Cephas

Cephas were a British Christian punk rock band associated with Aldershot, Surrey, and Reading, Berkshire. The band were part of the British Christian punk underground in the late 1990s and early 2000s, alongside groups such as Gopherwood, Zedisforzebra and Decapolis.

Cephas released three independent EPs: Happy Go Loser in 1999, Fool On Show in 2001 and New Wave in 2002. They disbanded in 2003 after playing their final concert at Greenbelt Festival.

History

Cephas were formed after Adam Bones and John Peddie began discussing the idea of a Christian punk band while still teenagers. Drummer Ray Driscoll later said that the group developed from frustration with both the negativity they saw in parts of secular punk and what they regarded as a lack of energy in the UK Christian music scene.

The band’s line-up was John Peddie on vocals, Adam Bones on guitar, Andy Wilson on bass and backing vocals, and Ray Driscoll on drums. Cross Rhythms also noted that the band occasionally used a trumpeter.

In 2002, Cross Rhythms reported that Cephas had been working in the secular music scene around the south of England, playing with bands including Vex Red, Halo, Reuben, Lightyear and Caffeine, as well as appearing at festivals such as Greenbelt. The same feature said that the band had been together for three years and had recorded three independent EPs: Happy Go Loser, Fool On Show and New Wave.

A 2003 Cross Rhythms feature on British Christian punk described Cephas as an Aldershot-area band known for a heavy punk sound and an outspoken Christian faith. The article placed them within a small UK Christian punk network alongside Gopherwood, Zedisforzebra and Decapolis.

In September 2003, Cross Rhythms reported that Cephas had played their final concert at that year’s Greenbelt Festival. The report said that the band decided to split because drummer Ray Driscoll and his wife were expecting a baby and guitarist Adam Bones was leaving to study for a degree.

Music and releases

Cephas’ first EP, Happy Go Loser, was released independently in 1999. Their second EP, Fool On Show, was released independently in 2001. Reviewing Fool On Show, Mark Broomhead of Cross Rhythms described the band as Surrey-based and compared their sound more closely to the Clash than to Green Day, while also noting elements of ska.

The band’s third EP, New Wave, was released in 2002. Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms reviewed the EP and described its four tracks as punk with tighter production, also noting rapcore and ska elements on the song “Skanctify”.

Cephas were later included on the British Christian punk compilation Bulldogs And Safety Pins, released by Zero Airplay Promotions in 2005. The compilation also included Zedisforzebra, Decapolis, Gopherwood, Standing Room Only, Cheddleton and Subonyx.

Musical style and themes

Cephas played punk rock with elements of ska punk and punk rawk. Cross Rhythms described their style as hard music and punk, while Britlinks described the band as aiming to combine the attitude of the Sex Pistols with melodies associated with Green Day and Blink-182.

The band’s lyrics and public identity were strongly connected with Christian evangelism. In a 2002 Cross Rhythms feature, vocalist John Peddie said that the band’s vision was to bring a Christian message into the secular punk scene through punk rock. Britlinks described the band as using the slogan “Punk is Dead, Jesus is Alive”.