Christian Death is an influential American rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles County by Rozz Williams. Known for their confrontational stance against organized religion and conventional morality, the band played a major role in shaping deathrock and the American gothic scene. Their debut album, Only Theatre of Pain, released in 1982 with members Rikk Agnew, James McGearty, and George Belanger, is considered a landmark in alternative music. After significant lineup changes, Valor Kand joined and eventually took over as frontperson when Williams departed in 1985. The band’s shifting membership has fueled ongoing controversy and divided their fanbase, but Christian Death remains a key influence in dark alternative music.