Church Spokesperson Says LAMB OF GOD's Lyrics Are 'Antithetical To Our Beliefs'

Marc Little, chief operating officer for the Faithful Central Bible Church's business dealings, spoke to the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday (Feb. 2) about the church's decision to cancel an April 9 concert appearance at the church-owned Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California by LAMB OF GOD because church leaders were offended by the group's previous name, BURN THE PRIEST.

"This is a building that is owned by a church, and we are sensitive to our congregation and to our obvious religious beliefs," Little said. "At the same time, we have to balance that with being a business. This is a band that was formerly known as BURN THE PRIEST, so it's a fair assumption that some of the stuff they are singing may be antithetical to our beliefs."

The Forum was once the storied home court of the Los Angeles Lakers and a major hub for rock history, with bookings for ELVIS PRESLEY, JIMI HENDRIX, LED ZEPPELIN and the ROLLING STONES. After the 1999 opening of the Staples Center downtown, the Forum appeared headed for demolition until Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, leader of Faithful Central, led his church in a fundraising campaign to buy it.

The Forum has pulled in some major acts in recent years, among them hard rock groups METALLICA and LINKIN PARK, whose music might give a pastor pause. But LAMB OF GOD's former name was apparently too religiously hostile to accept.

Karen Lewis, a spokeswoman for the church, said Wednesday that "this is not the first time" that the church's mission statement has affected a programming decision. However, she said, the decision to cancel LAMB OF GOD's concert has received extra attention because it is part of a national tour.

The only other concert currently scheduled at the Forum is a March 23 appearance by MÖTLEY CRÜE, a reunited 1980s metal band whose album catalog includes "Shout at the Devil".