God Gave Rock and Roll To You

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin the anthem God Gave Rock and Roll to You by Argent from their 1973 album In Deep. This track, penned by Russ Ballard, was recorded in 1971 during sessions for All Together Now but didn’t hit the airwaves until In Deep dropped. It climbed to No. 18 in the UK and No. 114 in the US, with critics at Record World hyping it as a game-changer, saying it’d make Argent “giants” after their hit Hold Your Head Up. The song’s got a wild backstory—Ballard wrote it feeling optimistic, inspired by Cliff Richard’s Christianity, even slipping a nod to him in the lyrics. But here’s the kicker: Ballard wasn’t thrilled with the final cut, feeling the band slowed it down too much, and he split from Argent by 1974, chasing a harder rock vibe.

The tune’s legacy is no joke. Christian rockers Petra covered it in 1977 for Come and Join Us, flipping the verses with a spiritual spin that Wes Yoder called “the boldest statement” in Christian music at the time. They rerecorded it in 1985 for Beat the System. Then, in 1991, Kiss amped it up as God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll to You II for the Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey soundtrack, keeping most of Ballard’s lyrics but making it a power ballad. It was the last track featuring Kiss drummer Eric Carr, who, battling cancer, sang backing vocals and appeared in the video wearing a wig. Ballard himself told Songwriting Magazine in 2022 he got a buzz from the title alone, writing it in a rare major key to capture that feelgood energy.

Now, let’s rewind to how Argent came to be. Formed in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent after The Zombies broke up, the band was a fresh start. Rod, fresh off hits like She’s Not There, teamed up with bassist Jim Rodford, drummer Bob Henrit, and guitarist Russ Ballard. They wanted to blend rock with jazz and progressive vibes, signing with CBS Records for their self-titled debut in 1970. Their breakthrough came with All Together Now in 1972, thanks to Hold Your Head Up, but In Deep solidified their sound with God Gave Rock and Roll to You. Rod’s knack for sophisticated chords, honed in The Zombies, gave Argent’s music its edge, while Ballard’s songwriting brought the rock ‘n’ roll soul.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Argent’s legacy online. Check out their official site at argentmusic.co.uk for the latest on their music and history. They’re active on Facebook, sharing updates and throwbacks, and you can catch posts on their Instagram. Over on X, they drop occasional news and interact with fans. For those craving more, join the fan community at the Argent Fan Official Group on Facebook, where devotees swap stories, rare photos, and love for the band’s catalog. So, crank up the volume, Zoo Freaks, and let Argent’s rock ‘n’ roll spirit take you higher!