Where our intrepid editorial team take an askance look at the weird and wonderful world of music and media.

Alan Shacklock was busily at work on the soundtrack of Buddy's Song at Abbey Road in London recently when a posse of detectives arrived and told him he was about to receive a visit from an important personage. After being sworn to secrecy Shacklock learnt that a certain leadership figurine wanted to extend her knowledge of the film industry by paying a visit to the studio and watching Alan and his band of knob-twiddlers and fader-pushers at work. Mrs Thatcher (for it was she) duly arrived, accompanied by policemen, sniffer dogs, etc. and generally entered into the spirit of things, even bashing around on a set of Lynn-drum pads the guys set up for her. The only problem was, according to Alan, that after ten minutes she wanted to do a radical remix of the whole track. I think he was joking...She evidently had a good time because not long afterwards an aid package to the ailing British film industry was announced, amounting to some five million smackers.

Readers of this column last issue will remember that an American pastor, Bill Gothard, has just published a booklet with a radical and totally new theme - that listening to contemporary Christian music results in a moral degeneration and a life of sin. He cited testimonies of 44 such misled young people and defied another pastor, Al Mercom to produce evidence to the contrary, demanding names and phone numbers. Perhaps the so far collected 3000 letters will do something to alter his opinions. Mercom plans to publish 50 to 100 such testimonies of the positive effects of Christian music in a booklet and is still collecting letters. Cross Rhythms readers who wish to write can do so to Bill Gothard, c/o Mercom Ministeries. Attn. Gothard letters, P.O.Box 969 Cardiff CA 92070810 U.S.A.

While we're on the subject of those evil rock musicians, Stryper certainly seem to be fielding their share of flak at the moment (see news story) after accusations in a magazine article about (gasp) smoking and drinking. However, they never need feel that their Christian brothers and sister are unconcerned about their well-being. Apparently 'fans' check up on them quite regularly. Robert Sweet told an interviewer "I've actually had Christian people walk up to me while I'm in the middle of a conversation with another rock musician or a producer and say 'how do you do, what's in your glass?'" Touching, eh...

More metal wolves in sheep's clothing stuff: Focus On The Family in the States have received a lot of enquiries about secular metal band Warrant via their youth magazines...apparently Warrant have released a single called 'Heaven' and young white metal fans are being duped in large numbers. So concerned are FOTF. that they are doing a swap deal. Any teenie returning their nasty unhealthy Warrant album will receive a free copy of Holy Warrior's debut in its place. They can then take it home, turn it up and go deaf, but sanctified deaf, y'know what I mean y'all...

Just before we leave those sensible United States, winners of this year's Subtle Stage Act Award (sorry Madonna) must go to American Outfit Crash Dog, who at Chicago's Cornerstone Festival this year had a watermelon on stage dressed up as Satan's head, which they then pulverised, spattering the front few rows. So that's what they mean by spiritual warfare.

Cross cultural evangelism award to lead-singer David Pierce of No Longer Music. On their tour of Islamic Soviet republics (see news feature) the singer arrived in one town and went straight to the local Mosque to inform the Imam that he had been sent by God to tell him about Jesus. The cleric and elders of the Mosque responded by asking if their young people could come to one of the Amsterdam-based thrash bands local gigs....

Staying with Thrash, but in the only slightly less exotic location of the West Midlands, Seventh Angel complain that their only critics seem to come from within the Church. "The kids love the band, and the mags don't even mention we're Christians any more. One mosher came up to buy a tape and said he'd be in trouble for buying it, because he was a practising Satanist, but he had to have a copy because the music was so good. But a local Pentecostal preacher came and gave us a slagging for playing in pubs on a Sunday." A case of mixed priorities, perhaps...