Christian Death: Only Theatre of Pain

by Nico B. (Editor), Edward Colver (Photographer)

Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles County, California, in 1979 by Rozz Williams. Williams was eventually joined by guitarist Rikk Agnew of the band Adolescents, with James McGearty on bass guitar and George Belanger on drums. This lineup was responsible for producing the band's best-known work, their 1982 debut album Only Theatre of Pain, which was highly influential in the development of the style of music known as death rock as well as the American gothic scene. During this time legendary L.A. punk rock photographer Edward Colver befriended the band and shot Christian Death at a dozen of the band's concerts in the Los Angeles area during a six-month period in 1981 and 1982, as well as photographing Rozz at his family home with the band which was later used for the back cover of Only Theatre of Pain, and a session of iconic images at a cemetery in Pomona.

Cult Epics founder and friend of Rozz Williams, Nico B edited an oversized (12x12”) hardcover book of Ed's photos capturing those rare and never-before-seen moments, as well as the story of early Christian Death as told by Edward Colver, surviving band members and others through new, exclusive interviews.

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 17, 2022

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Ed Colver photographs of Christian Death; does it get better? The correct answer, of course, is No. The interviews were great as well. It's not often we hear from George and James all these years later.

Even now, some four decades on, it's hard to believe the stars once aligned to give us these four people in the same place (Pomona!) at the same time to make a classic deathrock album against which all others are still measured.

If you're a fan, you have this. If not, you know you need it.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dig this book and have read all the interviews - so great to see multiple sides of pivotal recordings sessions, gigs, personnel changes, etc. The pics are great, I was checking out Rozz's bookshelf with a magnifying glass to consider which books I also have read.