Christian Death

Christian Death
Christian Death performing live in 2010. Left to right: Maitri, Valor Kand
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Deathrock gothic rock post-punk ambient punk rock
Years active	1979 (1979)–present
Labels	Frontier L'Invitation Au Suicide ROIR Nostradamus Normal Jungle Contempo Records Cleopatra Century Media Sad Eyes/Trinity Candlelight Season of Mist
Associated acts	Pompeii 99 Rikk Agnew Gitane Demone Shadow Project Faith and the Muse Mephisto Walz Premature Ejaculation Daucus Karota Heltir EXP Eva O Cradle of Filth Lover of Sin
Website	christiandeath.com
Members	Valor Kand Maitri Jason Frantz
Past members	Rozz Williams Jay James McGearty George Belanger Rikk Agnew Gitane Demone David Glass Constance Smith Randy Wilde Barry Galvin Johann Schumann James Beam Kota PJ Phillips Nick the Bastard Ian Thompson Casey Chaos Eva O David Melford Listo William Faith Stevyn Grey Kris Kohls Steven "Devine" Wright Flick Fuck Will Sarginson Nate Hassan Tiia Gian Peres

Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1979 by Rozz Williams. They became a highly influential act, heralding the American gothic rock and deathrock movements.

After the release of their third album Ashes in 1985, Williams left the band and then-guitarist Valor Kand replaced him as the lead vocalist.

Christian Death was founded by a teenage Rozz Williams in Los Angeles, California in October 1979. Williams grew up in the eastern suburb of Pomona in a Christian family. Williams had originally called his band the Upsetters, which included guitarist Jay (a.k.a. John Albert), bassist James McGearty and drummer George Belanger. The band garnered attention after changing their name to Christian Death and adding former Adolescents guitarist Rikk Agnew. In 1981, they made their first vinyl appearance with the song "Dogs" on the L.A. scene compilation album Hell Comes to Your House.

In 1982, Christian Death signed to Frontier Records, and released their debut album, Only Theatre of Pain that March.Only Theatre of Pain was released in Europe by the French label L'Invitation au Suicide, followed by the record's release in Japan.

Christian Death broke up amid band infighting and drug abuse. Williams assembled a new version of the band in 1983 by merging with another L.A. rock band, Pompeii 99. This lineup included guitarist Valor Kand, vocalist and keyboardist Gitane Demone, and drummer David Glass. The new version of the band recorded their next two albums, 1984's Catastrophe Ballet (with bassist Constance Smith) and 1985's Ashes (with bassist Randy Wilde).