Weird, Strange, Odd, Unique...Part 3

One Bad Pig

When a Christian bands live show is described as "kind of like a carnival/revival run amok," (CCM Magazine, October, 1990,) you know you're in for a good time!  Their live show was known to include plastic swimming pools filled with water, water guns and lots of silly string. Punk/Thrash band One Bad Pig grew from lead "screamer" Carey "Kosher" Womack's street ministry.  They released their first album, the home made recording "A Christian Banned," in 1986.  They were signed to Pure metal and released "Smash" in 1989.  In 1990, they were signed to Myrrh Records, where they stayed for the rest of their career, releasing three more albums in the early 90's.

Despite the silly image, OBP was a top notch metal band, with a focus on ministry.  Carey Womack was an ordained Baptist minister, and original bassist Brian "Streak" Wheeler was an Assembly of God evangelist.  Womack summed the band up with one statement in an interview in CCM Magazine:  "God has seen fit to use a very foolish thing to proclaim His message." (CCM Magazine, October 1990.)

Although they haven't released any new studio material since the early 90's, they have never officially broken up, and still play reunion shows occasionally.

I first discovered the Pig on Star Song's old Metal compilation cd "Ultimate Metal" back in 1989.  The song "Let's Be Frank" from the "Smash" cd was included, and it sounded like nothing else I'd heard in Christian music at that time.  I've been a fan ever since, and "Let's Be Frank" remains one of my favorite Metal songs of all time. Sung from the perspective of an atheist who "won't believe till they slam hell's gates,"  my favorite line is:"I can't believe that Jesus ever came to save!  I even tried to find Him, He wasn't in His grave!"

On their 1991 cd "I Scream Sunday," OBP recorded a Punk/Metal version of Johnny Cash's "Man In Black" with Cash himself on vocals, proving that Johnny was a good sport with a great sense of humor!

Band website: http://www.onebadpig.com/Pig_Pen.html

Next post: Lust Control.  Got a ski mask on you?