Michael Knott
Encyclopedia
Michael Knott is an American singer-songwriter and frontman for various bands, many of them Christian
. He has released some 35 albums, including solo albums and with bands such as LSU and Cush.
Knott's music has sometimes been controversial in Christian circles, particularly due to profanity
in the song "Rocket and a Bomb" (from the self-titled release of his former band Aunt Bettys) and original artwork in that album of Jesus Christ as a bartender. Knott's songwriting appealed to many people, particularly flawed Christians, who appreciated the honesty with which he tackled his own shortcomings. Examples include "Double," "Shaded Pain" and the aforementioned "Rocket and a Bomb."
Knott explained some of his views in an interview with HM Magazine
, saying, "Basically, I'm a human being and I believe in Christ, period. It doesn't make my life rosy, it doesn't make my life terrible, it doesn't do anything with that. I know Christ."
Career highlights include LSU's epic Cornerstone appearance in '93 (band dressed in customs), Aunt Bettys record-label bidding war and eventual signing with Elektra (1995) and a Jed the Fish "Catch of the Day" spin on KROQ for the Strung Gurus' "Sun-Eyed Girl." Members of Cush and Aunt Bettys joined Knott on stage for a Dennis Danell benefit concert at Verizon Wireless with a line-up that also included Pennywise, Offspring, X and Social Distortion. Aunt Bettys and Mike Knott songs are prominently featured in the 1998 indie film "Boogie Boy" (Imperial), exec-produced by Grammy-winning "Pulp Fiction" co-writer Roger Avary.
Michael Knott is a painter, frequently signing his works under the name 'Gerard.' His artwork has been used for cover art on many of his own releases as well as releases by The Choir, Charity Empressa, and others. When he began touring again in 2000, Knott began creating painting series that he sold at shows and eventually online.
Michael Knott was the founder of the now defunct independent record label
, Blonde Vinyl Records
, and co-founded Tooth and Nail Records with Brandon Ebel.
After being ending their contract with Elektra, Aunt Bettys released their sophomore album Ford Supersonic (originally through Marathon Records). The band quit by the decade's end, and Knott started Strung Gurus with Social Distortion founding-guitarist Dennis Danell. When Danell tragically died in early 2000, Knott began self-releasing several albums (many of which featured previously unreleased tracks) to coincide with a number of solo acoustic tours. In Sept. 2010, Aunt Betty's Ford (using their original name) reformed for a show at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, their first show together in 13 years. A handful of other shows have followed.
Knott's most recent album in 2010's PTSD by L.S. Underground. The band includes Crucified drummer Jim Chaffin.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. He has released some 35 albums, including solo albums and with bands such as LSU and Cush.
Knott's music has sometimes been controversial in Christian circles, particularly due to profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
in the song "Rocket and a Bomb" (from the self-titled release of his former band Aunt Bettys) and original artwork in that album of Jesus Christ as a bartender. Knott's songwriting appealed to many people, particularly flawed Christians, who appreciated the honesty with which he tackled his own shortcomings. Examples include "Double," "Shaded Pain" and the aforementioned "Rocket and a Bomb."
Knott explained some of his views in an interview with HM Magazine
HM Magazine
HM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
, saying, "Basically, I'm a human being and I believe in Christ, period. It doesn't make my life rosy, it doesn't make my life terrible, it doesn't do anything with that. I know Christ."
Career highlights include LSU's epic Cornerstone appearance in '93 (band dressed in customs), Aunt Bettys record-label bidding war and eventual signing with Elektra (1995) and a Jed the Fish "Catch of the Day" spin on KROQ for the Strung Gurus' "Sun-Eyed Girl." Members of Cush and Aunt Bettys joined Knott on stage for a Dennis Danell benefit concert at Verizon Wireless with a line-up that also included Pennywise, Offspring, X and Social Distortion. Aunt Bettys and Mike Knott songs are prominently featured in the 1998 indie film "Boogie Boy" (Imperial), exec-produced by Grammy-winning "Pulp Fiction" co-writer Roger Avary.
