Bride (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Bride


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Genre = Heavy Metal, hard rock, christian metal, christian rock, Progressive metal
Years_active = 1983 - present
Label = Pure Metal Star Song Organic Rugged
URL = http://www.bridepub.com/
Current_members = Dale Thompson Troy Thompson Lawrence Bishop Michael Loy
Past_members = Steve Osborne Rick Foley Scott Hall Steve Curtsinger Stephen Rolland Jerry McBroom

Bride is a Christian Heavy Metal/hard rock band formed in the 80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Despite being criticized for their abrupt changes in style, the band has remained largely popular in the US and other places like Brazil.

Band history

Bride was formed in Louisville, Kentucky in the early '80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Going by the name "Matrix" at first, the brothers started writing music and recording demos in 1983. They recorded four demos and started selling them at concerts and through magazines. In 1986, the band opened for the Canadian group, Daniel Band, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. This performance caught the eye of an agent of Refuge Records. He decided to sign them to their new label oriented to metal music. The band, already consisting of guitarist Steve Osborne, bassist Scott Hall, and drummer Stephen Rolland, officially changed its name to "Bride" and went on to record "Show No Mercy" and "Live to Die" in 1986 and 1988, respectively.cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Bride |pages=110-112]

After a change in line-up, they recorded "Silence is Madness" in 1989. With their contract with Refuge about to end, the band released "End of the Age" in 1990, which is a compilation album of hits from their first three albums. Ironically, the album indeed signaled the "end of an age" as the band went on to change their metal roots to a mellower rock sound more attuned to the mainstream rock of the era. With bassist Rick Foley and drummer Jerry McBroom filling the line-up, and a new record deal with Starsong, the band released "Kinetic Faith" in 1991. The album spawned some hits in commercial radio, and the band continued to focus on that road. In 1992 it was announced that Dale would leave to join Stryper to replace Michael Sweet, but this never took place. They followed it with "Snakes in the Playground" and "Scarecrow Messiah" before releasing yet another compilation called "Shotgun Wedding" and finally parting ways with Starsong in 1995.

That same year, the band decided to sign a one-record deal with a new label called Rugged Records. They also welcomed a new bassist, Steve Curtsinger. The band departed more from its heavy side and went on a completely different route with "Drop" in 1995. "Drop" featured an alternative rock-oriented sound which included banjo and mandolin. Following recommendations of producer and friend John Elefante, the band went on to sign with Organic Records, another up and coming label that was eager to pick them up. In 1997, they released "The Jesus Experience" which continued their alternative style leanings, however, with a slight grunge and post-grunge overtone. [cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Bride/The_Best_Of_Bride/2947/ |title=Bride - The Best of Bride |accessdate=2007-12-19 |author= Long, Andy |date=2000-12-01 |publisher=Cross Rhythms|quote=] The next year, they released "Oddities." Although intended to be a return to their roots, the album was more of a blend between alternative rock and hard rock.

After some differences with the label, the band asked to be released from its contract. Some time after, McBroom and Curtsinger left to pursue other projects. They were replaced with Lawrence Bishop and Michael Loy. Being picked up by Absolute Records and veering into rapcore territory, the band released "Fistful of Bees" in 2001. The album was quickly disparaged by fans for containing nu metal and rapcore elements. In 2003 the band independently released its latest album called "This Is It", which marks a return to a more rock-driven sound. It was re-released in 2006 under Retrospective Records, digitally remastered and with a new cover. In 2006, Bride released "Skin for Skin," which returned to their hard rock sounds akin to earlier Bride albums. It also contained guitar solos from former Bride guitarist Steve Osborne. The album was praised by Bride fans, most prominatly Scott Waters of Ultimatum, who said it was "a logical step from 'This Is It' and is an honest and successful attempt to progress without worry of what is popular." [cite web |url=http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/bride.html |title=Bride |accessdate=2008-01-03 |author= Waters, Scott |date= |publisher=No Life 'til Metal|quote=]

Dove Awards

Bride has received four Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association. Three were for "Hard Music Song", in 1992, 1993, and 1995." [http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=32 Dove Award Recipients for HARD MUSIC RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR] ". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-05.] The fourth was in 1994 in the category "Hard Music Album" for "Scarecrow Messiah"." [http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=31 Dove Award Recipients for HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR] ". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-05.]

Band members

Current members

*Dale Thompson - vocals
*Troy Thompson - guitars
*Lawrence Bishop - bass guitar (1999 - present)
*Michael Loy - drums (1999 - present)

Former members

*Steve Osbourne - guitars (1986 - 1989)
*Scott Hall - bass guitar (1986 - 1988)
*Rick Foley - bass guitar (1991 - 1994)
*Steve Curtsinger - bass guitar (1995 - 1998)
*Stephen Rolland - drums (1986 - 1990)
*Jerry McBroom - drums (1991 - 1998)FRANK Partipilo Bass guitar 1988-1991

Discography

*"Show No Mercy" (1986)
*"Live To Die" (1988)
*"Silence is Madness (1989)
*"End of the Age" (1990, Star Song)
*"Kinetic Faith" (1991 Star Song)
*"Snakes in the Playground" (1992, Star Song)
*"God Gave Rock And Roll To You" (1993, Star Song)
*"Scarecrow Messiah" (1994, Star Song)
*"" (1995, Star Song)
*"Lost Reels I" (1994, independent)
*"Lost Reels II" (1994, independent)
*"Drop" (1995, Rugged)
*"Lost Reels III" (1997, independent)
*"The Jesus Experience" (September 16, 1997, Organic)
*"Oddities" (November 23, 1998, Organic, Reviews: " [http://web.archive.org/web/20010222184244/www.hmmagazine.com/issue74/74Albums.htm HM Magazine] "cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |year=1998 |month=November/December |title=Album Reviews: BRIDE "Oddities" |journal=HM Magazine |id=ISSN|1066-6923 |issue=74 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24] )
*"Bride Live! Volume I" (1999)
*"Best of Bride" (June 27, 2000, Organic)
*"Fist Full of Bees" (2001)
*"This is it" (2003)
*"Skin for Skin" (2006)

Other releases
*"I Predict A Clone" - Various Artists (1994 REX 41004-2, a tribute to Steve Taylor)

Why "Bride"?

This is a reference to the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2,9; 22:17), another name for the church of true believers in Christ, which will be married to the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven after Christ's Second Coming and the creation of a new Heaven and Earth.

References

Further reading

*
* |issue=73 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20010713015007/www.hmmagazine.com/issue73/73Albums.htm
* |issue=77 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20010713015104/www.hmmagazine.com/issue77/77Albumrevs.htm

External links

* [http://www.bridepub.com/ Bride: the Official Web Presence]
* [http://www.firestream.net/fs_rate.php?go=showcat&cat_id=53 Bride] at [http://www.firestream.net Firestream.net]
*amg|11:ze8ibkh96akb|Bride
* [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-287531---Bride Bride] at Yahoo! Music
* [http://www.purevolume.com/brideus Bride Fan] at PureVolume
* [http://www.savioursofrock.com/interviews/interviewbride.htm Interview at Saviours Of Rock]