List Rules Vote up the best Christian bands and artists of the 90s.
Christian contemporary music saw a surge in the 1990s with the formation of Christian rock record labels like Tooth & Nail in 1993, along with a surge of new bands in genres like punk, nu metal, ska, and grunge. Popular '90s Christian artists charted on mainstream lists and found ways to spread the word while growing past the folksy family sound of a lot of their 1970s predecessors.
Even though some bands, like MxPx, no longer identify as Christian bands they still were a huge part of shaping what Christian music grew to be in the 1990s.
For Christian millennials, the wide range of Christian bands that emerged in the '90s allowed a freedom to explore subculture and identity with their friends who weren't in the church. Artists Audio Adrenaline and dc Talk had crossover appeal and probably a majority of slumber parties had Amy Grant on their mixtapes, even if it wasn't a youth group event.
We've put together a list of some of the best Christian '90s bands, but if we're missing one be sure to add it to the list and vote up the best Christian band or artist of the 1990s.
1
42 7
dc TalkHip hop music, Christian hip hop, Rock music DC Talk, was a Christian rap and rock trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums ...more
2
37 7
NewsboysContemporary Christian music, Pop rock, Alternative rock Newsboys are a Christian pop rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. They have released 16 studio albums, 6 of which have been ...more
3
36 9
Audio AdrenalineContemporary Christian music, Alternative rock, Christian rock Audio Adrenaline is a Christian rock band that formed in the mid 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. The band has received two Grammy Awards and multiple Dove Awards. ...more
4
35 10
Jars of ClayRock music, Folk rock, Acoustic music Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano ...more
5
28 7
SkilletNu metal, Rock music, Grunge Skillet is a Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 and based in the United States. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper, along with Jen Ledger ...more
6
29 8
Third DayPop music, Christian alternative rock, Rock music Third Day is a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other ...more
7
32 12
Rich MullinsChristian music, Contemporary Christian music Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. Mullins was best known for his worship songs "Awesome ...more
8
29 10
SwitchfootPop punk, Pop music, Rock music Switchfoot is an American alternative rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas, and Drew Shirley. After early ...more
9
20 4
PFRChristian rock PFR is a Christian rock group from Nashville, Tennessee. Although the group disbanded in 1997, they reunited in 2000 and have since recorded two albums.
10
27 11
Michael W. SmithChristian music, Pop music, Contemporary Christian music Michael Whitaker Smith is an American contemporary Christian musician, who has charted primarily in the contemporary Christian and occasionally in the mainstream charts. His biggest success in ...more
11
23 8
The O.C. SupertonesChristian punk, Ska punk, Ska The Orange County Supertones is a Christian ska band from Orange County, California. The band was signed to Tooth & Nail Records and its imprint, BEC Recordings, before becoming an ...more
12
24 10
P.O.D.Nu Metal, Christian Metal
Payable on Death (abbreviated P.O.D.) is a Christian nu metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. The band's name, Payable on Death (P.O.D.), derives itself from the banking term "Payable on Death". The band chose this name to be a direct tie in with the Christian theology that explains that since Jesus died on the Cross, Christians' debts to God have been paid for; in other words all believers, in their acceptance that Jesus was sacrificed for them on God's behalf, have inherited eternal life with no strings attached.
13
26 12
Steven Curtis ChapmanChristian music, Pop music, Contemporary Christian music Steven Curtis Chapman is an American Christian music singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer-songwriter of ...more
14
18 5
Steve TaylorChristian music, Christian alternative rock Roland Stephen "Steve" Taylor, is an American Christian rock singer, songwriter, record producer, and film director. A large figure in what has come to be known as Christian ...more
15
19 6
Delirious?Rock music, Contemporary Christian music, Alternative rock Delirious? were an English Contemporary Christian band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher ...more
16
17 5
Seven Day JesusRock music, Christian rock Seven Day Jesus was a Christian rock band formed in Huntington, West Virginia in 1994. The group disbanded in 1998, and reunited for one concert in 2004.
17
19 7
Big Tent RevivalContemporary Christian music, Christian rock Big Tent Revival is a Christian rock band that formed in 1991, toured extensively, disbanded in 2000, and reformed in 2012. They were featured at the Harvest Crusades. Their most popular songs ...more
18
20 8
All Star UnitedRock music, Alternative rock, Christian rock All Star United is a Christian rock band that was formed by solo artist Ian Eskelin in 1996. The band is known for clever and sometimes sarcastic lyrics, as they frequently use their songs as ...more
19
21 9
Sixpence None the RicherAdult album alternative, Pop music, Rock music Sixpence None the Richer is an American Christian rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss ...more
20
23 11
Five Iron FrenzyChristian punk, Ska punk, Third-wave of ska Five Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995, disbanded in 2003, then reunited again in 2011. The band released a new single and announced they were recording ...more
21
24 12
MxPxPop punk, Christian punk, Skate punk MxPx is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. The band has skate punk and pop punk leanings, with connections to the pop punk scene. Current ...more
22
15 4
The 77'sNew Wave, Christian punk, Rock music The 77s are an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass, and Bruce Spencer on drums.
23
15 5
Poor Old LuPop punk, Alternative rock, Christian rock Poor Old Lu was a pioneering alternative Christian band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge, funk and psychedelic ...more
24
23 13
PetraClassic rock, Rock music, Contemporary Christian music Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock". ...more
25
12 3
Lost DogsTraditional music, Rock music, Folk music Lost Dogs are an American musical supergroup formed in 1991, comprising vocalists, songwriters, and guitarists from multiple Christian alternative rock bands. Their current lineup includes Terry ...more
not on the list? add item #109
List Rules: Vote up the best Christian bands and artists of the 90s.
