List of Christian rock bands

The birth of contemporary Christian music dates back to the late 1960s, but Christian rock came into its own in the 1980s^[1] fueled by bands such as Stryper. Billboard magazine started to post the top 10 Christian rock songs, and some radio stations^[which?] started to play Christian rock. Bands such as DC Talk, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline and many others achieved commercial success. This list excludes bands that are primarily heavy metal or hardcore punk; those bands appear in the list of Christian metal artists and list of Christian hardcore bands, respectively.

The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music defines contemporary Christian music (CCM) as "music that appeals to self-identified fans of contemporary Christian music on account of a perceived connection to what they regard as Christianity".^[2] Based on that definition, this list includes artists and bands who work in the Christian music industry as well as artists in the general market whose lyrics reflect their Christian faith or where either the artists themselves or outside sources identify members as performing Christian music. (Some artists resist the "Christian rock" label, but are still identified under the label by outside sources.)

List

0–9

12 Stones (hard rock, Christian rock) (2000–present)
2nd Chapter of Acts – (CCM) (1972–1988)
33Miles (CCM, pop rock) (2005–present)
38th Parallel – (alternative rock, rock, rap rock) (2001–2002)
39 Stripes – (alternative rock, hard rock) (2010–present)
4-4-1 – (rock, post-punk, alternative rock, pop) (1983–1988)
7eventh Time Down – (hard rock) (2004–present)
The 77s – (rock) (1980–present)

A

Abandon – (Christian rock, alternative rock, pop) (2008–present)
Above the Golden State – (rock, CCM) (2007–2014)
Ace Troubleshooter – (pop punk) (1996–2005)
AD (rock) (1984–1988)
Addison Road – (rock, CCM, alternative rock) (2002–2012)
After Edmund – (alternative rock, art rock, rock) (2001–2015)
After the Chase – (CCM, rock) (2003–present)
After the Fire – (CCM, rock) (1974–1986, 2004–2015)
The Afters – (pop, rock, alternative rock, CCM) (1999–present)
Adam Again – (alternative rock, funk rock) (1982–2000)
Alisa – (hard rock) (1983–present)
All Star United – (rock, CCM) (1997–present)
All Together Separate – (CCM, funk rock) (1998–2003)
Allies – (hard rock, rock, CCM) (1985–1992)
The Almost – (alternative rock) (2005–present)
Anberlin – (alternative rock) (2002–2014)
Anchordown – (acoustic rock) (2006–2008)
Anchor & Braille – (acoustic rock, electronica, folk) (2004–present)
Anthem Lights – (pop rock, Christian rock, Christian pop, R&B) (2007–present)
Anyday – (pop rock) (2009–present)
Argyle Park – (industrial rock, rock, industrial metal) (1994–1996|, 1998–2000)
Atomic Opera – (hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal) (1991–present)
As Cities Burn – (indie rock, post-hardcore, progressive rock) (2002–2009, 2012–2016, 2017–present)
Ashes Remain – (rock) (2001–present)
Audio Adrenaline – (rock, alternative rock) (1989–2007, 2012–present)

O

The O.C. Supertones – (ska) (1995–2005, 2010–present)
Oficina G3 – (hard rock, rock, pop rock, metal, progressive metal, nu metal) (1987–present)
Onehundredhours – (rock) (2001–2009)
One Bad Pig – (Christian punk) (1985–1994, 2000, 2002, 2005)

P

Parachute Band – (alternative rock, worship) (1995–present)
Alexis Peña – (rock, CCM) (2002–present)
Petra – (rock, progressive rock, hard rock, country rock, heavy metal) (1972–2006, 2010–present)
Phatfish (rock, worship) (1994–present)
Philmont – (rock, pop, punk) (2005–2012)
Philmore – (rock, alternative rock) (1998–2005)
Pillar – (rock, hard rock, rapcore) (1998–present)
Planetshakers – (rock, alternative rock) (2000–present)
Plankeye – (rock, alternative rock)
Plumb – (CCM, alternative rock, pop, dance, electronica) (1997–present)
Pocket Full of Rocks – (rock) (1995–present)
Poor Old Lu – (alternative rock, rock) (1990–1996, 2000)
Pray for Rain – (rock) (1989–1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2012–2013)
The Prayer Chain – (alternative rock) (1991–1995)
Project 86 – (hard rock, post-hardcore, alternative metal, nu metal) (1996–present)
Puller – (post-grunge) (1995–2001)

