Notorious Gothic Punk act centred upon vocalist Rozz William's (real name Roger Alan Painter) obsession with organised religion. Williams, born to a Southern Baptist family, came to the fore as CHRISTIAN DEATH courted controversy at every turn frequently utilizing swastikas and anti religious rhetoric. The singer, still in his mid teens, would further stoke uproar by frequently cross dressing onstage. Confusion has masked the band's career as throughout most of their career CHRISTIAN DEATH has been operating under dual identities with two groups laying claim to the band name. As many fans saw it, the 'original' American band was led by Rozz Williams, the 'imposter' band based in Europe by Valor Kand.

The band's initial 1979 Los Angeles line up, originally known as THE UPSETTERS, included former ADOLESCENTS guitarist Rikk Agnew, bassist James McGearly and drummer George Belanger. It would be three years before CHRISTIAN DEATH debuted with an obscure EP made up of tracks from a compilation 'Hell Comes To Your House' shared with GRAVE 45 and THE SUPERHEROINES, followed by the full length 'Only Theatre Of Pain'. This outing, produced by Thom Wilson and seeing Eva O on backing vocals, would be seen as a catalyst of the American Goth scene. Not only was the album alarmingly bleak in places but the band's formative Punk influences and undeniably Metal riffing gave the music a unique edge. Williams lyrical stance employed deliberately shocking sexual references and deliberate backwards mesaging.

CHRISTIAN DEATH's appreciation in France led to a deal with the L'Invitation Au Suicide label. The debut album was reissued and a follow up mini album 'Deathwish', actually recorded in sessions before the 'Only Theatre Of Pain' album, released in 1984. Such was the apathy in America compared to the favour afforded by Europe that Williams relocated to Paris. The singer promptly built a new version of the band comprising Australian Valor Kand on guitar his wife and keyboard player Gitane Demone and drummer David Glass. All of these musicians were members of POMPEII 99, a band intended to back Williams on a CHRISTIAN DEATH European tour. A further French only release 'Catastrophe Ballet', recorded at Rockfield studios in Wales, ensued by which time the various members had gelled into CHRISTIAN DEATH mk 2.

After the 1985 releases the acclaimed 'Ashes' and 'Decomposition Of Violets' live album Williams quit to concentrate on his other projects PREMATURE EJACULATION and HELTIR. The parting of the ways was initially amicable with the remaining band members intending to use the name SIN AND SACRIFICE. However, the band toured Europe minus Williams billed as CHRISTIAN DEATH and next album 'The Wind Kissed Pictures', initially only available as an Italian release, was credited to THE SIN AND SACRIFICE OF CHRISTIAN DEATH. With demand high the album would be issued in America, adding an extra track in 'Lacrima Christi' but simply credited to CHRISTIAN DEATH. A further Italian re-issue included haunting instrumental outros not featured on other versions.

By the time 'Atrocities' hit the market Kand was now simply billing the band CHRISTIAN DEATH. Kand opted to persevere pulling in guitarist James Beam, flautist Sevan Kand (Valor & Gitane's son) and bassist Constance for 1987's 'The Scriptures'.

Meantime Williams founded the uncompromising SHADOW PROJECT with his wife Eva O and Jill Emery, both of THE SUPERHEROINES, and ex CHRISTY AND THE FLESHEATERS man Tom for the 'Dreams Of A Dying' album. Also involved in both SHADOW PROJECT and CHRISTIAN DEATH was bassist Dan Canzonieri, later to found Punk band ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN. Williams would also work on solo material with Gitane Demone resulting in the 'Dreamhome Heartache' album. Demone also worked with Dance act THE ALPHA PROJECT and German Goths PHALLUS DEI.

Albums throughout the 80's found the Kand version of the band unable to break out from their existing fan base and into the mainstream. By 1988 Bean and Constance had quit. The almost commercial 12" single 'Church Of No Return' witnessed the recruitment of guitarst Barry Galvin and the session bass of Johann Schumann. The follow up album 'Sex, Drugs and Jesus Christ', a distinctly heavy effort bordering on Gothic Metal, came with deliberately provocative artwork featuring the messiah injecting heroin.

