Dale Thompson from Bride
by Trisha Bleau

CS: How did your group form? Did you start out together or did you pick up players along the way? How many members have you gone through? Do you still have original members in the group?

Dale: In 1985 Troy who is my brother and guitarist and myself began the band Bride from out of another group we had been in called Matrix. The band Matrix had been around for 2 years and upon signing our first recording contract we felt led by the Holy Spirit to change the name to Bride. We have gone through many band members throughout the years and at this time our line up in going into its second year. Only Troy and myself are original members.

CS: Why did you decide to change your name from Matrix to Bride? What was the reasoning behind the name change?

D: We wanted a name which was more justifiable and which proclaimed where we were headed spiritually. The name Bride came from Revelation 21:2. In Rev. 14:1 the Seer of Patmos saw a Lamb standing on mount Zion, and with Him an hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. Zion represents the very highest position attainable by grace. Such are the ruling class in the capital city of God's celestial city, the New Jerusalem, prefigured by king David who dwelt on the natural Zion of old. Israel was the whole nation, all the people of God; Jerusalem was the capital city, the seat of government, those anointed with power and the Holy Ghost; and while Jerusalem comprised all the ruling class, yet in Jerusalem there was only one who, with his household, dwelt on mount Zion. The New Jerusalem is a spiritual company upon whom the glory and life and power of God rests and through whom His government is administered to the earth. This is the glory to which Jesus has brought you in, when you were born from above. In the power and experience of that heavenly life the Holy Spirit enables you to live. This Jerusalem, this heavenly life from above, is the mother of us all. This is the Jerusalem from which the Lord has even now uttered His voice (Joel 3:16). This is the Jerusalem from which the Word of the Lord goes forth to all the earth (Isa. 2:3; Mic. 4:2). This is the Jerusalem from which living waters go forth to restore life and blessing to the whole world (Zech. 14:8). "And everything shall live whither the river comes" (Eze. 47:9). This is the city which Abraham looked for, which has the foundations in the strength of God. We have come to it! Of this city we are now citizens. In it we live, and in it we have been brought into the Holiest, the very center of the city, the very presence and glory and power of God. We are come to the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM.

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?

D: Our main goal to reveal the heart of God as Father to ALL people everywhere. I Tim. 2:1-6, gives the answer! "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN ... for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who WILL HAVE A-L-L M-E-N TO BE SAVED, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time."

CS: Where do you see the band in five years? Ten? The future?

D: The future will take care of itself. We are simply messengers of the gospel of grace being led by the Holy Spirit. We are being obedient to the will of God. It is not where I see the band but where God will lead us. Turning now to the revelation of the Lord's will in individual lives, James writes, "IF THE LORD WILL, we shall live and do this or that." Jas.4:15; 1Jn.2:17. The apostle Paul proclaims, "I will return...IF GOD WILL." Ac.18:21; 1Cor.4:19. One can purpose carnally as Jonah first did (Jon.1:2), or one can choose to be led of God's Spirit no matter what the cost, as he through the divine interventions of God, did in the end (Jon.3:3)..finally "DOING THE WILL OF GOD FROM THE HEART (willingly)." Eph.6:6.

CS: What kind of relationship do you maintain with your audiences? Do you fellowship with them? Or do you remain distant as the performer?

D: We have always kept a very personal relationship with those who share our vision. It is important to be real and show compassion. In the past we have written hundreds of hand written letters to answer the questions posed to us. We were determined that no letter would go unanswered. Now with the Internet we stay in daily contact with as many as wants to write. We receive over 300 emails per week from folks from all over the globe. It is important that we are there for people who have trusted us over the years.

CS: Do you write your own music? Where do you get ideas for your music?

D: We write all of our music under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. many time we will write a song and ask ourselves what does this song really mean? What is it saying? We may not always fully understand a song until it is released and it and God through that particular song speaks a direct message to someone. Then that person to whom God spoke through will write us and share what was said.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

D: We are a hard rock heavy metal band.

CS: Do you ever get criticized for your lyrics?

D: Only by those who do not take the time to study them or by those whom the song was not intended.

CS: A lot of people argue that Christian Metal or Christian Rock is not truly Christian Music. How do you respond to critics who question your faith because of your choice of musical style?

D: I do not debate such hypocritical people who are acting under carnal judgments. Plus we did not choose this type of music. God was our teacher. Just like I have nothing at all to do with being born into sin or even my salvation since it is a free gift of God...the music is the same...God chose us and called us and Who has resisted His will?

CS: Who, or what, are your biggest musical influences?

D: My influences are from years ago, Larry Norman, Rez Band, Dallas Holmes, Imperials. We are Bride because we sound like Bride and no one else. When people ask what my band sounds like I say Bride. We have been around long enough to be able to claim our own sound.

CS: Who are some of the groups you have performed with and what did you think of them?

D: We have played with practically every Christian rock, metal,
alternative band from long ago to fairly recent. We did have odd combinations such as sharing a stage with Twila Paris, Michael W. Smith, Out of Eden.

CS: What is your musical background? Did you take lessons to gain the musical skills you have now?

D: We are self taught musicians, who do not read music or tab, we play by ear.

CS: How much time do you spend practicing as a group? How much time do you practice individually?

D: When we are writing for a new CD we only put in about 3 hours a week. After the CD is released we do not practice until it is time to write for another album.

CS: What is the latest news on your group? Any new CD's to be released soon?

D: We have our very best work coming out in Feb. The name of the CD is Fist full of bees and is being Produced and Engineered by Plinky who produced our Snakes in the Playground recording a few years ago.

CS: Do you feel people look down on you for your age? For your music style?

D: I am older than most of the guys still playing this style of music but I do not look my age. I am in great shape. I do train and workout daily and am in better condition now than when I was 21 years old. If people do not like us because we are older musicians then they are shallow and wouldn't understand the maturity of the music anyway. Bride's music is for a certain audience. This audience is all I care about hearing it. If someone doesn't like bride then don't listen.

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

D: Seek God with all of your heart. Not the God which most churches paint as a great big terrible monster who is going to through the majority of mankind into a fiery hell to burn forever but rather a loving Father who sent His only begotten Son into the World that none would perish but all would have everlasting life. God is love, love never fails, the cross of Christ was a perfect work and from that cross he asked God to "forgive them they know what they do." "While I was still a sinner, yet while I was dying in my sins Jesus died for me." Do not follow man, the church doctrines and traditions but rather be led of the Holy Spirit. Pray for truth and God will reveal His heart to you.