Michael Knott

Jan 01, 2002
Feb 26, 2001
Jan 01, 2000
Jan 01, 1995
Jan 01, 1995
Jan 01, 1994
Jan 01, 1992

Michael Knott is listed in the credits for the following albums:

Year Artist Album Role
1983 Lifesavors Dream Life Songwriter, Guitars
1983 Lifters Lifters Songwriter
1986 L.S.U. A Kiss of Life Guitars, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
1986 Wild Blue Yonder Wild Blue Yonder Songwriter
1989 L.S.U. Wakin' Up the Dead Producer, Guitars, Vocals
1990 Dead Artist Syndrome Prints of Darkness Acoustic Guitar
1990 Terry Scott Taylor Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor: The Miracle Faith Telethon Background Vocals
1991 Windy Lyre Windy Lyre Producer, Guitars, Bass, Drum Programming
1991 L.S.U. Poplife Producer, Guitar, Bass, Vocals
1991 L.S.U. This Is the Healing Producer, Guitars, Bass, Drum Programming, Vocals
1991 Various Artists At the Foot of the Cross -Volume 1- Clouds, Rain, Fire Vocals
1992 Plague of Ethyls Plague of Ethyls Additional Vocals
1992 L.S.U. Grape Prophet, The Producer, Guitars, Bass, Vocals
1992 The Choir At the Foot of the Cross Vocals
1993 Various Artists Brow Beat Unplugged Alternative Producer, Guitars, Vocals
1993 L.S.U. Cash In Chaos World Tour Producer, Vocals
1993 L.S.U. Shaded Pain Keyboards, Vocals
1994 Various Artists Alternative Worship: Prayer, Petitions, and Praise Producer, Guitar, Vocals
1994 L.S.U. Grace Shaker Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
1994 Deitiphobia Clean Guitar, Vocals
1995 L.S.U. Huntington Beach Guitar, Bass, Vocals
1998 L.S.U. Dogfish Jones Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
1998 Various Artists Browbeats Presents Wither Wing Producer, Mixed, Guitar, Bass, Vocals
1998 Steve Hindalong Skinny Background Vocals
1999 Five O'clock People The Nothing Venture Songwriter
2000 Cush The New Sound Vocals
2001 Lost Dogs Real Men Cry Vocals
2001 Adam Again Live at Cornerstone 2000 Vocals
2001 Michael Knott Life of David Songwriter, Guitars, Wurlitzer, Vocals

Michael Knott

Born: 
Dec 22, 1962
Died: 
Mar 12, 2024
Aged: 
61

Michael Gerard Knott was an American singer-songwriter and frontman for various bands, many of which performed in the Christian rock genre. He released about 35 albums, including solo albums and albums with bands such as LSU and Cush. He has been credited with pioneering the "alternative Christian rock scene."

Michael Knott was born in the early-1960s in California. His music has sometimes been controversial in Christian circles, mainly due to the use of profanity in the song "Rocket and a Bomb" (from the self-titled release of his former band Aunt Bettys) and original artwork on the album showing Jesus Christ as a bartender. Knott's songwriting appealed to many people, particularly Christians who could admit their flaws and who appreciated the honesty with which he tackled his own shortcomings. Examples include "Double," "Shaded Pain," and the aforementioned "Rocket and a Bomb." In an interview with HM Magazine, he explained, "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." Knott, who emerged from Southern California's Christian punk scene, also fancied himself as a "punk Elvis."

Knott's 1987 album Shaded Pain notably contained lyrics challenging church morality and abusive church leaders. The album was banned from Christian bookstores, one of the few places where Christian albums could be purchased at the time, and Knott was banned from performing in various churches.

Career highlights include LSU's Cornerstone appearance in 1993 when the band dressed in costumes, Aunt Bettys record-label bidding war and eventual signing with Elektra in 1995, and a Jed the Fish "Catch of the Day" spin on KROQ for the Strung Gurus' "Sun-Eyed Girl". Cush and Aunt Bettys members joined Knott on stage for a Dennis Danell benefit concert at Verizon Wireless with a line-up that included Pennywise, The Offspring, X, and Social Distortion. Aunt Betty's "Feel" and several Mike Knott songs from Strip Cycle are prominently featured in the 1998 indie film Boogie Boy (Imperial), exec-produced by Academy Award-winning Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary. The director asked the Aunt Bettys to be Joan Jett's band in the movie, and the band initially agreed, but it ultimately didn't happen when new bassist Shawn Tubbs had to pull out over scheduling conflicts.

Knott was 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 founded the now-defunct independent record label Blonde Vinyl Records; he co-founded Tooth and Nail Records with Brandon Ebel.

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, April 8). Michael Knott. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:53, April 14, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Knott&oldid=1217846674

March 15, 2024

It brings many of us great sadness to report that singer/songwriter Michael Knott has passed away. He died on March 12th at age 61. Michael Knott has fronted bands, including Lifesavers, Lifesavers Underground (L.S.U.), and Cush.

Created by: Yianni D on 26-July-2010 - Last Edited by siremidor on 14-April-2024