Our first interview is with Dale Thompson of Bride. Bride is one of the true legends of Christian Rock. Dale never pulls any punches, so sit back and read. Here he is … Dale Thompson
LNJ: First Dale can you tell us what you've been up to and where can people go to find more about you?
DALE: Mainly I have been doing a lot of weight training. I compete in bench press contests and even hold a Kentucky State Bench Press Record. If people want to find out more about me they might want to visit the gym. I am doing some song writing but like any artist I am waiting for inspiration. My website is bridepub.com and my email is bride@bridepub.com.
You've been a musician for a long time, your last CD was called "This Is It" … well is this it?
No, Troy and I plan on recording another CD sometime in 2005. I kinda wish we had made our millions when we were young so we could retire because making millions at retirment age is hard.
Bride's fans have wanted "Snakes 2" for years. What is up with that one album?
There will never be a "Snakes 2." Just listen to "Snakes 1."
The last record before the new one was called "Fist Full Of Bees" it was released on Absolute Records. Rumor has it that this relastionship did not go very well, what happened and how did you get out of your contract?
Nothing happened and that was the problem. The record company was not answering questions, not moving and had no real plan for the record, so it died. I got us out of the contract by discussing my personal beliefs and philosophies with the head of the label. He and I did not see eye to eye, so he released us.
What did you think of Liberty n' Justice's album, "Welcome To The Revolution?" You can be honest since you've already been paid.
Too pop 80's for me. I wasn't blown away by my track either. I thought the song was out of my style but I did the best I could. But on the other hand there is a market for that style of rock. Even though I have never listened to that style of rock I could appreciate the talent of those who contributed.
You recently did a song for the new Liberty n' Justice CD coming out. Tell us about the song and why you decided to do another round at this LNJ thing.
The song is called "Grenade." We wrote the song, rewrote it, rewrote again, changed drummers, rewrote it again then recorded it. I think the final version was the best. We wanted to deliver our best and I think this song turned out better than anything we have done in a long time. Our affiliation with LNJ is a long lasting friendship.
Name the three highest points and the three lowest points of your musical career.
High points would be touring Brazil, signing with Star Song, and winning SESAC song writer of the year. Low points would be signing with Star Song, the end of our tour with Stryper (it was great fun and we hated to stop) and losing our drummer Jerry McBroom.
As a Christian musician do you care more about the music or the ministry?
It runs neck and neck because the music gives us the platform to minister in a way that few have ever done. This work is all in God's hands. I don't worry too much about anything any more concerning ministry. God has us right where He wants us.
When Michael Sweet left Stryper, it is true you joined the band? What is the story with this?
I never officially joined Stryper, though I did do a couple of shows with them. It wasn't the right time for me to leave Bride. But hey, maybe I would join them today if they asked.
Back in the day, Bride was the band. In fact it was the best live performance I have ever seen. Now that the musical state has changed and there is some controversy about your beliefs, how have those people who once supported the band treated you?
Those who are true Bride fans have never stopped supporting us. Those who disagree with my personal beliefs and want to make issues of them are not true fans. I have been attacked via the internet a lot. At first I attempted to defend my position, but Father showed me that it is no use until it is time for Him to remove the veil of flesh from their eyes. They cannot see unless He puts the light in.
Once and for all, is Jesus Christ your personal Savior?
Yes He is. I have no other Savior and Lord. Each day of my life I shine forth the Christ, His essence, His character, His nature and live by the principles rightly divided in God's Word. I am not buried in a church somewhere hid away from the world. I live in the world, though I am not of this world. My life belongs to Christ and I know my beginnings are in Him. Anyone who has accused me of being less has never met me.
It amazes me that "Christians" can find the time to chit-chat about others and spread harmful rumors, and discuss matters that do not concern them, and assume things that they know nothing about without ever going to the person whom they are talking about. I have had it with those who play church.
Listen, I believe Jesus Christ is the resurrection, He is the way, the truth, and the life and there is no other. What else do I have to believe to have eternal life? Do I have to believe in the majority's interpretation and definitions of heaven and earth, hell, good, evil, judgment, eternity, etc.? The Bible never indicates that I need to believe anything other than to believe in Jesus Christ and all He represents.
Do you know what I see when I see Christ? I see a lamb, a harmless lamb who said to follow His example. His example was love, He never took revenge, He never condemned, He never pronounced guilt, and He moved on the people with compassion. This Jesus Christ is hardly represented in our mainstream organized, traditional, man-made-doctrine churches of today. Good intentions, good works, long prayers and fancy building don't impress God. A broken heart and a contrite spirit does impress Him.
If you could have been a UFC fighter, would you have quit Bride?
