Bride is an American

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

band formed in the 1980s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. During the band's peak years it was known for covering a wide range of musical styles and remains popular in places like Brazil. Their song "Same 'Ol Sinner" is on the

Digital Praise Digital Praise was a Christian-themed video game developer. It has produced ''Dance Praise'', '' Guitar Praise'', '' Adventures in Odyssey'', ''VeggieTales ''VeggieTales'' is an American Christian media, computer generated musical children's an ...

PC game '' Guitar Praise''.

Band history

Bride was formed in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

in the early 1980s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Going by the name Matrix at first, the brothers started writing

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

and recording

demos Demos may refer to: Computing * DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system * DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR * Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems * plural for Demo (computer programming) ...

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 Daniel Band is a Canadian Christian metal group formed in 1979 in Toronto. They played in the contemporary Christian music industry with a sound that ranged from hard rock to heavy metal. History The group originated in 1979 in suburban Tor ...

Pottstown, Pennsylvania Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the incorporation as a borough in 1815. In 1888 ...

. This performance caught the eye of an agent of

Refuge Records Refuge Records was a contemporary Christian music record label founded in 1980 by Greg Nelson, Jack Hafer and Ray Nenow. One imprint of Refuge was Pure Metal Records, although Star Song Communications bought out that branch in 1990. The label h ...

. He decided to sign them to their new label, ''Pure Metal Records'', which was oriented to metal music. At that time, the band consisted of

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

Steve Osborne (1966–2011),

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...

Scott Hall, and

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one mem ...

Stephen Rolland. They officially changed its name to Bride and went on to record ''

Show No Mercy ''Show No Mercy'' is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released in December 1983, by Metal Blade Records. Brian Slagel signed the band to the label after watching them perform the song "Phantom of the Opera" by Iron M ...

''. In 1988, bassist Frank Partipilo joined the band and with this line up they recorded '' Live to Die'' and ''

Silence Is Madness ''Silence is Madness'' is the third album by the American heavy metal band Bride, released in 1989. This was the last album in the band's metal era, as the band began writing more commercial hard rock on the following releases. On ''Silence is Mad ...

'' (1989). With their contract with Pure Metal Records about to end, the band released ''End of the Age'' in 1990, which is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

of hits from their first three albums, as well as two new songs that would go to become Bride staples - ''Everybody Knows My Name'' and ''Same Ol' Sinner''. The album signaled the "end of an age" as the band shifted away from the heavy metal of their past towards a Guns N' Roses' influenced hard rock sound. In 1991, Rick Foley (bass) and Jerry McBroom (drums) joined the band. With a new record deal with Star Song Records, the band released ''

Kinetic Faith ''Kinetic Faith'' is the fourth album by the American heavy metal band Bride, released in 1991. This album was the band's first release on the Star Song label, and started the band's hard rock era, leaving straightforward metal behind and focusin ...

''. The album spawned some hits in commercial radio. In 1992, it was announced that Dale would leave to join

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass guitar), and Robert Sweet (drums). Formed in 1983 as Roxx ...

to replace Michael Sweet, but this never took place. They followed ''

'' with ''

Snakes in the Playground ''Snakes in the Playground'' is the fifth album by the band Bride. Seen by critics as the best release of Bride's hard rock era, ''Snakes in the Playground'' is commonly known as the breakthrough album in the band's career. This album would prod ...

'' and ''

Scarecrow Messiah ''Scarecrow Messiah'' is the sixth album by the band Bride, and is the follow-up to their commercial successful album '' Snakes in the Playground''. The album received a Dove Award for "Hard Music Album of The Year" at the 25th GMA Dove Awards T ...

'' (1994) before releasing yet another compilation, ''Shotgun Wedding: 11 No. 1 Hits and Mrs.'', and finally parting ways with Starsong in 1995. All three albums produced many successful hits in Brazil, where the band has toured and been received with enormous crowds and fanbase. That same year, the band signed a one-record deal with a new label called Rugged Records. They also welcomed a new bassist, Steve Curtsinger. '' Drop'' (1995) featured

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

and

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

. In 1997, they released ''The Jesus Experience'' which continued their alternative style leanings, however, with a slight

grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of p ...

and

post-grunge Post-grunge is a derivative of grunge that has a less abrasive or intense tone than traditional grunge. Originally, the term was used almost pejoratively to label mid-1990s rock bands such as Bush (British band), Bush, Candlebox and Collective So ...

overtone. 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 Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...

