


They played their first show with 45 Grave, another LA deathrock band, and soon developed a following. The band name was originally a satirical play on words derived from the designer brand 'Christian Dior'. After getting involved in the Los Angeles punk scene and playing in a few local bands, vocalist Rozz Williams founded Christian Death in October 1979 at age 16 (born Roger Painter - in Pomona California - ) with James McGearly (Bass), George Belanger (drums), and a guitarist named Jay brought in from a previous band Rozz had been in called Daucus Karota.
