Michael Knott was a trailblazing figure in alternative Christian rock, fearlessly blending raw faith with unfiltered honesty. Emerging from Southern California’s punk scene, he fronted L.S. Underground, whose 1987 album Shaded Pain—a dark meditation on mortality and hypocrisy—was banned from Christian bookstores. Undeterred, he launched Blonde Vinyl in 1991, signing genre-defying acts and shaping a scene that paved the way for Tooth & Nail Records. His own music ranged from the surrealist acoustic punk of Strip Cycle (1995) to the introspective Life of David (2001), exploring faith, addiction, and redemption. Signed briefly to Elektra with his band Aunt Bettys, he later auditioned for Velvet Revolver, but his career thrived on the fringes, where his raw honesty made him a cult legend. Though his battles with addiction were well-documented, Knott remained a relentless creator, releasing dozens of albums under his name and with L.S. Underground, Cush, and others. His influence on Christian alternative music is immeasurable—without him, an entire industry may not have existed.