Bride is an American

Christian rock Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. This music is typically performed by Christians, Christian individuals. The extent to whi ...

and

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

band that formed in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson in 1983. 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 PC game '' Guitar Praise''.

History

Bride formed in 1983 in

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

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

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 Pottstown is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts (Pennsylvanian), John Potts. The old name was abando ...

. This performance caught the eye of an agent of Refuge Records. 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 vocalist Dale Thompson, bassist Troy Thompson, guitarist William Sutherland and drummer Stephen Rolland. With this lineup, Troy Thompson sometimes also played guitar while Dale Thompson played bass. 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 an Iron Maiden cover. The band self-finance ...

''. In 1988, bassist Frank Partipilo joined the band and with this line up they recorded '' Live to Die'' and '' Silence Is Madness'' (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 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'' that year. 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 and heavy metal music, heavy metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass), and Robert Sweet (musician), ...

to replace Michael Sweet, but this never took place. They followed ''Kinetic Faith'' with '' Snakes in the Playground'' in 1992 and ''Scarecrow Messiah'' in 1994 before releasing another compilation album, ''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 in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

and

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

. In 1997, ''The Jesus Experience'', Bride's eighth studio album, was released on

Organic Records Pamplin Music was an independent Christian record label founded in 1995 by Robert B. Pamplin Jr. The label was a subunit of Pamplin Entertainment and in turn Pamplin Communications, which was already established in the Christian media market th ...

. The album continued the band's

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

-style leanings while incorporating

grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...

and

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

overtones. A music video was made for the track "The Worm"; the song was released as a single in 1997. According to Dale Thompson during an interview in April 1997, the album's title was inspired by a conversation with an individual after the end of one of the band's concerts in

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

. In 1998, the band 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 heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

. After some differences with the label, the band asked to be released from its contract. Sometime 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 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, with a metal umlaut) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop music, hip hop, funk, industrial music, industrial, and grunge. Nu ...

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. The band began working on a new album in 2022, announcing the release of "Are You Awake?" for early 2023. In 2025, the band self released a double album titled "Vipers and Shadows".https://xsrock.com/christian-rockers-bride-returns-with-double-album-vipers-and-shadows/

Band members

Current lineup * Dale Thompson – vocals * Troy Thompson – guitars * Frank Partipilo – bass (1988–1991, 2024–present) * Alexandre Aposan – drums Former * Steve Osborne – guitar (1986–1988, 2006, 2009) (died 2011) * Scott Hall – bass (1986–1988) * Rick Foley – bass (1991–1994) * Steve Curtsinger – bass (1995–1998, 1999) * Stephen Rolland – drums (1986–1990) * Nenel Lucena – bass * Andrew Wilkinson – bass (1998–1999) * Michael Loy – drums (1999–2009) * Lawrence Bishop – bass (1999–2009) * G.D Watts – bass (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) *'' Silence Is Madness'' (1989, Pure Metal) *'' Kinetic Faith'' (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 1 ...

) *'' Snakes in the Playground'' (1992, Star Song) *''Scarecrow Messiah'' (1994, Star Song) *''Drop'' (1995, Rugged Records) *''The Jesus Experience'' (1997,

) *''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) *''Are You Awake'' (2023, Retroactive Records) *''Vipers and Shadows'' (2025, independent) Compilations and other releases *''End of the Age'' (1990, Star Song) *''Snakes in the Playground'' Special Collector's Edition (1992, Star Song) *''The Lost Reels'' (1994, independent) *''God Gave Rock and Roll to You'' single (1994, Star Song) *''I Predict a Clone'' – various artists (1994, REX 41004-2, a tribute to Steve Taylor) *''Shotgun Wedding: 11 No. 1 Hits and Mrs.'' (1995, Star Song) *''The Lost Reels II'' (1996, independent) *''The Worm'' single (1997, Organic) *''The 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 I'' (2001, Millennium Eight Records) *''The Organic Years'' (2002, Millennium Eight Records) *''This Is It'' (2006, Retroactive Records with bonus tracks) *''Bluegrass Gospel'' (2021, independent) *''Christmas'' (2021, independent) *''Eyes Wide Open'' EP (2023, Retroactive Records) *''The Lost Reels 4'' (2025, independent)

Awards

Bride has received four Dove Awards 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 c ...

. Three awards were for "Hard Music Song" in

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

, and

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

."Dove Award Recipients for HARD MUSIC RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR"
Published by the

. Retrieved February 5, 2007. The fourth award was at the 26th 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 1983 establishments in Kentucky 2013 disestablishments in Kentucky American Christian metal musical groups Christian rock groups from Kentucky American hard rock musical groups American musical quartets Heavy metal musical groups from Kentucky Musical groups established in 1983 Musical groups from Louisville, Kentucky