Greg Laurie - Lennon, Dylan, Alice, and Jesus: The Spiritual Biography of Rock and Roll

Lennon, Dylan, Alice & Jesus

The Spiritual Biography of Rock and Roll

Greg Laurie

Marshall Terrill

God has given Greg Laurie a unique ministry of speaking to the people of whatever the current generation or culture may bewhether it was ten years ago, twenty, thirty, forty years ago, or today. He doesnt live inside the box; therefore, his ministry remains fresh, reaching the multitudes of society. Thank You, Jesus, and thank you, Greg.

Richie Furay, founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee

Theres a big difference between success and fulfillment. Greg Laurie shows us in Lennon, Dylan, Alice, & Jesus how some choose to live in a higher reality and become fully alive. The stories are entertaining but full of substance.

Dion DiMucci, cofounder of Dion and the Belmonts, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee

Some of the greatest Christian artists of all time share their passionate stories and spiritual journeys that soar and crash in this book. What emerges are tales of godly frustration mixed with heartfelt dedication to Gods purpose that eventually speak redemption and victory that touched masses of searching souls. The trials and triumphs of these righteous romantic rebels are reflected in the lyrics and melodies of their songs and the amazing events that surrounded young lives with purpose during a turbulent era of a fresh new music that glorified a risen Lord.

Ken Mansfield, former U.S. manager of Apple Records and author of The Beatles, The Bible, and Bodega Bay and The Roof: The Beatles Final Concert

Just when you think you know everything you ever need to know about the greatest music legends of our time, up pops Lennon, Dylan, Alice, & Jesus serving up a riveting feast of superbly-told anecdotes along with a powerful spiritual message to demonstrate that even our biggest heroes are mere mortals.

Ivor Davis, author of awardwinning The Beatles and Me On Tour

There will be three big surprises when we get to Heaven.

Some of the people we thought would be there wont be.

Some of the people we never thought would be there will be.

Because of Gods faithful promises, you and I will also be there.

I ts time I admitted it to quote the great theologian, Joan Jett, I Love Rock n Roll.

Starting with Elvis Presley, my love for rock really took off when I heard the first strains of I Wanna Hold Your Hand from four young lads who came from a place I had never heard of beforea port city in England named Liverpool.

They were called the Beatles, and they literally impacted the world. Many musicians have acknowledged that they decided to start a band after first seeing The Fab Four in 1964 on a Sunday evening variety program called The Ed Sullivan Show.

Frankly, I wonder where all the rock bands have gone of late. I have had the privilege of personally meeting and getting to know a lot of rock icons over the years, and I have such great admiration for their talent. So yes, I admit it. Im a fan.

But I am also a pastor, so you are probably wondering why I, of all people, am writing a book on rock stars, musicians, and their lives. Im glad you asked! The reason I am writing this book is to look at the spiritual journeys of these iconic people who have entertained us for decades.

They have provided the soundtracks to our lives. A song can be played, and we are instantly transported to another time and even a specific moment. Many of these stars came to sad and even tragic ends. Others found hope and change in their lives. Still others are a work in progress. This is their storyand in many ways, its our story, too.

I have already written three other spiritual biographies, one on The King of Cool himself, American film icon Steve McQueen. He had it all and then some. But he was dissatisfied, and he went on a search that ultimately changed his life.

Another is about the man they called The Godfather of Cool the legendary Johnny Cash. His story is different than McQueens in that Cash was raised as a Christian and was a believer from his childhood. He had many struggles over the years, but in the end, his faith was stronger than ever.

My most recent spiritual biography is about the man who impacted both McQueen and Cash: my own spiritual mentor, evangelist Billy Graham. Billy was a friend of Cash and was there for McQueen at a pivotal moment in his life.

These books came as a pleasant surprise to me in that I didnt plan to write about those figures; I was simply hit with a bout of inspiration.

And there are lot of surprises in this book.

Would you believe you will see some dreadlocked guy with tattoos on his face who plays death metal singing with the angels in Heaven? A guy with a snake hanging around his neck who beheads mannequins onstage? People who have done so many drugs they didnt even know where they were or which decade they were in? People who played in bands like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Grand Funk Railroad, Foreigner, Poison, Metallica, Twisted Sister, and Megadeth? These people are going to be in Heaven? I know theres no disease in Paradise, but Grandmas still going to have a heart attack if these guys show up there!

And what about the Beatles? They went to India and hung out with a long-haired and bearded guru who giggled a lot. They smoked a lot of pot and dropped a lot of acid, and John Lennon once said they were more popular than Jesus. What is their spiritual story?

Then there are the founding members of the 27 Club: Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. They all died at that age. Hendrix said music was his religion. Joplin was a chefs salad of Southern Comfort, heroin, speed, and whatever else she could get her hands on, but she also loved painting, poetry, and literature. Morrison was the on-the-edge Lizard King, trying to turn Doors concerts into ecstatic ancient Greek rituals, but he also had an IQ of 149 and carefully listened to pastors who tried to engage him.

Bob Dylan is still among us, and he is truly an icon of rock and music. If there were a Mount Rushmore of musical legends, surly Robert Zimmerman (Dylans real name) would be there. He was born and raised Jewish. Then he announced that he was a Christian, much to the shock and surprise of many.

Dylan recorded three albums that have strong biblical content, and since then, his faith has taken many twists and turns. He summed it up perfectly in one of his newer songs, I Contain Multitudes. One of the most revealing lyrics is: Im a man of contradictions, Im a man of many moods. I contain multitudes. I would describe him as a work in progress.

Fact is, everyone is a work in progress. You never know where or when a person changes in their life. The Bible says, We live our lives like a story thats been told (Psalm 90:9). For some, that story is not over; new chapters are being written. For others, that story has had a tragic ending. So much of this happens in secret. Behind the scenes. Many of these stars were raised in Christian homes but went astray in some way before finding their way back home. One of them just had to black out and hit four parked cars, then try to escape the police by crawling away in order to have his come-to-Jesus moment. (Free tip: the police will catch you if you get liquored up and try to crawl away from them.)