Jerusalem (band)
Encyclopedia
Jerusalem is a Swedish
Christian rock
band, founded in 1975 by Ulf Christiansson. It was one of the first bands to combine Christian lyrics with a hard rock
sound.
in an ordinary, but radical way. The band's purpose was expressly evangelistic
. Their concerts have been described as a series of revival meeting
s which often included altar call
s and occasionally exorcisms. When the band first toured in the mid-1970s in Sweden, their combination of Christian lyrics with a hard rock sound was very controversial. The band was only permitted to perform at a few churches.
Over time, Jerusalem gained broader acceptance, and after three years of touring record companies began making offers to record the band. The Christian record company Prim signed Jerusalem, without much expectation of success. However, the band's self-titled debut album, Jerusalem, became an instant hit among Christian listeners, and within the first six months the record sold 20,000 copies, unheard of within the genre of Christian rock
in Europe.
Buoyed by the response, Jerusalem toured both in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. The next album, Volym 2, was released in 1980. This record, which was also dubbed into an English version, exposed Jerusalem to a global audience. The band's schedule became filled with tours in Germany, France, England, Belgium, and Finland.
From the Christian Greenbelt festival
in England, where Jerusalem participated during the summer, Americans brought the record to the United States and Glen Kaiser, leader of Resurrection Band
, one of the biggest Christian rock
bands in the US. Kaiser gave the record to Pat Boone
, who owned the Lamb & Lion record company. Lamb & Lion subsequently released Jerusalem's records in the United States and Canada.
In 1981 Jerusalem released their third album, Krigsman (Warrior), which became a sales success in Sweden, Europe, USA, and Canada. In the fall of 1981, Jerusalem toured the United States. European, radical Jerusalem, with their heavy hard rock, took the USA by storm.
At this time the band consisted of Ulf Christiansson on guitar and vocals, Dan Tibell on keyboards, Peter Carlsohn on bass (replacing Anders Mossberg), and Michael Ulvsgärd on drums (replacing Klas Anderhell).
With the fourth album, Vi Kan Inte Stoppas (Can't Stop Us Now), Jerusalem changed their style to a more melodic rock sound with lyrics that were not as overtly God-centered. This lost the band support amongst many Christian fans. The album, recorded in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, led to another tour in the USA, where the video also was shown on MTV
. Despite changes in the band's lyrical approach, the success was enormous, especially amongst non-Christian rockers
. During the following years, Jerusalem mostly toured abroad. Between 1983 and 1985, Jerusalem made several very successful tours in USA, which finally resulted in a live album, In His Majesty's Service - Live in USA, recorded in Shreveport and Dallas.
Eventually, however, this all became too much, and the members of the band tired out. In 1985, Jerusalem quit touring and enrolled in the Word of Life Bible School
.
In 1987, Jerusalem released Dancing on the Head of the Serpent. Reidar Paulsen played the keyboards. The record sleeve depicted an army boot trampling on a demon. This radical image proved too shocking for Swedish Christians. Some record stores banned the album, while others still stocked the album, but sold the record under the counter. After this album the band took a six-year hiatus.
In 1992, the band moved back to Gothenburg, Sweden and recorded Prophet. It ultimately became the Jerusalem album that garnered the most favourable reviews.
The band has announced their new studio album called She, to be released October 22, 2010.
A lot of different musician were at one time or another part of Jerusalem. These are just the ones who recorded with Jerusalem
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band, founded in 1975 by Ulf Christiansson. It was one of the first bands to combine Christian lyrics with a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound.
History
Jerusalem's message was primarily aimed at youth, with their lyrics describing the band's relationship to GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in an ordinary, but radical way. The band's purpose was expressly evangelistic
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
. Their concerts have been described as a series of revival meeting
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
s which often included altar call
Altar call
An altar call is a practice in some evangelical churches in which those who wish to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ are invited to come forward publicly. It is so named because the supplicants gather at the altar located at the front of the church building. In the Old Testament, an...
s and occasionally exorcisms. When the band first toured in the mid-1970s in Sweden, their combination of Christian lyrics with a hard rock sound was very controversial. The band was only permitted to perform at a few churches.
Over time, Jerusalem gained broader acceptance, and after three years of touring record companies began making offers to record the band. The Christian record company Prim signed Jerusalem, without much expectation of success. However, the band's self-titled debut album, Jerusalem, became an instant hit among Christian listeners, and within the first six months the record sold 20,000 copies, unheard of within the genre of Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
in Europe.
Buoyed by the response, Jerusalem toured both in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. The next album, Volym 2, was released in 1980. This record, which was also dubbed into an English version, exposed Jerusalem to a global audience. The band's schedule became filled with tours in Germany, France, England, Belgium, and Finland.
