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Article Title:	1979 - Christian Music's Year Zero!: A Personal Reflection by Mike Rimmer
Author of reported comment:	Derek Collins
Comment Date:	19:48 on Mar 8 2007
Comment:	An interesting article. Being just a few short years older than you I remember those same events but perhaps ever so slightly differently. I was always a huge music fan too and unlike you, found spiritual sustenance in music outside the 'Christian' genre. In fact I found a lot of Christian Music superficial and lacking in depth, though some of the bands you mentioned brought back great thrills to my jaded soul! I was a particular fan of Bill Mason Band (fellow scousers), FishCo/Writz (Brilliant Songwriters - Fairnie was a wonderful character). I don't think I had such high hopes as you for 'Christian Music' to break through in a big way in 79. Partly I guess I was already jaded even back then. Partly because I was finding spiritual food in music outside the ghetto. As you pointed out, new wave was already under way by then and while certainly not Christian, artistes like Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg were feeding my concern for social justice, Van Morrison and others my demand for spiritual depth. I don't know if the current ease with which Christian Artistes can be recognised and applauded in the general music scene would have come about without your 'year zero'. Artistes like U2, Martyn Joseph, Bruce Cockburn, Johnny Cash, Brian Houston and others can all be completely open about their faith and still be respected as musicians in a way that was difficult to imagine before 1979. One of your commenters asked about Brian Houston, wanting to know, where is he now. I am happy to report that Brian is alive and well, making wonderful and profoundly spiritual music and is regularly featured on Bob Harris's show on Radio 2 Saturday night. For furtehr details see www.brianhouston.com.

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