The Christians

Born in Liverpool in 1985, The Christians formed around brothers Garry, Roger and Russell Christian, originally joined by Henry Priestman. Their sound blends British soul, sophisticated pop and gospel-derived vocal harmonies, with a notable a cappella presence in their early work. The Christians emerged in the late 1980s with socially aware, melodic songwriting led by Garry Christian’s voice, notably on the album The Christians (1987), followed by Colour (1990) and Happy in Hell (1992). The band belonged to an English pop-soul scene attentive to choruses and vocal arrangements, combining restrained emotion, light groove and polished production. Milestones in their career also include reinterpretations and collective projects such as Harvest for the World (1988) and Ferry Cross the Mersey (1989), recorded for the victims of Hillsborough. After a hiatus in the mid-1990s and the death of Roger Christian in 1998, The Christians returned to touring in an acoustic format before re-establishing a full band lineup. Their discography was later enriched by Prodigal Sons (2003), Soul from Liverpool (2009), Speed of Life (2012) and We (2015). Today The Christians remain active on stage around Garry Christian, with a repertoire in which the early soul-pop continues to shape the group’s identity.