Q

Quench – (rock, alternative rock, emo, pop punk) (2001–2009)
Queens Club – (alternative rock) (2008–2011)

R

Rachel Rachel – (Christian rock, pop rock) (1990–1994)
Random Hero – (rock, Christian metal)
Reality Check – (alternative rock, CCM)
Red – (Alternative metal, alternative rock, metal, nu metal, post-grunge)
Reform the Resistance – (Christian rock, alternative metal)
Relient K – (alternative rock, pop punk, punk rock)
Remedy Drive – (rock, pop rock, indie rock)
Rend Collective - (folk rock)
Resurrection Band – (rock, blues rock, Christian metal, hard rock, heavy metal, new wave)
Revive – (rock)
Rhubarb – (rock)
Rob Rock – (power metal, hard rock)
Rock n Roll Worship Circus – (CCM) (1999–2004)
Rock Productions Music – (rock, nu metal, hard rock)
Rocketboy – (alternative rock)
Rojo – (alternative rock, rock, pop rock, pop)
Royal Tailor – (pop rock, punk rock, rap rock)
Run Kid Run – (pop punk, indie rock, rock)
Rush of Fools – (rock, CCM)
Ruth – (indie rock, rock)

S

Salvador – (CCM, Latin) (1999–present)
Sanctus Real – (rock, alternative rock, power pop) (1996–present)
Scott Stapp (1993—present)
Seabird – (alternative rock, pop) (2004–present)
Search the City (2006–2009, 2011—present)
The Send – (alternative rock, rock) (2006–2008)
Sent by Ravens – (alternative rock, post hardcore) (2006–2012)
Servant – (rock, CCM) (1976–1986)
Seven Day Jesus – (rock) (1994–1998)
Seven Places – (rock) (1999–2005)
Sevenglory – (pop rock) (2001–present)
Seventh Day Slumber – (Rock, Christian rock, hard rock, post-grunge, post-hardcore, alternative metal) (1996–present)
Shaded Red – (alternative rock, rock) (1993–2000)
Shekina Glory – (rock)
Sherwood – (alternative rock) (2002–2012)
Silage – (alternative rock, CCM) (1996–1999)
Silverline – (CCM, Christian rock, pop rock) (2006–present)
Since October – (metal, rock, post-grunge) (2005–present)
Sixpence None the Richer – (pop rock) (1992–2004, 2008–present)
The Skies Revolt – (indie rock Christian rock) (2004–present)
Skillet – (rock, Christian rock, alternative rock, hard rock, Christian metal), (industrial music (early), grunge (early)) (1996–present)
Across the Sky – (CCM, worship, pop) (2000–2005)
Skylight (2009–present)
Slick Shoes – (punk rock, Christian rock, melodic hardcore) (1994–2004), (2007–2008) (2011–2012)
Slingshot 57 – (rock) (1999–2007)
Smalltown Poets – (rock) (1996–2004, 2010–present)
Sonseed – (pop) (197?–1983)
Soulger – (rock, indie rock) (2000–2004)
Souljunk – (hip hop) (1993–present)
Southbound Fearing (Christian rock, Christian alternative rock, rock and roll, alternative rock, indie rock) (2006–present)
Spasenie (Christian rock, pop rock) (1989–present)
Split Level – (rock) (1986–2000)
Spoken – (alternative rock, post-hardcore, rapcore) (1996–present)
Spy Glass Blue – (post-punk, new wave, britpop) (1995–present)
Staple – (rock, metalcore) (2000–2006, 2009–present)
Starfield – (rock, CCM) (2000–present)
Starflyer 59 – (indie rock, shoegazing) (1993–present)
Starset – (hard rock (2013–present)
Stavesacre – (rock, hard rock, heavy metal) (1995–2010, 2014–present)
Stellar Kart – (CCM pop punk alternative rock) (2002–present)
Sufjan Stevens – (Indie folk, alternative rock, baroque pop, electronica, CCM)
Randy Stonehill – (CCM, rock, folk rock) (1971–present)
StorySide:B – (rock, CCM) (2003–2009)
Strange Celebrity – (rock)
Strange Occurrence – (post-grunge)
Stryper – (hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal) (1983–1993, 1999–2001, 2003–present)
Subseven – (rock, post-hardcore, emo)
Superchick – (rock) (1999–2013)
Superhero – (rock) (2000?-present)
Sweet Comfort Band – (rock) (1974–1984)
The Swirling Eddies – (rock) (1988–present)
Switchfoot – (alternative rock, power pop) (1996–present)

