we're talking about Petra. Greg Haugh was born in nineteen forty nine. September twenty-third album anniversary for Stryper Live at the Whiskey came out and I don't have a year that that came. I'll have to look that up next time. Alright, September twenty sixth, geez, another Petra birthday. Kevin Brandle who did keyboard with the band from ninety six to ninety nine. And another Petra birthday on September twenty eighth. The voice himself, John Schleck, was born in fifty three. So there you go. Again, we're ready to tour for the album Hope. I hope they come around to our neck of the woods woods. I'd love to hear that album live Alright, September 28th, we have an album anniversary, a solo record from Michael Sweet The album called Real. Came out in 1995. That one I know is okay. Definitely not one of my favorite records from Michael. I don't know how much of music I've heard off of that one. And September 29th, singer Writer and Known as a solo artist as well as part of the band Allies, Bob Carlisle was born in 1956. You might recognize him from the song Butterfly Kisses.

Kris plamondon: Yes.

Arin Hancock: But he was also with the band Allies as well. I've heard some of the Allies stuff, really good stuff, good straight ahead, rock and roll. I like that. I think I like the Allies more than like his solo stuff, so But yeah, that's about it for birthdays and this is just a bonus episode and we try to do a quick little episode. So that's it. Have fun, keep rocking, and we'll see in

Kris plamondon: See ya.

Arin Hancock: the next. Yep.