Let me rephrase your question. Would I have prefered to have been a UFC fighter? The answer is yes. I love combat, I have never been beaten. The older I get, the stronger I become. At age 32, I was bench pressing 365. At 41, I am bench pressing close to 500 pounds. So my answer is, if God had not called me to start and continue Bride for all these years, I would would have fought in the professional arena. You know, I never could fight or box for fun. I always fought to win. That makes a good fighter who even in training sets His eye on the ultimate goal.
Another thing that we have heard was that once, while in South America, you got pulled into the crowd and had to fight your way out. Was this a dream come true for you? Give us a few details.
I stage dived into a crowd of about 40,000 people. They did not want to give me back, so for two or three minutes I literally had to fight for survival in the midst of this throng of bodies. People were pulling on me, my shirt was ripped off, and I was severely bruised and battered. Yet I won. I emerged to take the stage, flex my muscles to the crowd, and then I went back stage to seek medical attention. I was fine … nothing broke.
Tell us about going to a gig in South America and seeing bootleg Bride merchandise everywhere. You got out of a limo and the guy wouldn't give you anything for free, even though your pic was on it?
You just told it. We pull up and there is Bride merch everywhere. There were at least 20 booths bootlegging shirts, jogging outfits, hats, etc. We asked one of the venders for a shirt but he refused and said we had to buy it from him.
Is Bride gonna release a new album and if so, what style will it be in?
We will record again this coming year. The songs are in my head but they are all jumbled up. It is not clear yet whether it will be a thrash metal album or a funk rock CD with lots of cool horns and backing vocals.
How many records has Bride sold worldwide? How do you want Bride to be remembered?
I would not even begin to guess how many CDs we have sold. "Snakes" sold close to 100,000 and that was our biggest release. I want Bride to be remembered for being uncompromising and for being the best hard rock band ever.
Bride is a tremendous live show … why can't Bride get booked?
I haven't really been trying to get booked. If we are going to play, I don't want to do the coffeehouse thing. I've been there, done that. I paid my dues. I want the big tour or I'll sit at home. I have a family now that needs me as much as 25 Bride fans crammed into someones basement.
We have been offered about 50 dates this past year but nothing was worth rehearsing a half a dozen times, packing the gear, and driving across country.
Also, there are plenty of groups out there. I don't really consider Bride an evangelistic band any more. Our ministry has changed and my concerns are much different now. Instead of driving people to the altar to ask for salvation which has been the thing to do over the past so many years, ours is now a ministry to awake the Christ within and to tell people that they are righteous … they just don't know it. They have sat under so many different doctrines, heard so many different messages and preachers, and read so many books that they have failed to actually hear the voice of Father speak to them. AWAKE TO RIGHTESNESS!
Cornerstone had Bride perform on a metal night but we heard that the rider stated they did not want you to talk or preach from the stage. What is the story about that?
Don't know anything about that. It is likely since the Cornerstone staff was easily freaked out by us. They would have some bizarre goth band play or some punk band that said crazy things and put on weird shows and invite them back year after year. Some of these bands had no merit whatsoever and it was blasphemous to have considered many of these groups as believers, while we preached boldly from the stage and basically was blacklisted from the festival. Sorry state of affairs.
How old are you now? And didn't you just break some kind of Kentucky weightlifting record?
Yes I already bragged on myself earlier in the interview. I am Kentucky's strongest 198-pound 41-year-old. Cool huh?
What does 2005 and beyond hold for the musician Dale Thompson?
Looking for inspiration, wanting to be musically and lyrically challenged. I would love to go out on top or at least with a bang, but I'll settle for some sort of monetary contribution.
And finally, it's time for a LNJ word association. We mention a name or thing, and you give us your thoughts:
Troy Thompson (Bride)
The most under rated guitarist and musical director in the industry.
Jamie Rowe (Guardian)
A great singer who wishes he were me.
Dez Dickerson (Absolute Records)
Prince
John and Dino Elefante (Producers)
Rich
Michael Sweet (Stryper)
One of the most wonderful guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know. Wish he was interested in playing guitar for Bride. We already have a singer.
Justin Murr (Liberty n' Justice)
A go-getter, gets things done, very impressive business man and a visonary.
Bill Tate (3 Chord Records)
A man after my own heart, let's go to the fights bro.
Scott Wenzell (White Cross)
Scott was always decent to us and I hope his admiration and affection was pure.
Greg Martin (The Kentucky Headhunters)
The coolest of the cool, the smoothest player I have ever encountered. I missed getting rich with Greg by one decade.
Doug Lucas (former booking agent)
A good man with an incredible work ethic. Whatever he set his mind to do, he's done it. Plus he is a close friend.
Thanks, Dale.
Thank you sir, this was fun! Long live rock n' roll!