July 29, 1999 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Rock music is one of the most destructive, godless influences in the modern world. It has almost single-handedly lowered the moral climate of western society. There is nothing holy or righteous or godly in rock music. It is the music of license and rebellion. From its inception, rock music has been associated with violence. The first rock concert in 1952 (called a Moon Dog Ball), which was organized by disk jockey Alan Freed, resulted in a riot that sent mobs of young people rampaging through the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. Riots, beatings, and stabbings occurred at other Freed concerts. Following a riot in Boston in 1958, rock concerts were banned in several cities and Freed was kicked out of the concert business. Freed, called by the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock "the original Pied Piper of rock & roll," allegedly was the first to apply the immoral term "rock and roll" to the new Blues-based music (he even tried to copyright the term). He died in 1965 at age 42, penniless and drunken. Freed well epitomizes the wretched history of rock & roll.

Forty-seven years after the first violent rock concert, rock music is still associated with violence and immorality. Both were evident at Woodstock ’99, in Rome, New York. Nakedness and open fornication was rampant. The media reported that half-naked women were evident on every hand. More than 100 people posed naked for a nude photo by photographer Spencer Tunick. Planned Parenthood distributed 41,000 free condoms. There were 700 piercings and 500 tattoos and body paintings performed by the Sick Creations Tattoos booth. Girls who did not have the $100 for a body painting were "auctioned off" to those who were willing to ante up that amount to watch them remove their clothes. David DiGiacomo, a Sick Creations co-owner, said: "Everyone takes their clothes off and it’s all right." His partner added: "It’s natural to get back to being one with the earth." Scores of people scrambled on top of trailers to hurl profanities at onlookers (USA Today, July 26, 1999). Hundreds were treated for drug overdoses and injuries, including broken bones, many from falls in the mosh pits. One person died of a heart attack. Twenty percent (about 100) of the volunteer security force walked off the job. After three days of vicious music (by groups such as Korn, The Offspring, Kid Rock, and Metallica) combined with drugs and alcohol, hundreds of people went on a rampage, burning and looting. Cars were overturned. Expensive equipment was stolen. ATM machines were robbed. Eight expensive, refrigerated tractor-trailers were looted and then destroyed. Bottles were hurled at security staffers and reporters. Policemen were injured. The damage was massive. One of the large speaker towers was pulled down and destroyed. In spite of the fact that a young man was standing on the top of it, a tower was set on fire by the rampaging crowd. The riot was set off during the performance of the vicious grunge rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose bass player performed in the nude. Media reports claimed that the rioting was the problem only of "a relative few," but New York State Police superintendent James McMann described a "faceoff between the state police and 200 to 500 hostile people" (USA Today, July 27, 1999, p. D1). Furthermore, "thousands cheered on the rioters."

It is absolute nonsense to attempt to Christianize rock music. It has always been the music of the world, and God demands that His people "love not the world."

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:15-17).

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?" (James 4:4,5)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).