. After some differences with the label, the band asked to be released from its contract. Some time later, Curtsinger and was replaced with Andrew Wilkinson before Lawrence Bishop took the spot, McBroom also left and was replaced with Michael Loy. Being picked up by Absolute Records and veering into

rapcore Rap rock is a fusion genre that fuses vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock's most popular subgenres include rap metal and rapcore, which include heavy metal and hardcore punk-oriented influences, res ...

territory, the band released ''Fist Full of Bees'' in 2001. The album was quickly disparaged by fans for containing

nu metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, sometimes called aggro-metal) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, alternative rock, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu met ...

and rapcore elements. In 2003, the band independently released ''This Is It''. It was re-released in 2006 under Retrospective Records, digitally remastered and with bonus tracks and a new cover. In 2006, Bride released ''Skin for Skin'', with guitar solos from former Bride guitarist Steve Osborne. The album was praised by 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." The band reunited with former members, Jerry McBroom and Steve Osborne, to record their next album, ''Tsar Bomba'', which was released on October 27, 2009. In 2011, Retroactive Records remastered and re-released the band's first three albums (''Show No Mercy'', ''Live to Die'', ''Silence Is Madness'') in a series called "The Originals". In addition, 2003's ''This Is It'' was also remastered to support the re-releases. Original guitarist Steve Osborne died of suicide on November 16, 2011. In December 2013, after 30 years, Dale Thompson announced that the band was coming to an end. The band released "Here is Your God" on Retroactive Records in November 2020 while announcing a new album of the same name, for release on CD on December 15, 2020 and on vinyl on March 10, 2021.

Band members

Current line-up *

Dale Thompson Dale Thompson (born 1963) is an American singer. In 1983, along with his younger brother Troy, Dale formed the band Matrix and began writing original material. In 1986, Matrix was signed to a record deal and changed their name to Bride. Betwee ...

– vocals * Troy Thompson – guitars * Nenel Lucena – bass guitar * Alexandre Aposan – drums Former * Steve Osborne – guitar (1986–1988, 2006, 2009) * Scott Hall – bass guitar (1986–1988) * Rick Foley – bass guitar (1991–1994) * Steve Curtsinger – bass guitar (1995–1998,1999) * Stephen Rolland – drums (1986–1990) * Frank Partipillo – bass guitar (1988–1991) * Andrew Wilkinson – bass guitar (1998–1999) * Michael Loy – drums (1999–2009) * Lawrence Bishop – bass guitar (1999–2009) * G.D Watts – bass guitar (2009–2013) * Jerry McBroom – drums (1991–1999, 2009–2013) Timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1983 till:2014 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1983 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1983 Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitars id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:album value:black legend:Studio_release LineData = layer:back color:album at:1986 at:1988 at:1989 at:1991 at:1992 at:1994 at:1995 at:1997 at:1998 at:2001 at:2003 at:2006 at:2009 at:2013 BarData = bar:DThompson text:"Dale Thompson" bar:TThompson text:"Troy Thompson" bar:SOsborne text:"Steve Osborne" bar:SHall text:"Scott Hall" bar:FPartipillo text:"Frank Partipillo" bar:RFoley text:"Rick Foley" bar:SCurtsinger text:"Steve Curtsinger" bar:AWilkinson text:"Andrew Wilkinson" bar:LBishop text:"Lawrence Bishop" bar:GDWatts text:"G.D. Watts" bar:SRolland text:"Stephen Rolland" bar:JMcBroom text:"Jerry McBroom" bar:MLoy text:"Michael Loy" PlotData= width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:DThompson from:1983 till:end color:Vocals bar:TThompson from:1983 till:end color:Guitars bar:SOsborne from:1986 till:1988 color:Guitars bar:SOsborne from:2006 till:2007 color:Guitars bar:SOsborne from:2009 till:2010 color:Guitars bar:SHall from:1986 till:1988 color:Bass bar:FPartipillo from:1988 till:1991 color:Bass bar:RFoley from:1991 till:1994 color:Bass bar:SCurtsinger from:1995 till:1998 color:Bass bar:SCurtsinger from:1999 till:1999 color:Bass bar:AWilkinson from:1998 till:1999 color:Bass bar:LBishop from:1999 till:2009 color:Bass bar:GDWatts from:2009 till:2013 color:Bass bar:SRolland from:1986 till:1990 color:Drums bar:JMcBroom from:1991 till:1999 color:Drums bar:MLoy from:1999 till:2009 color:Drums bar:JMcBroom from:2009 till:2013 color:Drums

