Heaven's Metal Exclusive Ulf Christiansson Interview
Jerusalem frontman Ulf Christiansson is an elder statesman of Christian rock and metal. He's put in the face-time (if you know what I mean), so it makes him a worthwhile speaker to listen to if given the chance. Here's that chance.
What led to the decision to do a solo album?
Really because I did several solo albums before and it has turned out to be a very good thing. I am more flexible musically on a solo record and I can do what I feel, using different kinds of musicians, as of course on a Jerusalem record….I feel that as long as it is Jerusalem we have to stick to and be faithful to what Jerusalem are about and maybe more so when it gets to the music….When it gets to the lyrics I think it is still me writing them no matter what kind of record me/we are doing, and it’s pretty clear by now that I am the ”preacher” in the band. Because the band started out as a rock n roll band in the late -70’s,we are pretty much working with those roots, allowing us to step out of the uniform a little bit now and then but as I said we are pretty much a rock n roll band with the attitude and style that runs with that. I was raised and born out of that time when it all really started (got saved when I was 21), and had a calling on my life to go beyond the limitations that pretty much was hanging over us at that time. I have always been a way breaker and the task of the band was to break new ground that many today are benefiting from, and not having to break that ground once again, because you can only do that once and that’s what we did, taking the heat from almost the whole religious environment……really, you are not a pioneer when you walk in someone else’s footsteps no matter how cool you think you are, you’re still a follower not a leader, and repeating something someone else did before you.
Why not do another Jerusalem album? What differences are there between a Jerusalem album and an Ulf Christiansson album?
Anyway I think it could be time to make another Jerusalem record soon….
We’ll see if it will happen this year, I am thinking pretty much about it and I will talk to the others to see what they think.
What is it that rips your heart out these days?
Having my heart ripped out…? Many things are on my mind today and I feel I’m on the threshold of the second phase of my pioneering life, and ever since I got back to Sweden after living with my family in Florida (that I miss a lot), for 3 years I have had many reasons for having my heart ripped out. First of all I did “Entertainers &Soldiers” with the purpose of saying this……
It doesn’t matter if you win the whole world if you still lose the purpose of life and after bowing your knees for that system you still lose it anyway…
Jesus was confronted by Satan to bow before him and to have the glory of this world given to Him, but He refused and He is our example. That’s also why many are so empty after keeping and taking the glory to themselves that’s also why the title E &S for the new record (the song Glorify). Entertainers are easy to find waiting and striving for attention, real Soldiers are very hard to find, many wants to stand on a stage getting the glory out of that, but few are ready to pay the price of being a seeker and spend years in the “desert” without ANY glory, just for the sake of His Kingdom instead of MY kingdom, and the music business is, without doubt, a MY kingdom business. That system can change anyone who has a pure heart into a slave just in months, and I’ve seen it on and on… It’s a leaven that grows on you. That rips my heart out for sure!
What messages did God put in your heart for the Entertainers & Soldiers album?
So I’ve started every year these last 5 years with a very long fast just to see and hear straight from God, getting away from trends, charts and all the “not so important” stuff we are so entangled with. And I can tell that it is fantastic to experience His voice in such a crystal clear way as you do after a time like that, God do without doubt, speak. When you hear from God it will change your life and it will also put a demand on your lifestyle, attitude in heart and many other things that He wants to do in your life…
I do not live for rock n roll, that’s NOT my religion, I live for God and therefore I can do whatever He tells me…
What additional messages / themes / thoughts / convictions has the Lord put on your heart since its recording?
Music is a TOOL, not a GOAL…. And that’s a great way of living your life, if you just dare to step out and go for that……..I’ve learned that if I seek HIS kingdom first, and that means to obey him out of that passion, no matter what, He will promote us without us worrying and being burned out and having to step on others, and it won’t cost us a dime, just the effort to live by faith. Because my music is not my MESSAGE, HE is my message and that’s when I enter the REALITY of living a life resting in the assurance that He is doing His job, if I do mine. We are wasting so much time in trying to fulfil our dreams in our own strength and power…and it wears us out in no time…believe me I’ve been there myself!
I know God can open up ANY door if we just prioritize His Kingdom and not our own. If we stop TALKING a bunch of crap of serving Him, and hide ourselves behind bible verses and stuff, when we really are serving ourselves.
I have nothing to SAY if I do not do HIS business…. We must stop entertaining people for our own sake, the time is too short and valuable for that, if you don’t feel you really have anything to say, well then, go and get it…it is so much religion mixed up in this, and we’re full of it so, it would take the whole HM magazine to dive into that. It is absolutely possible to live IN this system but not be OF it, but it is a David’s and Daniel’s desert time, with all the loneliness and pain and ”God’s cutting branches in your life” that lays ahead of you, if you really want to be able to take down Goliath. But it is worth it.
NEXT PAGE
All Pages | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Return to Internet Exclusives
Comments
Great interview. Thank you so much for the oportunity to read it. It´s always a huge blessing and a great encouragement to read and hear the message by Ulf Christiansson.
I miss Ulf and Jerusalem! I miss them so much! God still speaks to me today when I put in the old tapes of "In His Majesties Service" and "Soldier." One can not help but to be moved by the passion of the band. Anyone have any idea how I can get my hands on Ulf's stuff in America?? Blessings to Ulf. . .I love you and thank you for pointing to Jesus.
I try to help ULF in the USA. Please feel free to e-mail me.
Oh ya, go to any search engine : JERUSALEM...U.L.F...U.S.A.
