Money

In part one of this two-part interview, former Delirious front-man Martin Smith reflects on his time with Delirious?

Everything Christian: How would you look back on your ministry so far?

Martin Smith: Wow – that’s a big question! I think with a sense of happiness and fulfilment; but it’s not the end, it’s the beginning in a sense. We’re proud of what God has done with a bunch of ordinary guys from Littlehampton, and we’re very very humbled by that.

EC: When you look back to days of the Cutting Edge events, did the young Martin Smith imagine playing stadiums around the world?

MS: I think there was a sense that something was going to happen bigger than that event, but of course, you don’t at the time; and in a way you’re glad you don’t know. All you can do is to be faithful to what you’ve got, keep your head down, and God adds the rest.

EC: What would you say the highs from your time with Delirious were?

MS: Being together on the road. I think playing in India was a real highlight – that whole experience out there was just fantastic.

EC: Any regrets?

MS: That’s a big question! No – not really. I think we endeavoured all the time to do what we knew was right. We always wanted to put God first in everything we did. I don’t think everything worked out as we planned it, but I think they are different things. No regrets really.

EC: It seemed for a while that mainstream success beckoned. How do you look back on that time?

MS: I think with a lot of fondness. We put our money where our mouth was: we spent a lot of money on videos and really giving it a good push. I think that, in the end, we just got the point of realising that it’s a bit of a money pit; that it wasn’t really what we were designed to do, and that we then just concentrated on being ourselves more. Some of it is luck, of being in the right place at the right time.

But ten years ago the climate was different in this country than it is now. You could imagine a sing like History Maker now gaining a bit of momentum because it has a message, that people are a more open and there is story to it. But back then people were really suspicious of Christian music and so we had to dig up some ground and pave the way.

EC: Do you think you played a part in helping people to see things differently?

MS: I’d love to think we played a part. The fact that we were authentic and are still around has been a big thing for people in that industry, and has gained us some respect I hope. We didn’t just come and go – we stuck to what we believe in.

In part two: Worship, consumerism, social justice and what the future holds.

Tagged as: consumerism, Media, Money, social justice, Worship

{ 3 comments }