Discography

Main studio albums *''

'' (1986, Pure Metal) *'' Live to Die'' (1988, Pure Metal) *''

'' (1989, Pure Metal) *''

'' (1991

Star Song Star Song Communications is a Christian record label that was started in 1976 by Wayne Donowho, who recruited his friend Darrell Harris. It gained notoriety when it issued Resurrection Band's ground-breaking debut album, Awaiting Your Reply in 197 ...

) *''

'' (1992,

) *''

'' (1994,

) *'' Drop'' (1995, Rugged Records) *''The Jesus Experience'' (September 16, 1997, Organic) *''Oddities'' (November 23, 1998, Organic, Reviews: ''HM Magazine'') *'' Fist Full of Bees'' (2001, Absolute Records) *''This is It'' (2003, independent) *''Skin for Skin'' (2006, Retroactive Records) *''Tsar Bomba'' (2009, Retroactive Records) *''Incorruptible'' (2013, Retroactive Records) *''Snake Eyes'' (2018, independent) *''Here is Your God'' (2020, Retroactive Records) *''Bluegrass Gospel'' (2021, independent) *''Christmas'' (2021, independent) Compilations and other releases *''End of the Age'' (1990,

) *''

'' Special Collector's Edition (1992,

) *''God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You'' (1993,

) *''Shotgun Wedding: 11 No. 1 Hits and Mrs.'' (1995,

) *''Lost Reels I'' (1994, independent) *''Lost Reels II'' (1994, independent) *''I Predict a Clone'' - various artists (1994 REX 41004-2, a tribute to

Steve Taylor Roland Stephen Taylor (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music executive, film maker, assistant professor, and actor. A figure in what has come to be known as Christian alternative rock, Taylor enjoyed ...

) *''Lost Reels III'' (1997, independent) *'' Bride Live! Volume I'' (1999, Old School Records) *''Bride Live Volume II Acoustic'' (2000, Millennium Eight Records) *''Best of Bride'' (June 27, 2000, Organic Records) *''Live at Cornerstone 2001'' (2001, Millennium Eight Records) *''The Matrix Years / Lost Reels'' (2001, Millennium Eight Records) *''MP3 Major Releases'' (2001, independent) *''MP3 Independent Releases'' (2001, independent) *''The Organic Years'' (2002, Millennium Eight Records) *''Raw'' (2003, independent 7-track demo) *''This Is It'' (2006, Retroactive Records with bonus tracks)

Awards

Bride has received four

Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...

from the

Gospel Music Association The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...

. Three were for "Hard Music Song", in 1992, 1993, and 1994."Dove Award Recipients for HARD MUSIC RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR"
Published by the

. Retrieved February 5, 2007. The fourth was at the 25th GMA Dove Awards in 1995, for "Hard Music Album" for ''Scarecrow Messiah''."Dove Award Recipients for HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR"
Published by the

. Retrieved February 5, 2007.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bride American Christian metal musical groups American glam metal musical groups American hard rock musical groups Christian rock groups from Kentucky Heavy metal musical groups from Kentucky Musical groups established in 1983 Musical groups from Louisville, Kentucky Musical quartets 1983 establishments in Kentucky 2013 disestablishments in Kentucky

Band history

Band members

Discography

Awards

See also

References

Further reading

External links