God's Not Dead

by Jerry Wilson

While bands such as Switchfoot and Jars of Clay are household names, the artists who paved the way for their success by first introducing modern rock to Christian music are all but forgotten by the very industry they created. Now, they are telling their story from the beginning to the present day. This book isn't about where are they now, but who are they now as with frank and sometimes shocking openness the ones who went before talk about their lives and times... a time that is not yet passed.

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2009

Reviews

[Jennie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a sad book in many ways... Lots of bitterness and sadness for lots of people. I can understand why, but I am glad that not all feel that way. Life is definitely hard, whether you're a Christian or not. The difference for a Christian is the hope in Jesus and eternity with Him. Good to know that some are still working for Jesus!
It is basically just a book of interviews -each chapter a different person. There were a lot of musicians that I had never heard of, but I read it because of those I did know of.
I think I would have organized it a bit better, as the layout didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, and maybe ended it on a more positive note, as far as the last interview, but otherwise, I think the author did a good job. He did end on a positive note, in that the conclusion was his own testimony, but I felt that the last interview was more of a negative one...

[Ka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerry Wilson's iconic God's Not Dead (And Neither Are We) consists of twenty-seven chapters. Each is comprised of interviews with some of the most talented musicians who set the stage for Christians to indulge in alternative/rock-n-roll with a spiritual or secular message. All are delivered with a definitive faith-based twist. Telling this history through the eyes of the individuals lends a deep personal view of what happened behind the scenes as the music industry failed miserably to successfully market these soul-plumbing and often life-changing albums. These pioneering musicians coupled honest lyrics with chords, beats, and sounds that drew crowds and turned hearts to Christ. All of them defied the norms, many played in bars, and all pushed way beyond the worship and mainstream cookie-cutter styles expected of Christians. After all, "why should the devil have all the good music?"*

Wilson's interviewees include men and women from Daniel Amos, Undercover, The Lifters, Crumbächer, Barnabas, 4-4-1, Alter Boys, The Choir (formerly The Youth Choir), 77s, and Veil of Ashes. He managed to track down some who work in fields far removed from the music industry, and he ties their reminiscing together with back stories or tidbits that help them flow from individual memories into a cohesive history. His love of the artists and the music shines through delighting those who were there and teaching those who were not.

Without the hard work and ground breaking changes wrought by these passionate Christ followers, bands like Switchfoot, Jesus Culture, Rend Collective, and David Crowder might not have come to be. From heartbreaking to inspiring, the tales within are raw and honest, told with the clarity that comes after events, and Wilson lets each person use his or her own words without editing their words or thought processes.

This is a must read for anyone who cares about the foundations of Christian rock-n-roll. For those who were there, it's a revelation to find out what some of the best talents then are now doing. For those of us who missed the entire movement, it's a fascinating time capsule from the past. Some stories are dark and heartrending, but others are joyful and uplifting. All are integral parts of our musical heritage if there isneven one "Christian rock song" that speaks to us in the present. When I put this book down, I sincerely wished that I had been there then.

*Lyrics borrowed from Larry Norman
Wilson has renamed it First and Forgotten,/i>.

[James Morovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book I have ever read about the 1980's Southern California Christian music scene. Author Jerry Wilson, interviewed many of the members of bands such as Crumbacher, The Choir, Barnabas, Daniel Amos, Undercover, The Altar Boys, 4-4-1, and a few others and allowed them to tell the stories from behind the scenes of their often far too short contributions to the Christian music storyline.

Here we get the great stories and the sad stories. Many of these artists look back on the 80's with smiles over the ways Jesus used them at the time, but concurrently they also frown at the sad ways many of their lives turned after their bands went broke, or split up for various reasons. Many of the fine musicians in this book sadly saw their marriages end in divorce, while others were able to save their marriages, but no longer have any career as a musician, but work in real estate or sales. There are tales of record company fraud, or failure, but at the same time wonderful stories about how these folks still are often recognized by fans, who tell them how their music deepened their walk with Jesus, and that so often makes these folks smile.

A Jesus music history fanatic like me was simply engrossed for the entire 472 pages. If you have any interest at all in what I have deemed "the finest decade of Christian music," read this book! I will loan it to you if you want!

[Michael Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part I enjoyed reading these interviews with those the author sees important players in the second wave of Jesus Music. Their insights into the trials of these bands and the difficulty of working with the machinery of the music business were interesting if not edifying. In some stories, the artists come across as angry and bitter -- usually justifiably so. But many chapters, and the book overall, reveal the grace if God working through all too human and broken people.
This is an important document for those interested in this niche of American music history.

[Ojo Taylor]

Well, I'm in it and so are most of my friends. If that ain't good enough then I don't know what is!

[Mari-louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational