Metal Church is an American heavy metal band formed in 1980. Originally based in San Francisco, California, the group's first lineup featured vocalist William McKay, lead guitarist Rick "Chief" Condrin, rhythm guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, bassist Steve Hott and drummer Rick Wagner. After around a year, Vanderhoof relocated to Aberdeen, Washington, and restarted the group with vocalist Mike Murphy, lead guitarist Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson and drummer Tom Weber. The current lineup includes Vanderhoof alongside bassist David Ellefson (since 2025), lead guitarist Rick Van Zandt (since 2008), drummer Ken Mary (since 2025) and vocalist Brian Allen (since 2025).
History 1980–1994 Kurdt Vanderhoof formed the first incarnation of Metal Church while living in San Francisco in 1980. The original lineup included vocalist Billy McKay and drummer Rick Wagner, both of whom were members of Sinister Savage (later Griffin), who remained for around "two to three months". Vanderhoof, McKay and Wagner were initially joined by lead guitarist Rick "Chief" Condrin and bassist Steve Hott. After McKay and Wagner both returned to Griffin later in the year, Ed Bull took over on vocals and Aaron Zimpel joined on drums, however Bull left shortly thereafter due to "tensions" with Condrin. While still in San Francisco, the quartet of Vanderhoof, Condrin, Hott and Zimpel recorded the first Metal Church demo, an instrumental four-track called Red Skies, in 1981.
Later in 1981, Vanderhoof moved to Aberdeen and formed a new version of Metal Church under the name Shrapnel. The initial lineup included vocalist Mike Murphy, lead guitarist Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson and drummer Tom Weber, although Murphy left before the recording of the band's next demo, 1982's Hitman. Shortly after, David Wayne replaced Murphy and Kirk Arrington took over from the outgoing Weber; the new lineup released Four Hymns and an untitled third demo in 1983. Shrapnel was also renamed Metal Church in 1983. In 1984, Metal Church released its self-titled debut album on independent label Ground Zero, which leads to Elektra Records signing the group in 1985. The band's major label debut The Dark followed in September 1986.
After the recording of The Dark, founding member Kurdt Vanderhoof stepped down from the band's lineup, although he would continue to write material and occasionally feature on future recordings. He was replaced initially on tour by Mark Baker in May 1987, before John Marshall took over on a more permanent basis in August 1987. Around November 22, 1987, Wayne was fired due to substance abuse and creative differences with Kurdt Vanderhoof. Wayne would later go on to form his own group Reverend in 1989. Mike Howe, formerly of Heretic, took Wayne's place as frontman of Metal Church. Howe, Wells, Marshall, Erickson and Arrington released Blessing in Disguise in 1989, The Human Factor in 1991 and Hanging in the Balance in 1993. The band broke up in 1994 due to various "internal conflicts".
1998–2009 In 1998, when compiling the album Live, the 1982–1986 lineup of Metal Church (David Wayne, Craig Wells, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Duke Erickson and Kirk Arrington) reformed to start working on new material; Wells backed out early into the process, however, and John Marshall returned to take his place. The new lineup released Masterpeace in July 1999. For a subsequent European tour, Brian Lake and Jeff Wade filled in for Erickson (who was unable to play due to family commitments) and Arrington (who was detained), respectively. Vanderhoof has subsequently claimed that Arrington was unwell during this period and "barely played" on Masterpeace.
After the 1999 tour dates, Metal Church essentially disbanded. Wayne claimed that "Kurdt and the guys did not want to continue with Metal Church", after which the singer used the band name as the title of his next solo album. Vanderhoof claimed in a 2016 interview that the reunion was "a bad, bad idea", claiming that "We did a tour and it was awful". In the summer of 2001, however, around the time of the release of Wayne's Metal Church album, various band members explained that the group was still together, albeit inactive while Vanderhoof focused on his solo project. Wayne officially announced his departure in June 2001.
Metal Church did not re-emerge until October 2003, when it was announced that a new lineup including Vanderhoof and Arrington alongside vocalist Ronny Munroe, lead guitarist Jay Reynolds and bassist Steve Unger was recording a new album. The album was released as The Weight of the World in 2004. In February 2006, it was announced that Arrington had to leave the group "due to health complications from years of struggling with diabetes". Jeff Plate took his place, starting with recording for A Light in the Dark in January. In February 2008, Jay Reynolds left the band for "personal reasons". Rick Van Zandt replaced him, debuting on This Present Wasteland.
On July 7, 2009, Metal Church announced that it was disbanding, citing "far too much frustration and disappointment in trying to keep moving forward", including the impending (but later reversed) insolvency of its record label SPV GmbH. The group had earlier had to pull out of several live performances due to Vanderhoof's ongoing back problems.
Since 2012 Metal Church announced in October 2012 that it would be reforming for shows in 2013, with a lineup of Ronny Munroe, Jay Reynolds, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Steve Unger and Jeff Plate. By the time they played their first show back in January, Rick Van Zandt had returned in Reynolds' place. The band released Generation Nothing later in 2013, and after a subsequent touring cycle, Munroe stepped left to "pursue other interests" in September 2014. His replacement was announced as the returning Mike Howe in April 2015, after a short trial period during which time he wrote new material with Vanderhoof. A new album, XI, was released in 2016. Plate later announced that he was leaving the group in March 2017. The following month, former W.A.S.P. drummer Stet Howland was announced as Plate's replacement.
