In 1989... at the peak of the Satanic Panic, a small media company called Reel to Real Ministries began selling a video documentary called Hell's Bells: The Dangers of Rock and Roll," writes Stephen M. Deusner at Pitchfork Media of the anti-rock music doc that was shown in public schools around the time of various "metal-inspired" teen killings in the late '80s and early '90s. "Taking its name from the AC/DC song, Hell's Bells was produced, directed, and hosted by Reel to Real's founder, Eric Holmberg, an amiable emcee and a mid-life convert whose self-confessed gods had once been John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison. The documentary, which was shown and discussed in churches, homes, Christian academies, and youth group retreats, explored rock music's harmful effects on listeners' bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. Over the years it has continued to sell steadily, on VHS and eventually on DVD. In 2004, a Christian publisher called the Apologetics Group released a sequel, Hell's Bells 2: The Power and Spirit of Popular Music, updating the fears to include Marilyn Manson, Courtney Love, nu-metal, and hip-hop. Earlier this year, to celebrate its sweet sixteen, Reel to Real (which has changed its name to the hipper Reel 2 Real) re-released a 2xDVD version of Hell's Bells in a limited run of 500, each numbered and signed by Holmberg himself."
For Deusner, revisiting the doc is an act of personal anthropology that explains for him the formation of his own tastes: "While its cultural influence has been minor, I'm surprised how many people I come across who either have seen Hell's Bells or are familiar with its message and tactics. It's difficult to deny the impact this documentary has had on me personally. When I first watched it 15 years ago, I took very seriously what others in my class laughed off. I went home and listened very closely to the music I loved, and I eventually developed and refined my own criteria for assessing what I heard. As a result, I can't take Holmberg seriously or even watch without laughing a little myself. By giving me concrete negative examples of the kind of criticism and Christianity I didn't want to practice, Hell's Bells helped me to reconcile my love of rock music with my tentative faith. For that I am truly thankful."
This three-hour presentation is broken down into 5 sections:
Part 1: The Dangers of Rock ‘n’ Roll: An overview of the problem and the biblical worldview that will be used in its analysis
Part 2: The Root of Rock: From whence did this new musical form spring…and gets its power?
Part 3: The Fruit of Rock, Part 1: Looking at the fruit of something, Jesus said, can tell you a lot about a phenomenon’s origins and ultimate destiny
Part 4: The Fruit of Rock, Part 2: It really is more than just “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll
Part 5: The Axe Falls: Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The cross reveals the true “Rock” - the One that will never be rolled away.
For Deusner, revisiting the doc is an act of personal anthropology that explains for him the formation of his own tastes: "While its cultural influence has been minor, I'm surprised how many people I come across who either have seen Hell's Bells or are familiar with its message and tactics. It's difficult to deny the impact this documentary has had on me personally. When I first watched it 15 years ago, I took very seriously what others in my class laughed off. I went home and listened very closely to the music I loved, and I eventually developed and refined my own criteria for assessing what I heard. As a result, I can't take Holmberg seriously or even watch without laughing a little myself. By giving me concrete negative examples of the kind of criticism and Christianity I didn't want to practice, Hell's Bells helped me to reconcile my love of rock music with my tentative faith. For that I am truly thankful."
This three-hour presentation is broken down into 5 sections:
Part 1: The Dangers of Rock ‘n’ Roll: An overview of the problem and the biblical worldview that will be used in its analysis
Part 2: The Root of Rock: From whence did this new musical form spring…and gets its power?
Part 3: The Fruit of Rock, Part 1: Looking at the fruit of something, Jesus said, can tell you a lot about a phenomenon’s origins and ultimate destiny
Part 4: The Fruit of Rock, Part 2: It really is more than just “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll
Part 5: The Axe Falls: Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The cross reveals the true “Rock” - the One that will never be rolled away.
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Hells Bells - The Dangers Of Rock & Roll (1989)
Hells Bells CD1Video Format: Avi / MP3 / Xvid /Eng /1hr 39min
(Download, Extract with Winrar, Watch via Media Player with DivX installed)
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(Download, Extract with Winrar, Watch via Media Player with DivX installed)
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Hells Bells CD2
Video Format: Avi / MP3 / Xvid /1hr 27min
(Download, Extract with Winrar, Watch via Media Player with DivX installed)
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(Download, Extract with Winrar, Watch via Media Player with DivX installed)
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NOTE:
This incredibly intense video confronts some serious topics... guaranteed to promote discussion on a number of major issues affecting the youth of today. --Barry Taylor - (former soundman with the AC/DC)