In 1989 the European CHRISTIAN DEATH was down to a duo of the Kand brothers. A double set of releases 'All The Love All The Hate' saw new members Nick The Bastard on guitar, Mark Buchanan on saxophone and drummer Ian Thompson. The same year Williams, Agnew and Eva) put in a comeback CHRISTIAN DEATH tour of Canada. An album, 'The Iron Mask', was recorded for Cleopatra Records but subsequently disowned by Williams who believed unfinished master tapes had been used. William's CHRISTIAN DEATH next recorded 'The Path Of Sorrows', seen by many as one of his finest works.

1993 had only Valor Kand remaining augmented for the European CHRISTIAN DEATH 'Sexy Death God' album by Maitri on bass, Streamer on drums and Cullen and Marcel Trussell on violins and cellos.

Williams, Agnew, Eva O and a returning Belanger laid a claim to the title of CHRISTIAN DEATH. This 'original' line up, also including Frank Agnew on guitar and ex-DISORDERLY CONDUCT bassist CASEY CHAOS (a.k.a. Karim Chmielinski), put out the 'Iconologica' live album, recorded at a one off 'final' performance in Los Angeles during 1993, through Triple X as a legal battle raged between the two parties. The record's foundation was culled from the first brace of CHRISTIAN DEATH albums although it did feature the welcome addition of two new songs and a cover version of LOU REED's 'Kill Your Sons'.

Kand's CHRISTIAN DEATH signed to German Metal label Century Media for the 'Amen' album. Line up for this release being Kand, guitarist Flick, Matri on bass and Steve on drums. Ex-member CASEY CHAOS duly forged prominent Punk / Metal band AMEN. The following year a set of William's CHRISTIAN DEATH tracks was remixed by LAIBACH among others for the 'Death In Detroit' album.

Although CHRISTIAN DEATH was by now generating a wealth of re-issues and interest in the band and various offshoots was riding a high Williams, having only just completed a further SHADOW PROJECT album, hung himself on the 1st of April of 1998. He was just 34. Eva O issued a solo album 'Damnation' during 1999 on Massacre Records. Demone began a project with Paul Morden of THE BRICKBATS.

Kand's version of the band continues. CHRISTIAN DEATH, now including ex-CRADLE OF FILTH and BLOOD DIVINE drummer Was Sarginson toured Europe with Black Metal leaders CRADLE OF FILTH in late 2000. Various other members of CRADLE OF FILTH guested on the 2000 album 'Born Again Anti Christian'. The band would spend the latter half of 2001 working on a new studio album.

Bassist Maitri also announced the arrival of a solo effort LOVER OF SIN, the eventual product confusing many reviewers who credited the album to CHRISTIAN DEATH. The eponymous album bore album artwork confusingly bearing the legend "Christian Death presents Lover Of Sin". The record itself surprised many, being closer to raw Black Metal than the expected sombre Gothic fare.

Erstwhile CRADLE OF FILTH man Gian Pyres enrolled into CHRISTIAN DEATH as the group's touring guitarist for their 2003 "Orgy of Sin" world tour. Support acts included LOVER OF SIN, THEATRES DES VAMPIRES, and DIET OF WORMS. In March 2007 CHRISTIAN DEATH signed to French label Season Of Mist for the album 'American Inquisition'.

Surviving members from CHRISTIAN DEATH's 'Only Theatre Of Pain' album reunited as CHRISTIAN DEATH 1334 to perform the album in its entirety at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Friday, April 13th 2007. The line-up included original 'Only Theatre of Pain' participants guitarist Rikk Agnew, bassist James McGearty and providing vocals the late singer Rozz Williams' ex-wife and musical partner Eva O. This trio would be joined by drummer Christian Omar Madrigal Izzo, of CHOKEBORE and DAUCUS KAROTA, who also played on the CHRISTIAN DEATH's 'Path Of Sorrows' album, accompanied by new members Jaime Pina, of 45 GRAVE and PUNK ROCK VATOS, on guitar and Le' rue Delashay on keyboards.