Lacey Sturm Says Flyleaf Faced Opposition From Churches Because They Played Bars; Christians Didn't 'Understand' Them

Lacey Sturm

Lacey Sturm, former lead singer of the band Flyleaf was on the latest Bad Christian Podcast to speak about her new book, being depressed, and dealing with judgmental Christians.

The interview opened up with a general discussion of women in rock music and how it is mostly male dominated. Sturm shared she had been kicked out of clubs because they did not believe she was in the band. Places would think she was a girl hanging out with the band and not actually the singer.

Other times, guys would yell profane things at her when she would take the stage. "We're here to play a rock show, that's the place down the street" she would say.

However, opposition came from an unlikely source as well, Flyleaf's own church. "We were not actually embraced by the Christian community as a whole. Even our own church...they didn't understand what we were doing," she explained.

She said they would wonder why they wanted to bring youth group kids to a bar to watch them play when church was a place for teens. "That's where I would have been" said Sturm referencing her past before becoming a Christian.

Toby Morrell, who is also the lead singer of Christian band Emery said, "It's such a fear based thing. Were they afraid the bar would be stronger than Jesus?" What he meant by that was saying the bar's atmosphere would wreck havoc on the young and impressionable minds of the youth.

Sturm said she wanted to play for those in the bar because those were the people who needed the message more than the youth needed it.

The singer explained it was always a constant struggle and battle with the church who even debated having them play for the youth group because they had played secular shows.

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Morrell shared an experience with Emery at the time when they went on a church tour. He said all though the "red carpet" was rolled out for them everywhere they went, the audiences felt so fake. "The kids had to be there. Their parents were going to take them." Churches had planned these events for hundreds of kids to attend and it just did not feel authentic.

"It's kind of offensive to me" said Emery guitarist Matt Carter, because he felt they did not even have to be good or not, they just have to be able to play in front of kids. Christians bands were the safe route to go.

Carter said there is something to be said when someone walks into a bar or club and spends their hard earned to watch a performance. no one is forcing them to be there, they are there to just have a good time.

Sturm said the first bass player in the band once got in trouble for giving her ride to practice. His family was so conservative that her being alone in the car with him caused a serious problem. Eventually, he had problems with all the bars and clubs they were playing and left Flyleaf.

What do you think of their discussion? Should Christians be apprehensive of musicians who perform in bars? Can there be a healthy balance between playing churches and playing outside venues? Let us know in the comments.

Stay tuned for more on Sturm's interview, and check out the bad Christian podcast here.