Pitchfork

God Damn Religion! No wait, I didn't say it, I swear! It was him! The one over there with the gnarly beard and the six-string! Also, I'd check the papers on that knighthood if I were you...

That's right, Sir Richard Bishop has a DVD coming your way, and it bears the rather bold head-turner of a title seen above there. If the name alone makes you queasy, just reading about the contents will most certainly result in a lost lunch. But look at you, you're reading on anyway. Don't say you weren't warned!

In the man's own words, God Damn Religion is "a diabolical experiment in hypnotic mind control-- a phantasmagoric presentation of demonic and divine imagery, meticulously assembled and designed to put the viewer into an altered state of darkened awareness...If you ever wanted to go to hell and back, this film will get you halfway there."

But wait, it gets better: "Some viewers may find the imagery used in my movie to be disturbing, but that's the idea. Contains some strong sexual content (as all true religion should). Not for the weak-minded, faint of heart, or those suffering from occasional seizures."

Whatever your feelings on the subject, you'd do well to check out God Damn Religion when the DVD hits shelves via Locust on February 26. Sir Richard Bishop fanatics can rejoice in knowing they will not only receive a provocative film with their purchase, but also a CD of their guy's out-of-print, 2006 vinyl-only release Elektronika Demonika (music from which also appears in the film).

God Damn Religion will screen a few places as well, including the Cake Shop in New York City on March 4.

And while some might chide this "Bishop" for blasphemy, let none accuse the guy of sloth. After unloading two albums in quick succession last year and playing live a whole bunch, Bishop is already back at it, touring the Old Countries right now with Earth. He'll also appear at the Suoni Per Il Popolo festival in Montreal this June with brother and fellow ex-Sun City Girl Alan Bishop.

Dick Bishop:

02-14 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique *#
02-15 Paris, France - Nouveau Casino *#
02-16 Nancy, France - L'Autre Canal *#
02-17 Bern, Switzerland - Dampfzentrale *#
02-18 Geneva, Switzerland - Theatre Alhambra *#
02-19 Milan, Italy - Magnolia #
02-21 Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artisti #
02-22 Ravenna, Italy - Bronson #
02-23 Innsbruck, Austria - Pmk #
02-24 Vienna, Austria - Szene #
02-25 Prague, Czech Republic - Palace Akropolis #
02-27 Berlin, Germany - Lido #
02-28 Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen #
03-01 Oslo, Norway - Garage #
03-02 Gothenburg, Sweden - Nefertiti #
03-04 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang #
03-05 Gronigen, Netherlands - Vera Project #
03-06 Bielefeld, Germany - Forum #
03-07 Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar #
06-01-29 Montreal, Quebec - Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival ^

* with KTL
# with Earth
^ with Alan Bishop