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I
remember working at a record store in Louisville, KY in 1989.
In walks this longhaired guy who walked over to the heavy metal section.
I naturally went over quickly to see if I could help him with anything.
I wanted to make sure that he did not steal anything either.
As it turns out it was Dale Thompson, lead singer of Bride.
I think he was surprised that I had heard of the band and was a fan.
Through the years, I've seen Bride not only click musically but also
spiritually. It has been quite an
inspiration to see first hand, the heart they have for the young people.
They have ministered to so many people by being a positive role model and
making it clear why they are doing this. I
was honored to be able to work some of their songs while I worked radio
promotions at Star Song. I got so
many phone calls about the band, one would have thought, the Beatles were on the
label. James
Riley
Introduction
There had been a stomach virus going around in our community. Seemed like everyone had it except me. The band was on its way to Germany aboard a Delta airplane. Four hours into the flight I awoke from my semi conscience state feeling hot and my lips were dry. Feeling as though I may pass out I asked Troy who sat to my right side for a bag to breath into. The clear plastic bag did not help. I decided to make a run for the toilet even though the plane was in heavy turbulence and the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated. Troy accompanied me to the toilet trying to stable me with his hand on my arm. As soon as the door to the toilet swung open, I passed out landing on the toilet seat head first cracking the bridge of my nose. I spent the remainder of the flight dabbing blood and making emergency trips every fifteen minutes back to the toilet. After our 8-hour flight, all I wanted to do was to find a bed and collapse. Our travel had just begun. The next 3 1/2 hours we traveled by van to our hotel being serenaded by every German gothic metal band our driver could shove into his tape deck. Spending a day and a half in the bed gave me a little life; I was weak from dehydration and lack of nutrition. The day that we arrived, we were notified by fax at our hotel that the 378 t-shirts we thought we were going to receive for the shows had been detained at German customs. All attempts including Troy personally going to the customs office were in vain. The shirts were in limbo and we could do nothing to get them for these shows. They had been ceased but we were assured that we could have them sent back to the States, at a later date. We would have to take orders for the shirts at the shows, which undoubtedly would lower our sales miserably. Delta had lost my bag with my stage clothes in it, which I worried about the entire trip. I was able to retrieve it the day of our last show, by going to the Stuttgart airport where they were holding it for me. The three shows we performed went off without a hitch and all I wanted to do was to make it back to America. Believing that we were leaving in plenty of time to catch our plane back home, we once again feel victim to the roads cruelty. The Frankfurt airport was some 2 1/2 hours away. Our driver had already met death several times on the highway since we had arrived. God was with us and it is only by His grace that we avoided the abyss. Finally, since death could not reach its ugly hand around our throats to choke the final breath, it decided to transform itself into misery. Forty-five minutes into our drive to the airport our van was struck with engine failure of the worst kind. An engine will not run without oil. Seemingly for miles we drove, warning our driver that smoke from the exhaust was pouring out of the back like a dragons breath. We were able to find a Ford dealer who arranged for us to obtain a new rental and after a short delay we conquered Germany and were soon bound for America. Once in the United States, everyone's baggage was delayed coming off the conveyer belt at customs and baggage claim. Mine was the first to appear. Since we only had 45 minutes originally between flights, I made my mad dash for the departure gate to try to get Delta to hold the plane for a few extra minutes while the rest of the band collected their bags and cleared customs. Sitting on the plane I looked up the isle every time someone new would board thinking at any moment the rest of the band would appear. Then I heard the door shut...the rest of the band had missed the flight and thus the saga, the road, and the price we pay daily as we take up our cross and follow the Lord where ever he would send us.
