Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

Yellow and Black Attack (ft. Michael Sweet of Stryper and Mike Tramp of White Lion)


Listen Later

Picture this. It's 1986. The Cold War is at a fever pitch. The whole world is locked into a conflict between the Forces of Freedom, and the Commies... at least that's how it felt to 80s kids. But the Cold War wasn't the only threat facing American society. Many feared that a much more sinister enemy lurking in the shadows: the devil himself. During the so-called satanic panic, parents worried that their kids would get caught by the Lord of Darkness, and rock - specifically heavy metal from notoriously debauched bands like Motley Crüe - was a big threat. What was an evangelical teen metal fan to do when the whole genre was tainted by Beelzebub? You fight fire with fire, and send Satan straight to hell with the legendary band Stryper. With insight from Stryper's Michael Sweet, and White Lion's Mike Tramp, music journalist Andrew Gill (Sound Opinions), and historian Leah Payne (God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music) follow the epic battle for the soul of Stryper, the undisputed kings of 1980s Christian Metal who wanted to fight Satan on his home turf - the raucous world of mainstream metal. Along the way, they found that the battle lines between demons and angels can get a bit blurry. How do you win the war when you aren't exactly sure who is friend or foe? 

Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Leave us a message at (629) 777-6336.

If you want more seasons of Rock That Doesn’t Roll, you can support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr

You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing [email protected]

Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.

Buy RTDR merch here.


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian MusicBy Andrew Gill and Leah Payne

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

132 ratings


More shows like Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

View all
On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,113 Listeners

All Songs Considered by NPR

All Songs Considered

3,106 Listeners

Sound Opinions by Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

1,957 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,663 Listeners

The Sporkful by Dan Pashman

The Sporkful

3,898 Listeners

The Holy Post by Phil Vischer

The Holy Post

4,290 Listeners

Song Exploder by Hrishikesh Hirway

Song Exploder

5,940 Listeners

Pantsuit Politics by Sarah & Beth

Pantsuit Politics

4,912 Listeners

The Bible For Normal People by Peter Enns and Jared Byas

The Bible For Normal People

3,260 Listeners

Good Christian Fun by Headgum

Good Christian Fun

3,008 Listeners

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler by Everything Happens Studios

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

5,051 Listeners

No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp by Tokens Media

No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp

484 Listeners

If Books Could Kill by Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

If Books Could Kill

8,534 Listeners

Culture Study Podcast by Anne Helen Petersen

Culture Study Podcast

635 Listeners

Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

631 Listeners