5. Kutless
Originating in Portland, Oregon, Kutless has been a Christian rock band since 1999, and they’ve produced at least seven studio albums, including some worship albums. Band members Jon Micah Sumrall, James Mead, and Neal Cameron have been nominated for several prominent awards in the last fifteen years, celebrating their albums and band. Listen to one of their first top hits below.
6. P.O.D.
Short for Payable on Death, P.O.D. began in San Diego, California as a heavy metal band in 1992. Their name refers to how Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. Remarkably, band members Sonny Sandoval, Wuv Bernardo, Traa Daniels, and Marcos Curiel continue to be on the scene today. They’re considered by many to be the greatest Christian rock band of all times. Although they still create innovative music today, the longstanding popularity of Youth of the Nation makes it one of their top songs.
7. Disciple
Heavy metal band, Disciple, came out of the country music capitol of the world, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1992. Band members, Kevin Young, Andrew Stanton, Josiah Prince, Jason Wilkes, and Joey West were high school friends, and they began performing in the early 1990’s in a church in Lousiville. Their song, Game On, became popular, in part because it was used in T.V. commercials and shows, such as Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami. Disciple has also won rock album of the year twice. To learn more about Disciple, watch this trivia video set to Game On.
8. Newsboys
Unlike many of the bands on this list, the Newsboys originate in Queensland, Australia. This Christian rock band is sometimes consider to be more pop. Rock or pop, they’ve certainly held onto their popularity since the end of the 20th century. They have six gold albums out of their sixteen total, and band members, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Michael Tait, have even release a book. Listen to one of their top songs, Shine live.
9. Third Day
Christian rock band, Third Day is one of the oldest bands on this list, beginning in 1991 in Marietta, Georgia. It’s members, Mac Powell, Mark Lee, Tai Anderson, and David Carr named the song after the day Jesus rose from the dead, which the Bible cites. Third Day is overtly Christian, unlike some of the Christian rock bands on this list, but they’ve still sold more than 10 million albums. According to Billboard, their most famous song, Soul on Fire, peaked in 2015.
10. Relient K
From Canton, Ohio, Relient K is considered a Christian rock band, a pop punk band, or an alternative rock band. Band members, Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, John Warne, Jon Schneck, and Dave Douglas formed their band in 1998, and those who attended the Cornerstone Festival in the early 2000s would have seen them on the mainstage, along with Five Iron Frenzy and other popular bands of the time. Relient K’s best three albums have gone gold, and Be My Escape is one of their most popular songs.