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Chapter 1 |
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Show no Mercy
In the beginning, we were young and naive. We absolutely had no experience, and we were not looking for a record deal. Troy (my brother) and I were the driving force behind the band. We felt we were called of God to do His work. We had been raised on music all of our lives, playing southern gospel music in churches. We found our calling in the least likely style of music. We had no idea why the Lord called us into rock music after our many years playing traditional music, but we stepped out on faith and pursued the calling with much vigor. (Romans 11:29, 1 Corinthians 7:20, Philippians 3:14. 2 Timothy 1:9.) TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 2 |
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Decadence -
I met a fellow in Louisville who was a veteran of the secular rock side. His name was Leee Black Childers. Leee had done photography for all of the big secular mags in the 70's, and had worked with many punk and rock-a-billy bands in London. Leee was instrumental and one of the driving forces that introduced punk to America. His roots went back to bands like the Sex Pistols, Billy Idol and Generation X. He had worked with David Bowie early in his career. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 3 |
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The big break - We got a call from Dorn Repport, a promoter in Pottstown, PS, and he had heard one of our demos. He was promoting a show with the Daniel Band. He wanted us to be the opening band, and we felt this was a good opportunity for the band to get in front of a big crowd. I was playing bass on some tunes, Troy was playing bass and guitar, Steve Gilbert was drumming, and we brought in Billy Sutherland, a great guitarist in our home area of Louisville. Billy was brought in like the icing on the cake. He was not a band member, but we felt insecure about our own playing. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 4 |
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More Mayhem TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 5 |
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At this point in the book, I wanted to break briefly and explain a few things.
The book at this point may seem very out of control, rebellious, defiant, etc.
There seems to be more negativity than positiveness. It may even appear to some
that have read up to this point that there is very little about Christ within
these first few chapters. The reason is this; the Lord was doing a great work in
our lives. We were being seasoned, tested, tried and proven for the greater work
which lay ahead. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 6 |
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Kinetic Faith This record would be the turning point for the band. This would be the record that would begin to escalate us in the public's eye. God was about to move in a mighty way. When I did not move with him, he would force me to move. He had moved the prophets in the Old Testament when they refused to do things His way, and I was no exception. " ... For who hath resisted his will?" (Romans 9:19) TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 7 |
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The Tour Leaving out on faith for nothing had been confirmed, and no contracts had been signed. We headed towards Boston. This was on our itinerary as our first show, but we had not heard from anyone concerning the tour for two weeks. All we knew is we had to make the first show, and then we would give the rest to the Lord. Eighteen hours ahead of us from Louisville, we pulled out and hit the road. | ||
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Chapter 8 |
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More Yellow and Black I (Dale) called Robert Sweet not long after we got home to see how he was. He said Michael was definitely leaving Stryper to pursue a solo career. He offered me the job. I was somewhat shocked, but I kind of was expecting it for some reason. He called me a day later and said that Stryper had a couple of shows booked at Knottsberry Farm in California, as well as a possible date in Las Vegas, if I would be interested in doing them. I thought, 'hey, what an opportunity to sing some dates for Stryper.' We agreed that there were no strings attached, and that this was not a commitment to join the band. I explained to Robert that I was still under contract with Star Song and had to deliver two more records. | ||
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Chapter 9 |
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Snakes in the Playground Snakes in the Playground would be the breakthrough CD of our career. This would produce more touring, more press and even two Dove Awards for best song. But it was no easy chore achieving such accomplishments. SESAC had now esteemed us with another award for outstanding achievement in Christian music. Seeing that we were their only Christian metal act, we felt that being recognized as a legitimate band was important. Now more than ever did I understand the importance of Bride as a band and as a ministry. I could finally see how God had been with us through all the good times and bad times, and that he had much greater things in store for us. | ||
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Chapter 10 |
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Germany We had never played out of the U.S. before, and now there came the opportunity to play in Germany. We were booked to play two shows. One of the shows would be at a place called The Subway. The second, for a promoter in Dusseldorf at an annual event called Christmas Rock Night. We would be playing with several other Christian bands from the States, (The Choir, Rick Elias and Guardian). We were picked up at the airport by this huge, Viking type fellow named Reinholt and his American friend who we nicknamed "Dennis Weaver." Dennis Weaver was an actor in the seventies that had played a cowboy police on a TV show called "McCloud". | ||
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Chapter 11 |
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Back in the States, we resumed playing and headed to Florida to play a real
exciting show with Novella. We played in St. Petersburg in an old Spanish
building. Novella played acoustically, which was a mistake for them. You just do
not open acoustically for Bride. When we took the stage, the crowd went wild,
dismembering thirty of the theater chairs, which were bolted to the floor.
