Christian Death is an American rock band formed in Claremont, California, in 1979 by Rozz Williams, John Jay Albert, James McGearty, and George Belanger. The group became associated with the Los Angeles deathrock scene and is also linked to gothic rock and art punk. Their debut album, Only Theatre of Pain (1982), is a key release in the development of deathrock and gothic rock in the United States. Williams led the band through its early years before leaving in 1985, after which Valor Kand took over as the primary vocalist and longtime driving force. Christian Death has continued through multiple lineup changes and has remained active in recording and live performance. In concert, the band is known for dark, theatrical material drawn from its deathrock and gothic rock catalog.