T

Tait – (rock, CCM)
Steve Taylor – (new wave, Europop, rock, CCM)
Tenth Avenue North – (CCM, Christian rock)
Ten Shekel Shirt – (Christian rock, rock)
Terminal – (rock, post-hardcore, emo)
Third Day – (CCM, worship, rock, southern rock, Christian rock)
This Beautiful Republic – (rock, hard rock, punk rock, CCM)
Three Crosses – (Christian rock, rock)
The Throes – (rock)
Twothirtyeight – (indie rock)
Thousand Foot Krutch – (Christian rock, hard rock, alternative rock, nu metal, rap rock)
Tree63 – (Christian punk, punk rock)

U

Undercover – (rock, punk rock) (1980?-present)
Unspoken – (soul, pop-rock) (2003–present)
U2 – (rock, alternative rock, post-punk) (1976–present)^[6]^[7]

V

Vector – (alternative rock, progressive rock, new wave) (1983–present)
Velour 100 – (dream pop, indie rock) (1995?–2000)
Verra Cruz – (blues rock, grunge rock, hard rock) (1996–present)
The Violet Burning – (indie rock) (1990–present)
VOTA – (rock) (1997–present)

W

The W's – (ska, swing, swing revival) (1997–2000)
The Waiting – (rock, folk rock, CCM) (1991–2003, 2010–present)
Watashi Wa –(pop, rock) (2000–2004)
Waterdeep –(folk rock, rock) (1995–present)
Wavorly – (punk, rock) (2001–2012)
The Way – (rock, country rock) (1971–1976)
We as Human – (hard rock, alternative rock) (2006–2016)
The Wedding – (rock, indie rock) (2003–present)
Brian "Head" Welch– (Christian metal, hard rock, rock music, heavy metal music, nu metal, alternative metal) (2005–2012)
Tauren Wells - (Christian rock)
White Heart – (rock, pop rock, hard rock, CCM) (1982–1997)
Whitecross – (hard rock, metal) (1985–present)
Widdlesworth – (rock, indie rock) (2003–2006)
Wolves at the Gate – (Christian metal, post-hardcore, alternative rock, metalcore, hard rock) (2008–present)
Worth Dying For – (rock) (2005–present)
Write This Down – (rock, post-hardcore) (2005–present)

X

X-Sinner – (hard rock, rock, metal) (1988–2001, 2005–present)
XXI – (rock, post-hardcore) (2010–present)

Y

YFriday – (alternative rock, rock) (1994–2010)

Z

ZOEgirl – (pop, rock) (1999–2006, 2008–2010, 2013–present)

References

^ Huckabee, Tyler. "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?". The Week. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. What I propose is that we define contemporary Christian music exactly the same way we define all other genres. Such labels are always audience-driven and are based unapologetically on perception, not content or intent. If I were writing a book on punk rock, I would find out what people who call themselves fans of punk rock like to listen to.
^ "Into The Fray". Retrieved February 23, 2010.
^ Brennan, Sandra. "The Imperials Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
^ "Van Morrison Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2018. The more serene into the Music (Number 43, 1979) implied that Morrison had become a born-again Christian
^ U2 (2006). McCormick, Neil (ed.). U2 by U2. London: HarperCollins. pp. 113–120. ISBN 0-00-719668-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ * Flanagan, Bill (1995). U2 at the End of the World. New York: Delacorte Press. pp. 46–48. ISBN 0-385-31154-0.

Microsoft Encarta 2007 "Rock Music" 1993–2006 Microsoft Corporation

External links

[1] Huckabee, Tyler. "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?". The Week. Retrieved December 4, 2019.

[Powell_Fe-2] Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. What I propose is that we define contemporary Christian music exactly the same way we define all other genres. Such labels are always audience-driven and are based unapologetically on perception, not content or intent. If I were writing a book on punk rock, I would find out what people who call themselves fans of punk rock like to listen to.

[3] "Into The Fray". Retrieved February 23, 2010.

[4] Brennan, Sandra. "The Imperials Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2020.

[5] "Van Morrison Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2018. The more serene into the Music (Number 43, 1979) implied that Morrison had become a born-again Christian

[6] U2 (2006). McCormick, Neil (ed.). U2 by U2. London: HarperCollins. pp. 113–120. ISBN 0-00-719668-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[7] * Flanagan, Bill (1995). U2 at the End of the World. New York: Delacorte Press. pp. 46–48. ISBN 0-385-31154-0.

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List

0–9

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

See also

References

External links