Earlier in the show, while swinging from the balcony, I had kicked a hole in the
fancy trim, which eventually cost us over $200.00 for the damages. The next show
in Orlando was less enthusiastic in the terms of destruction. We could not
afford any more bills for damages. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 12 |
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"Back to the good ol' USA." By this time, Scott Hall was doing all of our bookings, and we were playing more often than we had in the past. Scott had been our bass player back in the Show No Mercy days. Scott had put a lot of time into the band for very little financial profit. There was a problem stewing, though. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 13 |
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We had one more live show before we were to fly out to LA for the record. This
show was in Decatur IL. It turned out the best show we had played since the trip
to Brazil. This was a good show to come from before the studio. Working with John and Dino was a breeze. They were very easy going in the studio and not domineering like we thought they might be. We had been warned from many people who said that John and Dino would change Bride's sound and we would sound like a watered down 8o's metal band. We found them to be very honest and genuine. | ||
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Chapter 14 |
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Groupies One of the questions that we have been most asked was about the girls. The fact of the matter is, there were none. We always bragged about the fact that Bride had no female groupies. We never had screaming girls waiting outside of hotel rooms or trying to get backstage. I think maybe we were just too scary, and I always tried to appear really sure of myself. However, there were the male groupies. These were young boys who were aspiring musicians. Most of them were skinhead-looking and could have fit into any punk band from the 70's. We did not mind answering all the questions about life as a musician, but we did disappoint a lot of them when we told them we made very little money and were not chauffeured around in limousines. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 15 |
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Rebuilding We scheduled rehearsals with Steve Curtsinger immediately when we returned from Germany. We would move our rehearsal to Troy's newly built home. Jerry called me the day of the first rehearsal and was deathly ill. It seemed that he had shook off the flu from Germany but contracted a stomach virus when he returned. I now was fighting the flu but we were still going to rehearse. We had shows right around the corner and we had to be prepared. At this time I sent my solo project away to be pressed and I was looking forward to getting it back in time to sell at the Bride shows.
TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER,
CLICK HERE
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Chapter 16 |
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CHAPTER 16 The last Hurrah Sharon and I returned from Vegas where we were fortunate enough to have gotten Vinny Pazienza, Roberto Duran and Sean O'Grady's autographs. Since I had been a huge fan of boxing for many years, these autographs were the most exciting event of the trip. Heaven's Metal magazine was waiting for me when I got home. Bride was on the cover. One of the photos that Michelle had taken with us all laying on the floor of their foyer was plastered on the cover of the new issue. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 17 |
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Scarecrow Road With the release of Scarecrow I felt like an arms embargo had been lifted. We now had the ammunition to defend our cause and ourselves. Our country was the Kingdom of God our general was Jesus Christ our cause was to promote the gospel through music. Scarecrow was being well received by the media and the fans loved it, however Star Song was lax in their attempts to promote the record. Word from our sources entrenched in their offices gave us borrowed information from the inside which said "do only what is required to promote the new Bride release nothing more." TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE | ||
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Chapter 18 |
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Pursuing and being pursued Up to this point in our book, I have shared our thoughts and feelings; the way they were expressed and carried out during the period of times of their happenings. Many of the people that we had problems with in the past are now dear friends. When presenting the honest truth of the past I have attempted to spare feelings yet at the same time not to paint a rose colored picture of events. All that we have endured was for our good. Many people who played key roles in our lives did not always follow the Lord. We as Bride did not always follow the Lord nor were we perfect. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE | ||
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Chapter 19 |
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Brazil Again Again, the possibility to travel to Brazil was before us and again we were held at bay waiting to receive our necessary visas. There had been trouble the previous time we had went to Sao Paulo. On the earlier trip, we had received our visas the day before we left and the plane tickets the day of our departure. The pressure was on again as time ticked down. This particular trip was a little different because we had our nine plane tickets however no visa. Our Brazilian liaisons were working their best to speed the visa process up but it was looking glum. Then just like the year before "boom!" Someone must have put in an extra prayer. There we were at the airport, tickets and visa's in hand. We had picked up our visas the day of departure. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE
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Chapter 20 |
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The week that we returned Troy and I had two meetings to discuss the future recording possibilities with Benson and Rugged records. The first was Benson, which we had to drive to Nashville for the encounter. Mark Q who was an A&R fellow placed in the position of rock guy met us on time. He gave us the discount tour of the building, which he referred to as a machine. The entire time in the building I was thinking Bride does not need walls. I could see the walls of Benson shrinking around us. Q attempted to sell us Benson as our next home but neither Troy or I was impressed or comfortable with the surroundings. It felt like Sparrow, a bigger Star Song.
