In remembrance of Charlie Clark - vocalist for 1980s Christian heavy metal pioneers Messiah Prophet

Charlie Clark (Messiah Prophet) - (October 8, 1962 - January 6, 2018

Charles Clark was the vocalist for the 1980s heavy metal band Messiah Prophet, hailing from Pennsylvania, USA. He fronted the group from 1981 to 1988, and returned briefly in 1995. His singing defines their most significant works: the 1984 debut Rock the Flock and the 1986 follow-up Master of the Metal.

Critics recognize Messiah Prophet as a pioneering act for bridging the gap between soft, acoustic "Jesus Music" and the high energy of heavy metal. Based in Pennsylvania, they played a crucial role in legitimizing the genre within the church, helping to establish the "white metal" scene alongside legendary bands like Stryper, Saint, and Bloodgood.

As the first band signed to Pure Metal Records, they helped launch an important label of 1980s Christian metal. Their 1986 release, Master of the Metal, is widely considered their best work. Messiah Prophet embraced the faster, riff-driven style of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), earning them frequent comparisons to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

The band was unapologetically bold. Their overtly Christ-centered lyrics directly challenged the "Satanic Panic" of the decade by reclaiming metal’s imagery for a Christian audience. Anthems like "Heavy Metal Thunder" and "Battle Cry" spoke to youth who felt alienated by both the secular metal scene and traditional church music. Although their origins trace back to a late-70s acoustic duo featuring Dean Pellman and Gil Tabor, the band evolved into heavy metal that overcame the limited production budgets of the era through sheer musicianship.

Below you will find the article about Charlie Clark that appeared on Heaven's Metal Magazine when he died.

RIP Charlie Clark, Singer of Messiah Prophet, Goes to be with the Lord 1/6/2018 (Heaven's Metal Magazine)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. -2 Timothy 4, 7-8

Charlie Clark, whom many of us remember fondly for having been the singer of the band Messiah Prophet in the 80s, passed away on January 6, 2018 at the age of 55 after a struggle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).In October 2016, Heaven’s Metal magazine reported that Charlie was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease in February 2010. Charlie joined as a vocalist for Messiah Prophet in 1981, and was present on the band’s first two albums, Rock the Flock (1984) and Master of the Metal (1986). A third album titled “Living on the Edge” could have been released in 1988, unfortunately this album would never come out. Although some members of Messiah Prophet broke up in mid-1988, Charlie continued to lead the remnants of Messiah Prophet and along with unknown musicians he recorded a new track called “Blinded” that appeared in the compilation “Ultimate Metal” of Star Songs in 1989.In 1995 a new Messiah Prophet lineup was being planned by executive producer Ray Fletcher, who owned the rights to the name. Most of the former members were not available, with the exception of Charlie Clark and touring guitarist Frank Caloiaro. Caloiaro recruited brothers Shane and Sean Regal on guitar and bass respectively and Joe Schrum on drums and began writing material. Clark was brought in after a number of songs were written. Stylistically, the new material was too bland, pop-oriented and sedate for Clark’s powerhouse vocals, so he bowed out.

More from Charlie’s life: He was born in Lebanon on October 8, 1962 to Charles R. Clark and Ann (Kolar) Zimmerman. In 1987, he married Jill Francine Hurst and together they raised their five children, Rachael (Justin) Eveland, Rebecca, Jesse, Abigail, and Hannah. Charlie was also the proud grandpa of his only grandchild, Samuel Andrew. Charlie owned his own roofing and window company for 10 years. If you ever passed a house he was working on, you could hear him joyfully singing along with the radio. Charlie enjoyed gardening and spending time with his kids. He was active in his church for many years serving as both a deacon and Sunday School teacher.He is survived by his father; mother; wife; five children; grandson; brother, Steven (Claudia) Clark; sister, Sheila Schauer; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Matyasi, Jennifer (Christopher) Myers, Joyce Hurst (Desra Blamble), Jessica Hurst; brothers-in-law, Andrew Berenyi, James Hurst, Joel Hurst; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his step-father, Dean Zimmerman; his father and mother-in-law, Frank and Margaretta Hurst; brothers-in-law, Frank Hurst Jr., Jeffrey Hurst, John Hurst; and niece, Keri Hurst. In an interview published by Classic Christian Rock Zine, Joe Shirk, who shared some time as a bass player of Messiah Prophet with Charlie says:

"This past weekend I lost a friend and fellow musician to a long battle with disease. I first met Charles Clark, vocalist for Messiah Prophet when the band I was in opened for them. A year or so later as life goes I and another member of that band were new members of M Prophet. Charlie was a confidence builder for me. He was always a happy guy even if rehearsal was long and unproductive and it was all my fault. Always an encourager. We spend some long nights in the front of the bus, me driving (I loved to drive) and Charlie keeping me company. There was a time in the mountains when the brake system just gave up. We were very carefully trying to get back down to where there might be a truck garage. I remember Charlie being right there telling me” you can do this” “I believe in you!” Or the time we forgot the bag with airline tickets and passports in it. Let in on a train seat in Amsterdam. It was Charlie who went back to the station and somehow found it and got back in time for boarding. Never saw a guy run like that!

Charlie was a stabilizer for me and for the band. We lost contact for too many years after the band ended. When I heard about his struggles with health my friend Eddie who did our lights at the show and David our drummer went to visit him. It was obvious he was struggling and not well. But, the same smile and laugh was there. Not a shadow of doubt in his faith in Jesus. We relived some of the crazy stories and memories from the shows and road trips. I saw Charlie a few more times and even the last time when he could no longer speak there was still that light and joy in his eyes.

Charlie is singing again. The illness took his voice here, but, now I know he is singing. He always sang… "

Note from the editor: From all of us at Heaven’s Metal Magazine, sympathy and love go out to Charlie’s family. We are saddened by the loss of him here, but overjoyed that he is singing in the presence of the King right now. Guitarist Andy Strauss reports that Charlie’s funeral was a nice celebration of his life and that almost all of the band members were able to make it and spend time together.

Godspeed, Charlie.

Messiah Prophet - Fear No Evil (HQ)

Messiah Prophet - Master of the Metal (HQ)