From the Christian Greenbelt festival
Greenbelt festival
Greenbelt Festival is a festival of arts, faith and justice held annually in England since 1974. Greenbelt has grown from a Christian music festival with an audience of 1,500 young Christians to its current more secular festival attended by around 20,000 - Christians and non-Christians.The festival...
in England, where Jerusalem participated during the summer, Americans brought the record to the United States and Glen Kaiser, leader of Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
, one of the biggest Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
bands in the US. Kaiser gave the record to Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
, who owned the Lamb & Lion record company. Lamb & Lion subsequently released Jerusalem's records in the United States and Canada.
In 1981 Jerusalem released their third album, Krigsman (Warrior), which became a sales success in Sweden, Europe, USA, and Canada. In the fall of 1981, Jerusalem toured the United States. European, radical Jerusalem, with their heavy hard rock, took the USA by storm.
At this time the band consisted of Ulf Christiansson on guitar and vocals, Dan Tibell on keyboards, Peter Carlsohn on bass (replacing Anders Mossberg), and Michael Ulvsgärd on drums (replacing Klas Anderhell).
With the fourth album, Vi Kan Inte Stoppas (Can't Stop Us Now), Jerusalem changed their style to a more melodic rock sound with lyrics that were not as overtly God-centered. This lost the band support amongst many Christian fans. The album, recorded in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, led to another tour in the USA, where the video also was shown on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Despite changes in the band's lyrical approach, the success was enormous, especially amongst non-Christian rockers
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. During the following years, Jerusalem mostly toured abroad. Between 1983 and 1985, Jerusalem made several very successful tours in USA, which finally resulted in a live album, In His Majesty's Service - Live in USA, recorded in Shreveport and Dallas.
Eventually, however, this all became too much, and the members of the band tired out. In 1985, Jerusalem quit touring and enrolled in the Word of Life Bible School
Livets Ord
Livets Ord, literally Word of the Life, is the largest parish within the Swedish Word of Faith movement. The parish was founded in Uppsala by Ulf Ekman on May 24, 1983, who also served as its leader until 2000. Ekman passed on the local pastorship in Uppsala to Robert Ekh that year and instead...
.
In 1987, Jerusalem released Dancing on the Head of the Serpent. Reidar Paulsen played the keyboards. The record sleeve depicted an army boot trampling on a demon. This radical image proved too shocking for Swedish Christians. Some record stores banned the album, while others still stocked the album, but sold the record under the counter. After this album the band took a six-year hiatus.
In 1992, the band moved back to Gothenburg, Sweden and recorded Prophet. It ultimately became the Jerusalem album that garnered the most favourable reviews.
The band has announced their new studio album called She, to be released October 22, 2010.
Current
Jerusalem currently has 2 line-ups- Ulf Christiansson - vocals, guitar (1975–present)
- Anders Mossberg - bass (1978? - 1981?, 1996–present)
- Dan Tibell - keyboards (1975–1985, 1996–present)
- Klas Anderhell - drums (1979? - 1981, 1996–present)
- Peter Carlsohn - bass (1981–1995, 2003? - present)
- Reidar I. Paulsen - keyboards (1986? - 1995?, 2006–present)
- Michael Ulvsgärd - drums (1981–1995, 2003? - present)
Past
- Bertil Sörensson - bass (1978?)
- Danne Gansmoe - drums (1978?)
A lot of different musician were at one time or another part of Jerusalem. These are just the ones who recorded with Jerusalem
Discography
For albums released in both Swedish and English versions, the English titles are in parentheses.Studio albums
- Jerusalem (Volume 1) (1978/1980)
- Volym 2 (Volume 2) (1980/1981)
- Krigsman (Warrior) (1981/1982)
- Vi Kan Inte Stoppas (Can't Stop Us Now) (1983/1984)
- Dancing on the Head of the Serpent (1987/1988)
- Prophet (1994)
- Volym Tre (Those Were the Days) (1996/1997)
- Volüm Fyra (R.A.D.) (1997/1998)
- She (2010)
Live albums
- In His Majesty's Service - Live in USA (1985)
- Live - På Ren Svenska (1998)
Compilation albums
- 10 Years After10 Years After (album)10 Years After is the first compilation album, and seventh album overall, from Swedish hard rock band Jerusalem, released in 1988. The collection focused solely on their English output; there was no corresponding Swedish collection. On LP and cassette, it was released as a double album. The CD...
(1988) - Klassiker 1 (Classics 1) (1993/1996)
- Klassiker 2 (Classics 2) (1993/1996)
- Classics 3 (1995)
- TrettiTrettiTretti is the fifth compilation album, and fifteenth album overall, from Swedish hard rock band Jerusalem, released in 2006. The collection was released as a double album and focused primarily on their Swedish output.-Disc One:...
(2006) - Greatest Hits (2006)