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Chapter 21 |
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| Out of the blue Dino Elefante phoned me and asked me if Bride was still looking for a deal. I guess through the grapevine the word was out that Bride was shopping for a new deal. I told him yes, positively. He said don't worry about anything consider yourself signed. He then hung up the phone. I did not know what to make of this it all seemed out of the ordinary. | ||
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Chapter 22 |
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Is this the end of the road? Going into the Jesus Experience project, I had had a lot of confidence. HM Readers pole consistently had me on top of the favorite vocalist results in their voting. I felt totally invincible and in many ways, I was really fooling myself. God gave me whatever talent I had I deep down I knew this singing ability was a gift from Him but I do not recall really being thankful nor appreciative for it. It just seemed like I could get on stage anytime I wanted and really belt out the screams. | ||
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Chapter 23 |
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THIS CHAPTER COMES FROM SCOTT HALL, BASSIST ON SHOW NO MERCY - IN HIS OWN
WORDS. THIS CHAPTER SHOULD BE REFERENCED WITH CHAPTERS 2 and 3. Scott -
Musician/Songwriter I was a little shocked at the cold, detached, matter-of-fact
tone that accompanied references to me in this part of the book. If you didn't
know any better, you might assume that I was picked up hitchhiking on the way to
record Show No Mercy and they just asked me to sit in on a few tracks. | ||
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Chapter 24 |
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Overseas Again A man had contacted us by the name of Vincent Salazar, whom we had played one show with on a previous tour. After many emails and a lot of trust on our part, we departed for what would be our most adventurous European/Scandinavia mini tour of them all. Vincent was a little mysterious to us even though he seemed very open and extremely likable. He was an American who had lived a long while in Denmark with his family. | ||
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Chapter 25 |
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| The scariest moment on the Rocketboy tour had to do with a gun. | ||
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Chapter 26 |
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Our stay with Organic was short. After The Jesus Experience, it seemed music was
changing at a rapid pace. We were trying to hit the nail on the head with the
sound, the songs; everything but we seemed to be behind the times. TO READ MORE IN THIS CHAPTER, CLICK HERE | ||
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Chapter 27 |
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| Some have called Bride a dark cloud in the Christian Industry. These are folks who refuse to admit that we have evolved according to God's purpose, evolving with popular music. Others have accused Bride of conforming to popular sounds and trends thus compromising the original style and sound. Both of these observations cannot be true. | ||
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Chapter 28 |
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| Jerry gives his reason for leaving. (In his own words) | ||
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Chapter 29 |
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| After the departure of Jerry and Steve, we asked Lawrence Bishop to join us permanently. He agreed. He really wanted this gig and I knew we could depend on him. Lawrence was as good as his word. Mark Maxwell a local musician and music store owner turned me onto this young 17 year old drummer named Michael Loy. Michael was a Bride fan and had learned 11 songs in two days for a try out. Since Lawrence wasn't available at the time Mark played bass for the try outs. Michael didn't miss a beat. He admitted he was nervous but played with real ferocity. I knew after that audition that there was no need to look any further. Michael fit the band perfectly plus he brought needed youth back to the group. | ||
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Chapter 30 |
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| Absolutely NOT! Going into our agreement with Dez seemed like the right thing to do. I was very excited, feeling it was the Lord's leading. Troy still had his reservations and he was still convinced that we did not need a label and that we possibly could be making a mistake. | ||
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Chapter 31 |
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More chapters to be added soon. | ||