The band released Damned If You Do in 2018, followed by From the Vault in 2020 which included four new studio tracks. These were the final Metal Church recordings to feature Mike Howe, who died by suicide on July 26, 2021. The band became inactive following Howe's death, with Vanderhoof waiting until September 2022 to confirm that it would continue with a new vocalist, who they had reportedly chosen. In February 2023, it was announced that Marc Lopes was Metal Church's new singer. A new album, Congregation of Annihilation, was released that May.
In November 2025, the line-up changed to feature Vanderhoof and Van Zandt alongside vocalist Brian Allen (ex-Vicious Rumors), bassist David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) and drummer Ken Mary (Flotsam and Jetsam).
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKurdt Vanderhoofall Metal Church releases from Red Skies (1981) to The Dark (1986), and from Live (1986) onwards Rick Van Zandtlead guitarall Metal Church releases from This Present Wasteland (2008) onwardsBrian Allen2025–presentlead vocalsDead to Rights (2026)David EllefsonbassKen Marydrums
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRick "Chief" Condrin1980 lead guitarRed Skies demo (1981)Steve Hott1980bassWilliam McKaylead vocalsrowspan="2" Rick Wagner drumsAaron Zimpel1980 Red Skies demo (1981)Ed Bull1980lead vocalsrowspan="2" Carl Sacco1981drumsDuke Ericksonbassall Metal Church releases from the Hitman demo (1982) to Masterpeace (1999)Craig Wellslead guitarall Metal Church releases from the Hitman demo (1982) to Live (1998)Tom Weber1981–1982drumsHitman demo (1982)Mike Murphylead vocalsKirk Arringtonall Metal Church releases from the Four Hymns demo (1983) to The Weight of the World (2004)David Waynelead vocalsMark Baker1987rhythm guitarJohn Marshallguitar Mike Howelead vocalsall Metal Church releases from Blessing in Disguise (1989) to Hanging in the Balance (1993), and from "Badlands" (2015) to From the Vault (2020)Steve Ungerall Metal Church releases from The Weight of the World (2004) to Congregation of Annihilation (2023)Ronny Munroelead vocalsJay Reynoldslead guitarJeff Plateall Metal Church releases from A Light in the Dark (2006) to Classic Live (2017)Stet Howland2017–2025Marc Lopes2023–2025lead vocalsCongregation of Annihilation (2023)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsBrian Lake1999bassLake temporarily replaced Duke Erickson, who was unable to tour due to family commitments, in 1999.Jeff WadedrumsWade performed some drums on Masterpeace and took over from Kirk Arrington on the subsequent tour.Ira Black2005rhythm guitarBlack substituted for Kurdt Vanderhoof in summer 2005 when the guitarist had "prior commitments".Paul Kleff2016lead guitarKleff and Caffery stepped in for Rick Van Zandt during early 2016 when he had to have eye surgery.Chris CafferyBobby Ferkovich2019Ferkovich performed on an Australian tour in the summer of 2019 when Steve Unger couldn't make it.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1980William McKay – vocals Rick Condrin – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Steve Hott – bass Rick Wagner – drumsnone – live shows onlyEd Bull – vocals Rick Condrin – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Steve Hott – bass Aaron Zimpel – drums1980–1981Rick Condrin – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Steve Hott – bass Aaron Zimpel – drums Red Skies demo (1981)1981Rick Condrin – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Steve Hott – bass Carl Sacco – drumsnone – live shows only1981Mike Murphy – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Tom Weber – drums1981–1982Craig Wells – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Tom Weber – drumsHitman demo (1982)Early 1983 – summer 1986David Wayne – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionFour Hymns demo (1983) untitled 1983 demo Metal Church (1984) The Dark (1986)Mid 1987 - summer 1987 David Wayne – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar Mark Baker – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionnone – live shows onlyLate 1987 – fall 1987David Wayne – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar John Marshall – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussion1988–1994Mike Howe – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar John Marshall – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionBlessing in Disguise (1989) "Iron Man" (1989) untitled 1990 demo The Human Factor (1991) Hanging in the Balance (1993)Band inactive 1995–19981998David Wayne – vocals Craig Wells – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionLate 1998 – June 2001David Wayne – vocals John Marshall – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar Duke Erickson – bass Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionMasterpeace (1999)Band on hiatus 2001–2003October 2003 – January 2006Ronny Munroe – lead vocals Jay Reynolds – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar, keyboards Steve Unger – bass, backing vocals Kirk Arrington – drums, percussionThe Weight of the World (2004)January 2006 – February 2008Ronny Munroe – lead vocals Jay Reynolds – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar, keyboards Steve Unger – bass, backing vocals Jeff Plate – drums, percussionA Light in the Dark (2006)February 2008 – July 2009Ronny Munroe – lead vocals Rick Van Zandt – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar, keyboards Steve Unger – bass, backing vocals Jeff Plate – drums, percussionThis Present Wasteland (2008)Band inactive July 2009 – October 2012October – late 2012Ronny Munroe – lead vocals Jay Reynolds – lead guitar Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar, keyboards Steve Unger – bass, backing vocals Jeff Plate – drums, percussionLate 2012 – September 2014Ronny Munroe – lead vocals