Michael Knott is a painter, frequently signing his works under the name 'Gerard.' His artwork has been used for cover art on many of his own releases as well as releases by The Choir, Charity Empressa, and others. When he began touring again in 2000, Knott began creating painting series that he sold at shows and eventually online.
Michael Knott was the founder of the now defunct independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Blonde Vinyl Records
Blonde Vinyl
Blonde Vinyl was an independent record label founded in 1990 by Michael Knott. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the label as "one of Christian music's first true indie labels."-Background:...
, and co-founded Tooth and Nail Records with Brandon Ebel.
After being ending their contract with Elektra, Aunt Bettys released their sophomore album Ford Supersonic (originally through Marathon Records). The band quit by the decade's end, and Knott started Strung Gurus with Social Distortion founding-guitarist Dennis Danell. When Danell tragically died in early 2000, Knott began self-releasing several albums (many of which featured previously unreleased tracks) to coincide with a number of solo acoustic tours. In Sept. 2010, Aunt Betty's Ford (using their original name) reformed for a show at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, their first show together in 13 years. A handful of other shows have followed.
Knott's most recent album in 2010's PTSD by L.S. Underground. The band includes Crucified drummer Jim Chaffin.
Bands
Knott has participated in and/or formed many bands, including:- The Hightops - Early pop-punk band when Knott was a teenager (songs appear as bonus tracks on Huntington Beach album)
- The Lifesavors or Lifesavers - early '80s pop punk
- L.S.U. aka Lifesavers Underground - darker, goth-y alt-rock
- Bomb Bay Babies - general market guitar-driven pop punk band, signed to publishing deal with Windswept Pacific
- Idle Lovell - dark alt-rock in a slightly different vein than LSU
- Michael Moret - A Dead or Alive-style new wave dance album that Knott wished he'd never made
- Aunt Bettys - Originally Aunt Bettys Ford, a story-telling general market rock band Knott started in '93
- Cush - Post-modern rock band with former members of the Prayer Chain
- Strung Gurus - Acoustic rock band with Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell (RIP Feb. 29 2000)
- Struck Last May - 2007 project with Rick McDonough that dabbles into "... To Kill a Mocking Bird meets Sesame Street"
Discography (solo)
- Screaming Brittle Siren - 1992 (Blonde VinylBlonde VinylBlonde Vinyl was an independent record label founded in 1990 by Michael Knott. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the label as "one of Christian music's first true indie labels."-Background:...
) - Rocket and a Bomb - 1994 (Brainstorm Artists, Intl)
- Fluid - 1995 (Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - Strip Cycle - 1995 (Tooth & NailTooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
) - Definitive Collection - 1999 (KMGKMG RecordsKMG Records was a Christian record label. The label was established in 1997 by Buddy Killen as a subunit of the Killen Music Group / Buddy Killen Enterprises and sold in late 1998 to Cal Turner III, who is related to the Cal Turner of Dollar General stores...
) - Bomb Bay Babies - 2000 (Independent)
- Live in Nash Vegas - 2000 (Independent)
- Things Jenison Found in the Closet - 2000 (Independent)
- Things I've Done, Things to Come - 2000 (Independent)
- Live at Cornerstone 2000 - 2000 (M8)
- Mother Nation (with Noah Reimer) - 2001 (Independent)
- Life of David - 2001 (Metro One, Review: HM Magazine)
- Hearts of Care - 2002 (Northern RecordsNorthern RecordsNorthern Records is an independent record label located in California. It was founded in 1999. It is currently being distributed in the United States and Canada by RED Distribution .-CD releases:-Digital releases:...
) - Hearts of Care Demos - 2003 (Independent)
- Spring 2003 Tour CD #1 a.k.a. Jesus Help Me - 2003 (Independent)
- Spring 2003 Tour CD #2 a.k.a. Gerard - 2003 (Independent)
- Comatose Soul - 2004 (Independent)
- The All Indie E.P. - 2006 (Independent) - Only 500 signed and numbered copies.